Animal Care League

Animal Care League Committed to serving animals and people in our community since 1973 Adoptions are conducted by appointment Tuesday through Saturday.
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Animal Care League is committed to providing shelter, medical care, and comfort to animals in need, thus serving as a community resource and strengthening the human-animal bond. View all animals available for adoption and fill out a questionnaire at animalcareleague.org/adoptions. Animal Care League serves as the stray holding facility for Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, North Riverside, Nort

hlake, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, River Grove, and Riverside. If you have lost or found pet in these areas please call us at 708-848-8155.

Our adoption center will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, January 14th. We apologize for the inconvenience and appr...
01/13/2025

Our adoption center will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, January 14th. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Our normal adoption hours will resume on Wednesday the 15th!

A huge thank you to Roman, who saved up and donated $73 to our animals after seeing flyers about the shelter around town...
01/12/2025

A huge thank you to Roman, who saved up and donated $73 to our animals after seeing flyers about the shelter around town. Given all the fun things one could buy with that money, we are truly touched that you decided to give it to animals in need.

Every bit makes a difference, and seeing kids get involved for a cause they care about will never not be special 💚

Happy Foster Friday! Dog fosters are one of our most pressing needs right now, and if you have the space, we hope you'll...
01/11/2025

Happy Foster Friday! Dog fosters are one of our most pressing needs right now, and if you have the space, we hope you'll consider welcoming a canine guest into your home. Here are 3 pups looking for a temporary stay:

1) Oakley - This 40-pound bundle of joy has been with us at ACL since April, and while she’s full of energy and love, she’s been waiting far too long for the chance to have a break outside the shelter. Oakley is playful, fun, and eager to find her best friend! Oakley is smart, friendly with both people and dogs, quick to learn, and eager to please, making her a great fit for any foster home.

2) Playboy - This lovable, pint-sized pup came to us after he and his buddy BlackJack were abandoned at a grooming salon. While we don't know much about his past, one thing is clear: Playboy absolutely adores people! He is a goofy, fun-loving dog who is always ready for some playtime and cuddles, and at under 50 pounds, he's a perfectly compact little guy! Playboy is starting to find shelter life a little stressful, and a foster home would be a huge help for him.

3) Boss - Boss is a playful pup who's been with us since his previous owner tragically passed away. Without any next of kin, he found his way to ACL, where he's been waiting for the right person to give him the fresh start he deserves. Boss is the definition of a good boy—goofy, energetic, and always up for a good time! A stay in a foster home will be a great asset in getting him adopted to his forever home.

If you're interested in becoming a foster, visit animalcareleague.org/foster to get started!

Sundae is home! Earlier in her life, this sweet bunny had an infection that left her with a permanent head tilt, causing...
01/10/2025

Sundae is home! Earlier in her life, this sweet bunny had an infection that left her with a permanent head tilt, causing her to hop in circles. But though her special needs made it more difficult to find a home, she's finally there! After nearly a year at the shelter, Sundae is getting all the love she deserves.

"When you bring a little animal home from the shelter," Sundae's adopter says, "it’s wonderful to watch them grow as you provide them with a healthy diet, a safe environment and lots of love and patience."

We are so happy for Sundae and her new mom, and we can't wait to see how she blossoms in her new family. If you are looking for a bun companion of your own, view our adoptables at animalcareleague.org/small-animals

Introducing the ACL VIP list! Each month, we'll select 9 Very Important Pets, who will have 50% reduced adoption fees, p...
01/07/2025

Introducing the ACL VIP list! Each month, we'll select 9 Very Important Pets, who will have 50% reduced adoption fees, plus special adoption packages. Visit animalcareleague.org/vip to see details about the program and learn about the current month's VIPs!

Here are the pets in the spotlight for January: Chewie, Eyedis, Vecna, Buckley, Specter, Riley, Hayden, Pad Thai (adopted), and Boo (adopted).

Learn more 👉 animalcareleague.org/vip
Browse all animals 👉 animalcareleague.org/adoption (look for the green border and logo for current VIPs!)

In 2024, we had 1,042 adoptions, breaking the 1k mark for the 3rd year in a row! Here are some of the heartwarming adopt...
01/06/2025

In 2024, we had 1,042 adoptions, breaking the 1k mark for the 3rd year in a row! Here are some of the heartwarming adoptions that closed out the year. To everyone who welcomed a shelter pet into their heart and their home, thank you 💚

Our 2024 at a glance: 1,436 total animals taken in; 245 pets reunited with their families; 13,500+ hours volunteered at the shelter; 744 animals sent to foster care; 15,000+ lbs of pet food distributed to families in need.

Here's to saving even more lives in 2025!

Do you have a case of the Sunday scaries? Please look at these shelter dogs in pajamas, and let us know if that fixes it...
01/06/2025

Do you have a case of the Sunday scaries? Please look at these shelter dogs in pajamas, and let us know if that fixes it.

