Anti-Cruelty — Local services in Chicago

I think it’s important to share my experience so that others are not blindsided the way I was.

First and foremost, they are NOT a no kill shelter (so watch out for that one).

I'll begin by sharing my initial experience. The adoption process was fairly quick. I submitted an inquiry through the online process late at night and the next morning I received a call asking me questions. I specifically told them that I could not have a leash reactive or aggressive dog in my neighborhood as I live by an elementary school and I also live in a dog heavy area. I asked these questions about the dog I adopted because I knew that if they were aggressive / had anxiety regarding other dogs it would not be great for their health or the health of my neighborhood. I was informed that the dog I inquired about seemed to fit my needs, so I adopted her!

In no way do I regret that adoption because I loved that dog so much! However, I come to find out that she is extremely aggressive and is leash reactive to not only people, but dogs as well. In my neighborhood where I simply cannot avoid them, I made the best decision for her and the hardest decision for me and decided to do a return to shelter.

I was told on the phone that I could bring her back. I asked if she could keep her favorite toy to which they said yes. It was not until I was there and alone that I was told they would be EUTHANIZING her (so, to all the comments that said they are no kill, you're sadly mistaken). I had to sit there alone and hold my dog as they killed her. Because I was not even told this until I was sitting in the chair, I had nobody to be there with me and could not prepare myself for what I was about to experience because the last I was told, she could keep her favorite toy.

I got in contact with Danielle (I honestly forget her position) and she is conducting a small investigation. In the process of me talking with her I found out that they were deceitful in the initial process and that she was leash reactive in the shelter as well. The entire process that myself and my dog had to endure was honestly disgusting. If they were honest in the initial adoption, they would have placed her in a better home somewhere else where it is quieter and less dog heavy.

I say this and share my story because I too saw all of the good reviews. I think it is so important to share these experiences so that others do not go through what I was put through. I do appreciate the reaching out of Danielle and the things she is trying to fix, but it does not negate the fact that this was horrible.

Other adopters...

I initially got one of my older cats from this shelter last year so I went to them to expand my little family. I got a kitten for a home trial, because I needed to see how he would get along with my first cat. His kennel was dirty and unkept, and I was told he had mild symptoms of an Upper Respiratory Infection.

They said if his symptoms worsened I could call and they would take him to their vets for help. For some reason, my calls weren't going through as he had worsened and was having diarrhea. He was not isolated or being treated at the shelter, even if it was classified as mild. Since my calls weren't going through, I took him to my own vet because he was congested, leaking from his eyes and nose, wheezing, sneezing/coughing, and was having active diarrhea.

He immediately received meds from my vet, but there were concerns about internal parasites being also underweight and had a bloated belly. He was positive for Coccidia, an internal parasite. He should not have been available for adoption yet until he was already actively being treated for everything going on. He was not isolated at the shelter, putting other cats at risk of catching the URI. Don't expect them to reimburse you if you take your cat to your own vet during your trial period even if it's because of lack of contact. By the time I was contacted I was already actively treating him at my own vet. I even sent them my vets contact information, the medical reports, and the invoices!

He's on two antibiotics, eye drops, meds for his parasites, and on GI medicated food. The shelter should have noticed he wasn't well and already been getting treated and isolated. They also did not give him his second round of vaccines either when he was due for them at the shelter.

I understand shelters are overrun and understaffed, but not catching medical concerns like this that are more common in shelters is unsettling. It screws over people that find out later on about issues with the cats health. I've spent close to $600 (some being just basic supplies prior to him needing a vet) in a week of knowing Zuko for things that should've been taken care of before he was available to the public.

I had a good experience adopting my first cat from them, however this overshadowed that completely now. I am so incredibly disappointed. The staff there are so sweet, however these issues should not have occurred. If you are going to be adopting any cats from there, please be weary about the cats health prior...

I moved over to River North a few months ago and was so excited to see the Anti Cruelty Society right down the block from me. I used to volunteer at the Animal Society in Oak Park which plug for them they are amazing amazing people there. But either way used to volunteer in high school and got the idea I'd do it again. As a result, I ended up getting a cat. My first ever pet of my own.

The review:

Unfortunately my baby was in the shelter for 3 months when they took him in for an URI and some other issues. They gave me his medical info but they didn't explain it to me. Even though I asked a lot of questions and told them this was my first cat. I've since found out it's likely my cat has herpes, however not confirmed by them.

Herpes for cats is incredibly easy to transfer from my reading. I've had my cat around other cats unknowing that he should probably be in insolation for the sake of the other cats health. Incredible negligence.

I've since called them back to try and see if they will test him to determine if he is in fact positive, and what I need to do as the human to care for a special cat like this so that he's able to live a long and healthy life.

Brianna was incredibly rude. Brianna basically told me she would hang up on me because she didn't like my tone.

As I told Mary, the original woman I spoke with, to me this is my health, or a child's health. He's a living breathing being that is in my care and this is very serious to me. So when Brianna did not like that I asked if she could answer my questions as a vet.....When you act negligent of the health of animals in your care, not to mention that my cat was with other cats in the shelter that possibly could also have been infected or have been who infected him.

Final note- Dr Emily did end up calling me and she was very kind and helpful.

It’s because of my experience with Brianna I am marking this down a few stars. I usually think people who love animals are some of the nicest people. It's not the case here :(

Cute pic of my baby...