Adoption process from Alive in 2020 was seamless. Two adorable cats that we loved and cared for deeply. Fast forward to 2025- we added a medically complex baby with allergies. One cat became more skittish, the other batting at the toddler. And then they started marking the house. Literally everywhere. Thousands in damage. We weren't able to be attentive pet owners. I knew we needed to relinquish them and our family of 6 was heartbroken. We also knew it was OUR environment causing the behaviors and acknowledged that. When I reached out to Alive (to their credit, they did respond to my emails) they suggested I separate our toddler and the cat. A toddler? A cat? Mmmmkay. After going back and forth while, they're asking me for medical records, giving more useless suggestions and switching from empathy to being completely dismissive and rude (we also reached out to multiple other shelters that were full), we ended up surrendering to CACC. They had the cats fully vetted, staying together and up on their page in a day ready for adoption. They were so kind and understanding. Guess who now has a "firm hold" on them from CACC? Yep. Alive. Listen, we're eternally grateful that they're going somewhere safe, but did we really have to deal with all the trauma? Go elsewhere to adopt. Seriously. read more

I want to tell you a story about a dog named Starfish -- and a rescue that let her down. In the summer of 2024, a mutual acquaintance sent me a link to a dog named Starfish at Alive Rescue. She was suffering from severe kennel stress, and they were urgently seeking a foster. I answered the call. Within days of bringing her home, I committed to adopting her. She was gentle, curious, and full of potential. I poured everything into helping her thrive: long walks, obedience work, enrichment games, socialization, vet visits -- everything the bestest girl deserved. They said adoption would be quick. Then it was delayed. Then it was ignored. Then it was revoked. The worst moment came when they asked me to take Starfish to an adoption event and present her as available -- even though she had already been promised to me. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was their game: advertise the dog, create demand, and change the plan when it suits them. A classic bait-and-switch -- and it turns out I'm not the only one this has happened to. In fact, I have an email from Anita herself explicitly stating that this is her tactic. (It's attached.) In the end, they took Starfish away. No clear reason. Just control. At first, I believed they had found another adopter -- she disappeared from their site. But I later saw internal volunteer emails showing she was back at the shelter. She was no longer being promoted anywhere, perhaps because they realized they had crossed a line by revoking the adoption and didn't want to draw attention to their error. That silence -- that purgatory -- was incredibly cruel. Not to me, but to Starfish. She sat in a shelter, no longer promoted, no longer seen, while the home she had already bonded with was cut off from her. She didn't reappear on their website for several months. Instead, she bounced between the shelter and various foster homes. It became increasingly clear that Alive Rescue was unable to provide consistent care for her at their facility as she was "too much". She ultimately spent her final months in their custody living in a dog hotel, before finally being adopted -- eight months after she was taken from, and denied, a loving home. I support, and will continue to support, rescue. Before my experience with Alive, I was the proud owner of a rescue dog who was with me for ten years before I lost him. That same rescue -- who knew my home and history -- kindly advocated for me to keep Starfish. But Alive doesn't list a phone number, ignored all outside emails, and clearly didn't care about anyone's opinion but their own. After this experience, I made a choice: I wasn't going to let a narrow-minded, judgmental organization deter me from the cause of dog rescue. I went on to foster four at-risk dogs, all of whom have since been placed in loving homes. But I did learn a valuable lesson -- about the importance of keeping politics and personal judgment out of animal rescue, and always prioritizing what is best for the animal. If you're thinking of working with Alive Rescue, please go in with your eyes open. The matchmaking process is less about what's best for the dog, and more about satisfying the egos of the staff. If you want to rescue from Alive, you won't just need to provide a stable and loving home -- you'll need to be deemed worthy. And most importantly: I urge you not to donate to this organization. Instead, support your local shelter or a foster-based rescue that puts dogs first. The mismanagement I witnessed with Starfish was staggering -- including paying for a dog hotel for months because they were unable or unwilling to provide care at their facility. I don't believe when we donate to a dog rescue, that money should then be spent on a for-profit dog hotel. Alive Rescue's conduct was not only frustrating, it was so deeply counterproductiv that it has discouraged good people from considering adoption altogether. And that is their greatest failure of all. read more

