National Lost Pet Prevention Month

National Lost Pet Prevention Month began to help educate pet owners on how to help increase the likelihood of a pet being reunited with their family should it get loose. Follow these tips to help increase the number of pets…

National Adoption Weekend

Adopt your new best friend during the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend February 22-24! Visit the Everyday Adoption Center in the South Loop PetSmart at 1101 S. Canal St. or one of the other Chicago area PetSmart stores where animals…

National Adoption Week March 2025

Adopt your new best friend during National Adoption Week with Anti-Cruelty and PetSmart Charities. From Monday, March 24–Sunday, March 30, 2025, visit one of the Chicago area PetSmart partner stores where animals from Anti-Cruelty are available for adoption. Fees will be waived for all animals on…

National Adoption Week Form

 

Naming Opportunities & Tributes

Become a Part of Our History We invite you to become part of our history. There is a wide array of recognition opportunities available throughout Anti-Cruelty—and your gift will help ensure your kindness will be remembered for months, years, or generations to come.   Name a Location Anti-…

Myth vs. Fact: Fee-Waived Events

 Why do animal shelters, like Anti-Cruelty, hold adoption promotions with discounted fees? The answer is simple: to help more animals!     Fee-waived adoption events make a positive impact by:   Shortening the length of time animals await adoption.   Provide an outlet for placement in times…

Most Adorable Pet Contest/National Lost Pet Prevention Month

Anti-Cruelty and Carlucci Chicago Restaurant (400 East Randolph), are teaming up to celebrate July’s National Lost Pet Prevention Month.

Modifying Marking Behavior

Many dogs mark places that are new and unfamiliar to them. Marking behavior can be modified if you start training early. When introducing your dog to your home, be prepared. Here are a couple tricks for a marking-quick-fix. First Things First… Spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible. The…

Mission, Vision, Values

MISSION Anti-Cruelty builds a healthy and happy community where pets and people thrive together. VISION Build a humane Chicago for pets and people. GUIDING PRINCIPLES BEST CARE: Animals deserve the best care. OPEN DOOR: We welcome all. HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND: We celebrate and nurture the…

Microchips

Millions of pets are lost each year; one in three pets will be lost at some point in their life.     Approximately 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats without identification go back to their families. Microchipped lost dogs are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their families…

A Message Regarding Leadership at Anti-Cruelty

After five years of organizational growth and a successful celebration of our 125th anniversary, Tracy Elliott has resigned from Anti-Cruelty to establish a consulting firm. We appreciate Tracy’s contributions during his time as President and CEO and wish him all the best.

Meshia Burrell

Meshia Burrell is the Vice President of People and Culture leading in the development of a culture of humane leadership, continuous improvement, and high performance, advancing Anti-Cruelty's goal to be the BEST PLACE to work in Chicago. She assists organizational leaders in developing best…

Media Inquiries

Anti-Cruelty is committed to telling stories about the animals in our care, from those who have been adopted or those who have been rescued by our field investigators. Our Media Center provides access to information for the media looking for information about animal welfare or for a feel great…

Matching Gift Challenge

  Big Boy & Boss Every day, we’re lucky enough to share some incredible stories that come out of Anti-Cruelty. Take it from a heartwarming story like Big Boy and Boss, to know the power of your generous…

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a federal holiday and National Day of Service which celebrates the life, legacy, and impact of this influential civil rights leader. Anti-Cruelty is once again taking part in the MLK Day of Service by engaging the community to give back through a…

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Donation Page

Marking

Like dogs, many cats mark places that are new and unfamiliar to them. Intact male cats are more likely to mark than neutered males or female cats. Marking behavior can be modified if you start training early. When introducing your cat to your home, be prepared. Here are a couple tricks for a…

Marketing & Communications

Make an Appointment

Anti-Cruelty Public Spay/Neuter Clinic Days of operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We are closed Friday through Monday.   Due to high demand, appointments are limited. We do not offer a waiting or cancellation list or take appointments over the phone. New appointments will be posted…

Lydia Krupinski

Lydia Krupinski joined the Anti-Cruelty team in 2009 and has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s community programs through a dynamic and thoughtful approach. With 20 years of experience in community engagement, business management, and media development, Lydia’s contributions have…

Lost & Found Pets

Our Lost & Found Services Stray dogs that are brought to Anti-Cruelty are transported to an authorized holding facility (Chicago Animal Care and Control: 312-747-1406 or Animal Welfare League: 773-667-0088) for the legally mandated three day stray hold period. These animals may be transferred…

Local Resources

More Time for Love Having a pet is a rewarding experience filled with lots of love, learning and fun! It can also be a lot of work, and sometimes confusing. Anti-Cruelty has gathered the following resources in an attempt to make the process of having a companion animal a little easier: be it…

Litter Box Training for Rabbits

Can I Litter Box Train My Rabbit? When you hear the word "litter box," most people think of a cat. But, rabbits can be trained to use them as well. Here's how: Pick an appropriate litter box. Make sure it is sturdy and impermeable and it won't break or splinter, if chewed. It should be large…

Litter Box Lapses

The most common behavior problem that cats engage in is eliminating outside of their litter boxes. It is important that you treat this problem early, as the longer the cat continues to do this, the more likely it is that it will become a habit, regardless of why it started. The first thing you…

Level I

Entry-Level Volunteer Program Level I volunteering is our entry-level volunteer program. To become a volunteer in this program, you must be at least 18 years old and be available to volunteer for 5 hours each month for a one-year commitment. You can help cats, dogs, or both in this program. Learn…