Thank you to everyone who bought pajamas from Pittie Clothing Company during our Buy One Give One event, and thank you to Pittie Clothing Co for partnering with us! Because of you, our shelter pups are staying warm in the play yard and looking adorable while doing it.

This is Bell. She's a sweet, shy girl who has been doing an amazing job in her foster home. But soon, her current foster...
01/03/2025

This is Bell. She's a sweet, shy girl who has been doing an amazing job in her foster home. But soon, her current foster will have to bring her back—and unfortunately, Bell has a very hard time at the shelter. Can we find a forever home soon for this wonderful pup?

Bell gets along well with her doggy foster brother, loves to cuddle with her people, is great on a leash, and likes to sleep in her crate—and though she is a little shy at first, she is quick to warm up to new people! But at the shelter, all of this amazing personality is clouded by fear. Because Bell is so frightened while she's here, we know the best thing for her would be to skip the stress and meet her forever family before she has to come back.

If you are interested in meeting sweet Bell, please email [email protected]!

New year, new website!Check out the new animalcareleague.org now!
01/02/2025

New year, new website!

Check out the new animalcareleague.org now!

Thank you for an amazing 2024!It has been an eventful year for us here at ACL, full of exciting new developments, fresh ...
12/31/2024

Thank you for an amazing 2024!

It has been an eventful year for us here at ACL, full of exciting new developments, fresh faces, new challenges, and heartwarming stories. As we get ready to close the book on the year, we want to give our sincere thanks to all our supporters for making this work possible, and for allowing us to enter 2025 with such radiant optimism.

Have a happy and safe New Year everyone, and stay tuned as we move forward—lots of exciting things are on the horizon! 💚

If you need a gift for a special pup in your life, grab one of these holiday gift baskets for $20 at the shelter! They'l...
12/21/2024

If you need a gift for a special pup in your life, grab one of these holiday gift baskets for $20 at the shelter! They'll be offended if you don't get them anything—trust us.

Get your basket at 1009 Garfield before we close for the 24th and 25th, and support shelter animals who don't have a home for the holidays!

🗣Jewel has something to say—please listen up!🗣Jewel is here to tell you that ACL has tons of adoptable cats (including h...
12/19/2024

🗣Jewel has something to say—please listen up!🗣

Jewel is here to tell you that ACL has tons of adoptable cats (including herself, she might add) who want nothing more than to fill your home with purrs and cuddles in the new year. You might have a fuzzy blanket, and you might have fuzzy socks, but what good are those until you also have a cat on your lap?

The shelter will be closed for adoptions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, but otherwise, we'll be here during our regular hours to match you with the perfect new friend! From baby kittens to senior kitty citizens, we have so many amazing shelter cats who would love to join your family.

Visit animalcareleague.org/cats to browse our adoptable kitties and find out more!

And when you come into the shelter, make sure to ask our staff about our VIPs (very important pets)—a new monthly list of featured pets with reduced adoption fees and special adoption packages!

Help us keep our shelter dogs happy and healthy by donating a toy!We are running low on hard toys (eg. Benebones and Nyl...
12/13/2024

Help us keep our shelter dogs happy and healthy by donating a toy!

We are running low on hard toys (eg. Benebones and Nylabones), which are incredibly important at the shelter. Can you help us get 50 new hard toys donated in the coming week? Donate in person at 1009 Garfield Street, or ship them to us using the links below

Recommended toy #1: tinyurl.com/ACLnyla
Recommended toy #2: tinyurl.com/ACLbene
Recommended toy #3: tinyurl.com/ACLnyla2
Our wish list: tinyurl.com/ACLwishes

Not only do hard chew toys help keep dogs occupied during their downtime, they are also great for mental and dental health! Providing valuable mental enrichment to relieving stress and boredom, as well as removing plaque, these toys are essential.

Help us get 50 new toys by next Friday so all of our dogs always have something to chew!

ACL's Pets and People Support Program works to keep local families together by distributing food and supplies to those i...
12/12/2024

ACL's Pets and People Support Program works to keep local families together by distributing food and supplies to those in need. So far this year, the program has been able to give out more than 14,000 lbs. of pet food to help community members—an incredible number that would never be possible without the generous donations of our partners and supporters.

We want to give a huge shout out to Kriser's Natural Pet in Andersonville, Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish, and Ruff Life in Elmhurst! When our supplies were running low, these three local businesses made contributions, helping us continue providing essentials to the people and pets who need them most.

Thanks to donations like these, and to the hard work of the amazing ACL volunteers who run the program, we can make a difference in the community we call home. Thank you! 💚

🚨 We have a full shelter right now, and we’re looking for foster homes for some of our dogs! If you have room for a furr...
12/10/2024

🚨 We have a full shelter right now, and we’re looking for foster homes for some of our dogs! If you have room for a furry houseguest, we need your help! Fill out the foster application here: tinyurl.com/ACL-Foster-App

Fostering not only frees up space at the shelter for others in need, it also does wonders for a shelter animal’s well being. The shelter can be noisy and chaotic, and for many shelter pets, a chance to decompress in a foster home makes a world of difference! While in foster care, we can also get a valuable peek into how an animal will do in their forever home.