ALIVE Rescue - Email from Anita admitting that they "bait and switch" dogs. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Adoption process was thorough but worth it! We adopted our girl, Sanibel, as a puppy from Alive and couldn't be happier. read more

ALIVE Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Truly the worst animal rescue ever. If you're looking to foster adopt run don't walk away from Alive. They use the animals to get donations and don't actually adopt the animals out. read more

In inquired about a dog I saw on their website and no one ever got back to me one way or another. Then I started reading their reviews and wasn't so surprised. Are they actually hoarding dogs in "foster homes?" The truth is I don't trust any so-called rescue that doesn't have a street address. What does anyone know about these foster homes? There seems to be little or no transparency, they can't seem to respond to inquiries, which makes me wonder if they animals on their website are actually available for adoption, or just draws for donations. Anyone know more about them? read more

This place is out of their damn mind! I have had dogs, cats birds, fish my entire life. I've always taken top-notch care of my animals. I wanted to adopt from a shelter typically I have rescued most of all my pets from off the street, abused homes and people who couldn't take care of their animal. We recently lost our 15-year-old pit to bone cancer and thought that rescuing from a shelter would be a great idea. Not from this shelter. Had to fill out a long extensive adoption form, which I had no problem with. They approved me on that and then we started to move forward then they came at me telling me that I had a dog door which I did not, and had to provide pictures of my doors. Did that. Then they want entire medical histories of my animals. I provided them with what I had available. I don't save my papers. I get them their vaccinations and they have a tag. The papers typically get tossed because there's no need for it. If there is an issue with any of my pets down to a leaky eye they are brought in. I've given them all the latest information that I had on my pets and somehow that was not good enough. They even called the vets and told me that my pets were never there, which was false. I think they didn't even talk to anybody they just assumed. There is legit notes that she did speak to one of them and they told her that my dogs both went there and we're vaccinated. She lied and said one of them never was there now I have cats. They're turning two years old fixed fully vaccinated. June is their three year rabbie and another shot that they need. She literally told me that they said my cats never went there either so I called my vet and my vet reached out to her. She refused to give you any information on the pup when the vet started questioning about the dog. She had a bad attitude with her and talk to her like she was a piece of crap. Now this is the vets office we're talking about. They have no contact number so I never even spoke with this person. We also had a virtual meeting set up the day before all this happened. The Vet reached back to me and told me that I should back out that they believe they had already given the dog to somebody else that's why they were dragging this out and playing games and running me in circles. I cried because then I knew this puppy was not gonna be ours. We live in a huge house and make plenty of money with a massive backyard. We have a camper and a boat. This dog would've been living the life. They spitefully look for things to not adopt these animals out or they're just dragging you along to push maybe a different adaptable pet on you . I don't know what the hell they're doing ,and if you read other reviews, it is probably because they get a good amount of money in as donations so maybe they are just hoarders. I never in a million years would've thought that I would have been ran around the way they were carrying on. After her conversation with my Vet, all of a sudden, my virtual meeting was canceled. There's something definitely going on with this company. They seem very Shystie and a little too crazy. I get 100% you wanna make sure that these pets are going to a good home but the way that they take it is just absolutely insane. They're rude and incompetent. I definitely do not recommend this place. I was also told by my vet Fido as well is not a good place to adopt from my vet told me that they have had multiple issues with this specific place transferring dogs from shelter to shelter. Huge red flag avoid this place at all costs for you and your family and do not donate to them. I have currently adopted a puppy and he is living the life now. Got him in a week and a half. They too wanted to know good quality information on a great pet owner and didn't try to invade your privacy while they were at it. I truly believe that any of these positive reviews are fake. They just try to get them in there to cover up their garbage scam Business. You have been warned. read more

A lot of the reviews on here seem to be fake. One says they pushed her to sign papers before she even saw a dog. Another says they denied them adoption and then put it down later because it was too anxious. Sounds pretty ridiculous to me. And, those are quite the opposite of our experience. We had the best experience here with our new little kitten! She's so precious and the process was very smooth. We filled out the application online. Yes, it's long but it's the same anywhere. They're a responsible organization and want to make sure the animal will be going to a good home. We found the kitten on their website. She had more photos than a lot of other adoption facilities. Her foster mom got back to us within 24 hours, and we set up a time for the kitten to visit us in our home. After our visit, her foster mom said they would give us 24 hours to think about it. We got back to her the next morning. We told her that we wanted her. And, we set up a time to pick her up. This was the first time we ever worked with a rescue. We were used to going to places where you view the animals in cages or rooms. Our foster mom was terrific! (Brandy) She had multiple other cats. Our kitten was very socialized and she was never trapped in a cage. We picked our little kitten up at their facility. It's a small place but there were a lot of people helping out there. The owner went through the adoption papers with us. We were finished pretty quickly. I've been to other places where I felt I was being questioned in a police station. When we brought our kitten home, she adapted so quickly. She was very nervous right away. But it was like magic that five minutes later she was bumping heads with me and acting like she owned the place. I'd have to say this happened because of Alive and their great care team. If you're thinking of adopting, you must contact them first! read more

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There is a review from 5/14/19 that explain's there is "SOMETHING SUPER STRANGE ABOUT THIS RESCUE" and I couldn't describe it any better myself. I've been theoretically interested in fostering/adopting, but more realistic for my schedule, I am ready to start with their Weekend Pet Away program. After eyeing the website for months and months, always checking out and reading all of the new comers and always checking on my personal favorite dogs and cats, I finally sat down and filled out their online application. I agree with another reviewer that it is a VERY lengthy process and is very invasive asking about my past, my future, my plans, my experiences, my wishes, my what ifs. It took about an hour to fill out the application correctly. Two weeks later, I had not gotten a response. That's ok, I thought. They might be really busy, the person who reads apps may be on vacation or the app may have been overlooked. On my way home from work, I stopped by their office on Belmont. The place was completely empty and locked up. I went to the doggy babysitting establishment next door and asked if they had any information. The man there told me that ALIVE disappeared all of a sudden with no warning, and left no details of where they have gone. I called the number that is listed on Google and also on the ALIVE website; it went straight to voicemail. I called the number on the For Rent sign on the vacated office's front door. The woman who picked up did not know what I was talking about. The website continues to be updated with new animals and pictures but they have not updated where their location is. I am very frustrated as I have imagined myself working with ALIVE helping serve the animals since I discovered the site last December. read more

This shelter exploits their pets. It is incredibly upsetting to know how they "match" pets to perfect owners yet they hold pets back from living their best life with loving owners. I'm a proud parent to two adopted animals and would highly recommend avoiding this place with a 10 foot leash. There are so many amazing rescue/adoption centers... Paws, Canines and Felines, Anti-Cruelty and I wish this place could live up to those. For the record, this is not a fake review, but nice try... read more

There is something so super strange about this rescue. My husband and I were very interested in a puppy from ALIVE and got an email from a coordinator letting us know they'd be in touch in a few days. I followed up after two weeks letting them know we'd been at one of their fundraisers, got to meet other puppies we loved and that we'd be open to adopting any of them if the first was not a good fit. I appreciate SO MUCH when a rescue wants to make sure their animals are placed in the right homes. I appreciate SO MUCH when an org is all volunteer-run. But there is absolutely zero reason that no one can communicate to let us know to move on or to thank us for a donation. Or that the same pets we were hoping to adopt are, after months, still up for adoption. If we're not a good fit, so be it, but reading another review that called them the "Mean Girls" of the Chicagoland rescue community validated everything I was feeling. I feel genuinely bad for animals that end up with ALIVE because their furever homes may take months and months longer to find than necessary, and at what cost? read more

I got my dog, Chewie, through ALIVE! Chewie is the greatest dog anyone could ask for. I love the little guy with all my heart! Thank you to ALIVE Rescue for doing a good job caring for him until he found his forever home with me! The adoption process here is great. It's very thorough and extensive, which is good, because it makes sure all potential pet owners are fully committed to raising a dog or cat, and helps minimize the number of returns to the shelter. I also appreciate how well ALIVE takes care of all the animals. They take in all different kinds of animals, regardless of their past, what they look like, any disabilities they may have, etc. Chewie has a few injuries from abusive homes in the past, and some emotional baggage and anxiety because of the life he lived before ALIVE found him. They did a great job caring for him and helping guide me on how to take care of Chewie under these circumstances. Chewie and I have been so happy for the past few months! We were meant to be together. read more