Take Malia for example. This sweet young pup came into the shelter as a stray back in September, and she had a puppy cold. But instead of waiting in the busy, unfamiliar shelter environment while she recovered, she got the chance to stay in foster care!

Now, while resting up and transitioning from puppyhood into big-girl-hood, Malia has been able to build healthy habits, put her best paw forward, and practice for her eventual forever home! “She's a sweet, goofy girl who loves to play with her dog foster brother, and wants lots of love and attention from her humans” her foster mom says.

And of course, during Malia’s foster stay, an extra kennel is open at the shelter for the animals who need it most. If you would like to help shelter dogs like Malia, please fill out the foster application at tinyurl.com/ACL-Foster-App, and/or email [email protected] for more information!

Here are just a few of the great adoptions from the past few weeks! Thank you to everyone who adopted a new best friend,...
12/09/2024

Here are just a few of the great adoptions from the past few weeks! Thank you to everyone who adopted a new best friend, as well as everyone who supported the shelter during GivingTuesday and the Holiday Bazaar! You make it possible for animals like these ones to find homes! 💚

Have a story, photo, or video of a pet you adopted from ACL? Share it with us at [email protected]!

See the shelter pets still waiting for their lucky day at animalcareleague.org/adoptions

Address

1011 Garfield Street
Oak Park, IL
60304

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

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Meet Hayden, one of our VIP List pets for January! These featured pets have reduced fees and special adoption packages. See all 9 of this month’s VIPs and learn more about them at the link in our bio!

Dogs can’t write wish lists, so we just let them pick! Luckily, us humans can. If you want to support the shelter, view our wish list or make a donation at the link in our bio! #adoptdontshop #christmas #hanukkah #happynewyear #shelterdogs

Our animals love enrichment time 🥰 Go to the link in our bio, or visit tinyurl.com/ACLwishes to view our Amazon wish list! #shelterdogs #shelterdogsofinstagram #enrichment #dogs #adoptdontshop

One day left of the Bazaar! Come do some holiday treasure hunting before it goes away for a year! And don’t forget, during the last day of the bazaar (11-3 on Sunday 12/8), you can get a picture with Santa AT THE SHELTER! Come to 1009 Garfield street for your photo with the man in red! Pets welcome! All proceeds go to the shelter to help animals in need 💚 #adoptdontshop #chicago #holidays #christmas #sale

Alex is free! Get ready for more kennel lock-ins at 5pm! Donate at the link in our bio! 💚 #givingtuesday #adoptdontshop #kittens

aclgivingtuesday2024.funraise.org Learn about our lock in participants and donate here: https://aclgivingtuesday2024.funraise.org/page/kennel-lock-ins

Meet the Cheese Chihuahuas🧀: Brie, Stilton, Cheddar, Limburger, and Asiago! After being abandoned, these sweet older girls are looking for a second chance. We are grateful to be in a position to help them and so many others like them. Click the link in our bio or visit animalcareleague.org to find out how you can get involved in our work! 💚 #rescuedogs #shelterdogs #chihuahuas #chihuahua #chicago #adoptdontshop

Tunchi has been having a blast as a foster dog at @greendoginc! A rescue from Puerto Rico, Tunchi has been patiently waiting for months to find his forever home. We hope he will find it during his stay at daycare, but no matter what, this experience will be incredibly valuable for our little guy! At the shelter, dogs spend much of their day alone, and the chance to decompress and socialize with both dogs and people is huge. Thank you to Green Dog Inc for helping Tunchi, and if you want to meet him, visit our website to learn more. Link in bio! @thegreendogincpack #rescuedog #shelterdog #dogsofinstagram

Do you like Miko’s (or should we say BEEko’s) costume? 🐝 This handsome fellow, who was found chained to a bench right down the street from the shelter, is ready to move into his forever home! As you can tell, his two favorite things are people and treats! Visit animalcareleague.org to learn more about Miko and our other adoptable animals, and have a very happy Halloween! 🎃 #halloween #adoptdontshop #shelterdogs #dogcostume #dogsofinstagram

Our Halloween Bunny Spa Day is tomorrow (10/13) from 12 - 4! Click the link in our bio to learn more, or to view our adoptable bunnies! #shelterbunnies #bunniesofinstagram

Are you ready for our Clear the Shelters adoption event? Buckley is! This large, lovable goofball has been waiting a long time for his person, and he thinks tomorrow might be his day! Take advantage of waived adoption fees from 11am-7pm on Saturday, September 7th! #cleartheshelters #adoptdontshop #shelterdogs #shelterdogsofinstagram @cleartheshelters

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