ALIVE Rescue - Right after we adopted Chewie! He's very photogenic. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really bad experience. We applied for a dog online, never heard back - so I followed up THREE times via email. Nobody ever responded. I called the number online more than once, leaving messages, and still could never get a hold of anyone. This is disheartening because of the dogs in need of homes. I completely understand the struggles of a volunteer run organization and how difficult it must be - I also applaud these individuals for rescuing dogs. However, it's been months and nothing. I was appalled by the lack of communication and completely disheartened by the entire adoption process. Fear not, there are AMPLE Chicago area rescues that won't twist you around like this. Shame on you, Alive. read more

Not exactly sure who runs this place, but these folks are running a fascist organization, where they seem to be more concerned about judging potential adopters than they do about getting these sweet pups and kitties adopted. I'm not saying that they don't care about these pets, they obviously do - but the absolutely abysmal business practices and "vetting" of potential adopters is out of hand. It only creates a bottleneck for them to take in additional rescued animals. Our friend wanted to foster a sweet boy named Puck, but they denied her, stating that he's "too anxious" and wouldn't do well in her home. When she met with Puck, he was a little shy, but the sweetest little pup. Lo and behold, we just found out that this "rescue shelter" ended up putting Puck down two weeks ago. They claim that he was "too anxious" to continue living his doggy life. These folks are idiots - no wonder he was anxious dealing with such a idiotic business practice, and complete lack of customer service. read more

They have a very long application. We have had dogs forever and they live long lives because we take care of them. We recently lost one (he was 16). A friend fosters for this organization. We wanted to give the dog a permanent home. We submitted our application and were told the dog had to be taken to the vet, which is similar to another post about this place. Then we were told we couldn't adopt her. They said it was our invisible fence, but not whether they objected, just that we had it. So, that sweet puppy is still being fostered and we are not allowed to give her a home. read more

I wanted to adopt one dog, but was told he had medical needs which I couldn't take on. Then I emailed them asking about what other dogs were available, I even named several specifically and I was told the ones I wanted were no longer available. Then I was asked what qualities I wanted in a dog and I replied. The following email I got talked about the first dog that I wasn't interested in and I felt like I was being run around with endless loops of employees seeming unwilling to adopt any dogs. In the last email I exchanged, they told me to go to a different adoption agency. What kind of shelter has such a poor response time and communication style and seems so unwilling to give a dog a forever home. I really didn't like how they communicated with me via email and how they didn't seem concerned at all about me getting a dog which is the entire point of a dog shelter. I speculate they get some sort of incentive to keep the dogs in the shelter because of how unwilling they were to help find any dog supposedly "available" a good home. Don't go here. Go to any other shelter besides this one. read more

If they expect you to take the time to fill out that incredibly exhaustive (and frankly invasive) application and then just send a cursory rejection email back, could Alive at least give a clue as to why you didn't live up to their stringent requirements? I appreciate that they have standards but honestly I don't know how anyone would meet them. The kittens I sought to adopt weren't going to be ready to be adopted until over a month after I applied-- so it's possible that whatever they found objectionable could have been remedied. Don't waste your time with the application. read more

I have never written a negative review in my life. And I hate that I'm writing one for an organization that is supposed to help pets find a new and forever home. Yes, filling out the application was extensive but I appreciated it. I felt that they would like to make sure they crossed off all their boxes and there weren't any unanswered questions. Seemed like a pretty legit organization. However, I should have read the reviews first before wasting my time thinking I would actually be able to adopt from this rescue. Complete lack of communication. After inquiring about a specific dog, being told he was available, told my application would be for him, following through and having to ask about him via email, sometimes not getting a response and feeling like I was bothering them, I then find out he was already adopted through Instagram. I had just emailed them the week prior and was told they were waiting on a vet visit. They never even looked at my application nor told me there was another application they were looking at before mine. Several times they posted that this specific dog still hadn't found their forever home. People comment and would say "I emailed and asked about him, was told he wasn't available". I had submitted my application and was emailing them about him but on pet-finder, some of them still say they are available as well as their Instagram. There's something strange about this place. They post all day, every day on Instagram but can't look at my application or communicate that the dog was adopted? Isn't there a possibility that another dog could be a perfect match? It's sad but more disappointing. read more

I know this place means well but its not doing its job very well. My wife and I were looking to adopt a dog and found one we loved that was, unfortunately, housed by these sanctimonious blowhards. I am a trader who works a very reasonable schedule and my wife, who is universally considered a saint, works from home. We have 1200 sq ft of completely private outdoor space and are generally considered to be extremely responsible people. Sorry if this is to too self-aggrandizing, but its important to mention because after committing numerous hours jumping through the many hoops ALIVE requires to adopt, we were unceremoniously and callously rejected from not only adopting the dog we'd fallen in love with, but ANY dog that they foster. When we called the home coordinator who brought the dog on a home visit, we were told we were "too restrictive" with the dog. This asinine judgment was arrived at from me petting the dog and telling her "you're such a good girl" and when it would bite me (as a puppy is expected to do), I calmly stood up, crossed my arms and softy, but sternly said, "No, we don't bite". We were trying to exhibit the characteristics of responsible pet owners, prepared for ALL the aspects of pet ownership, not just the irresistible cuteness of a puppy. We were instead punished for this behavior and told, and I quote, "we would not allow the dog's personality to develop" and deemed unfit to adopt a dog. This was a pitbull puppy. Let that sink in. They didn't think it was responsible to attempt to teach a pitbull, a breed under societal scrutiny, that biting is not ok. And its not like they had to decide between 2 very qualified families/homes and simply chose another. The dog we wanted went unadopted for almost a month (!!!!) after we were rejected. Around 10,000 dogs a day are euthanized in this country, and, apparently, it was more important to this shelter (that is theoretically in existence to stop as much of that killing as possible) to find, what they deem, to be a marginally better home than to save even one more of those ~250,000 dogs. ALIVE's absurd judgment almost soured us on the entire adoption process, after our heartbreaking rejection we almost decided to go with a breeder. And that's the real tragedy. How many perfectly reasonable/responsible potential pet owners resign to other means of acquiring a dog after being on the wrong end of the absurd, counterproductive standards a place like ALIVE requires? Thankfully we eventually decided to get back out there, and found a wonderful boxer/pit/lab from the wonderful Second City Canine Rescue (who subsequently received a big fat additional donation). If you're looking for a pet, please adopt, but understand that if the pet you decide on is housed by this group, prepare for disappointment and understand that not all shelters are as irrational and fatuous as ALIVE. read more

I filled out an application and was denied to adopt a dog with no explanation. I've been animal lover and care taker since childhood. People that know me would be shocked by this. I work mainly from home, live on a wooded acre of land in a large home and make more than enough money to support the care of a dog. I read all the yelp reviews after I applied so I'm not totally surprised. I am completely in alignment with many of these reviews in that the leaders of this organization are focused more on judging people and making decisions about their lives then placing animals in good homes. I've really never experienced anything like this. If your reading this review and considering applying to adopt a pet, please move on. Don't waste your time or energy. read more

I was ready to fall in love with this place. Unfortunately, I can concur that they treat people poorly and the owner is rude. It's a curious thing to me, when people love animals, but how they treat other humans is of no importance to them. read more

Our minds still reel from the treatment we received here. I find it completely fascinating, and highly recommend you adopt elsewhere, where you aren't dealing with an organization that employs adoption counselors that are fanatical and judgmental and in our case, one who develops poor opinions about potential adopters that they have incompetently prejudged. We have not experienced anything quite like this, and have worked for, worked with, volunteered at, and adopted from shelters all of our adult lives. I would like to reiterate and perhaps clarify that it isn't that we don't believe in an adoption process. Screening an adopter, and having a whole process is very important. We did not have an issue with filling out an application, providing references, ect. There are much better shelters to visit and adopt from, and we found an amazing rescue dog elsewhere shortly after this crazed encounter, and had a wonderful experience doing so. read more

Alive goes above and beyond to ensure that their animals are placed in the right homes, with folks who are fully prepared (mentally, physically, emotionally) to take care of the specific animal they've applied for. We've been fostering with them for a couple of years and have always had a great experience with the volunteers and coordinators we need to work with, but also have always felt super happy and confident with the forever homes our little temporary babies have gone off to. The folks here are deeply passionate about what they do and are committed to the safety, happiness and future of the animals they rescue. Is the application suuuuuper long? Yes (as a foster I had to fill out the same one). Are you going to get a reply right away when you reach out or apply? Maybe not. If you feel you need a dog/cat right this second/should be entitled to going out and picking one up like it's a new pair of shoes...this is not the rescue for you. read more

This has to be one of the most awful animal "rescues" in the Chicagoland area. I read all the negative reviews before deciding to go forward with our application. i just thought these were adopters that didn't get chosen, so they were upset. Boy, was I ever wrong!! Almost every one of the negative reviews stated the same thing : lack of communication. There were also some other issues that people had, but the communication complaint was probably #1. We completed the application on line with all the information requested. Instantly received an auto-reply confirming their receipt. THAT WAS ALL. Never contacted my vet, my references. ZERO. Now, before you all assume I'm just upset for not being chosen, understand that I get that maybe they felt we weren't a good fit, not sure why but based on other reviews, they like to play "God" when placing these animals. We applied for 2 dogs in early Feb. Both are still there. 1 Came in last year (!!) and the other in January. So as a result of my personal experience - this so called "rescue" wants monetary donations for the animals and the notoriety that they get from showcasing the animals they "save" and that's it!! They do not have any interest in adopting out these animals to good homes. It's discouraging to know that whilst they hide behind the well respected title of an animal rescue, that's where it ends. Very, very sad and shameful of Alive "rescue". I truly hope they get theirs hearts in the right place. I pray that the animals are actually well cared for in foster homes. DO NOT GO THROUGH ALIVE !!! read more

ALIVE is, without a doubt, one of the most wonderful, hardest working shelters I have had the pleasure of interacting with. The adoption process was thorough, as it should be. Too many people realize that "oh, they actually aren't dog people as they initially thought"and then just give the dog back. The volunteers at Alive go above and beyond to ensure a smooth transition, and we could not be more pleased! If people knew the blood sweat and tears that go into this small organization, they would be amazed. They go above and beyond to help not just the cute puppies, but the older dogs, the dogs who may need medical treatment, the dogs who may need special attention. The love and dedication that is put into this group is, in a word, phenomenal. I continue to be impressed with the work they do for these wonderful animals. They made the adoption process so wonderful.... incredibly responsive and helpful during every step. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!! read more

When we decided to adopt a dog, we didn't have a specific shelter or rescue in mind, we just wanted to find the right dog. Smallish, low-key, snuggly and as no-shed as possible. Petfinder and fate led us to a sweet looking Lhasa-poodle mix who was being taken care of by ALIVE. Everyone involved was super-friendly, happy to answer any and all questions. The application process is thorough, but I never felt grilled or like we weren't worthy of the dog just because we both have full-time jobs. I really like that they combine the home visit with meeting the dog -- kills two birds with one stone and introduces the dog to your house without pressure. The only tiny drawback for us was that ALIVE is about an hour's drive from home, and so we had to wait until the following weekend to have time to pick our new furball up and do the paperwork. But weekends are probably the best time to bring a new pet home regardless, and actually getting him was no sweat. The shelter workers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the staff person we talked with (Kristin) ran through the contract we signed, went over vaccines and his general health, gave us a bunch of stuff that the foster family had passed along, discussed food with us, all kinds of good stuff. All in all it took maybe 20 minutes and then! we had a dog! We're super grateful to ALIVE for bringing us together with our new dog (Link) and making it as easy as possible. read more

We applied online. A week later we were contacted to set up a phone interview. We responded and a week went by without an interview confirmation. I emailed to follow up and a phone interview was scheduled. The day of the phone interview I never received a call! Hours later I emailed AGAIN and was told there was an emergency. Stuff happens, but why not be CONSIDERATE and call/text/email? I emailed again to try and reschedule the phone interview and heard nothing back. This place is a joke. Go adopt from a place that actually cares about placing animals in forever homes. I cannot express how unprofessional this place is. read more

As great as PAWS can be, they are definitely not the only no kill shelter in the city. Next time you're looking to adopt or to foster a pet think of ALIVE Rescue. Kristen Gerali and her team are hands on and always take the time to talk about their process for adopting, their fostering program and just the care of pets in general. They are a group of true and dedicated animal lovers. Currently they are in the process of developing a sanctuary for farm animals and pets. As you can guess, this is no small feat and so they are also accepting donations for this on their website. Also, sign up for their monthly e-newsletter to learn about new pet friendly events happening in the city, vegetarian and/or vegan recipes and feel good stories about pet rescue. read more

So, you know how people that have rescued animals say, "I don't know if I rescued my dog, or my dog rescued me"? That's exactly how I feel. And I wouldn't have had the opportunity to feel that way if it weren't for Kristen and ALIVE Rescue, who brought me together with my awesome little spitfire of a puppy, Dahlia. ALIVE is so thorough, knowledgable and involved in the adoption process that it gives a clear picture that they truly care about each and every animal they rescue going to the right, quality home. It really is remarkable that a small but mighty organization can make such a difference in the lives of the homeless animals they save and the people that adopt them and love them. Adopt from ALIVE, it truly is a great experience. read more

I adopted my dog Camden from ALIVE a couple of years ago and also recently fostered a dog for them a few weeks ago. I also donate to them every chance I get :) Their staff/volunteers are extremely thorough in their processes which ensures each dog is placed in a safe environment where they can thrive. They are committed to every single dog they take in-medically, behaviorally, etc. Camden had a broken leg from being hit by a car when I adopted him and they took care of all of the associated medical costs that were acquired well after the adoption was finalized. They also have great partnerships with other rescues, shelters, vets and other dog-care providers which I think speaks to the foresight and leadership. Overall, just a very well-run organization that keeps its mission at the center of everything. read more

I would save your time and energy and adopt with more reputable rescue groups (One Tail at a Time, Players for Pits, etc). The "founder" of the group Kristen is very rude and short. My mom lost not one but both her pups in a short period of time, I convinced her to become a foster before adopting again. She tried a potential adoption with One Tail but the pup had separation anxiety and wasn't a good fit. I was a follower of Alive Rescue and know that they helped start CRISP and had smaller/small-medium dogs available for adoption. I reached out because their adoption policy is quite lengthy and you don't get to actually meet the dog before you are ready to sign the documents. Kristen stated that "Since most of the animals are in foster homes that is not possible." You can't even talk to the foster home, you just have to believe the assessment and blurb on their website. Once Kristen said no, I explained my concern with the last pup and her response was "If you are looking for a dog that does not bark that will be virtually impossible." Well I am not asking for a dog that doesn't bark, I am asking to have a conversation with the person currently caring for the dog to find out if they have any separation anxiety or long term barking issues; if they had any adjustment issues. I am asking for a more personalized option as you want me to complete a lengthy process (which I get and fully support...if I get to meet the dog in question) but no I have to do all the leg work and then meet the dog for an hour with a stranger in my house who decides if my home meets their requirements and then have to decide within 24 hours on whether the dog I met for 1 hr is the one I want to adopt (yes Miss A. review - I am calling you out). That is nuts. On top of that (the vegan in me is coming out) Kristen has the audacity to say as an animal lover she follows a strict vegetarian diet - the slaughter and abuse of animals for your cheese and leather jacket isn't an animal lover it is a dog lover. Either way, if you are at an event and match, by all means complete their process with a $300 fee and mandatory $75 training costs. Otherwise, try one of the other multiple rescues within Chicago. read more

I cannot say enough about this rescue and the amazing volunteers! They are small but are doing BIG things! They rely fully on donations & are completely volunteer run - that's a LOT to undertake. I have fostered over 10 dogs for them and it has become almost a seamless process now. Kristen, the founder, is amazing and wonderfully communicative about what is asked of me as a foster home. I cannot believe the amount of love & joy I receive from these temporary children and I know that they go to great homes due to the complete vetting of potential adopters! It's a lot of work for the volunteers, but the goal is to make sure the dogs & owners are a perfect fit! I couldn't be happier about the better place all my fosters have gone & I have some friends & neighbors who have adopted so I get to see them often! Safe a live - adopt or foster a dog from ALIVE Rescue. read more

I think ALIVE is a wonderful little organization. They do great things and are willing to give back to the community that supports them. I'm happy to have discovered ALIVE and hope to remain involved with them on any level possible. Please consider ALIVE for your next pet adoption or as a wonderful place to give donations. read more

I adopted my little guy from this rescue just over a year ago, and I still communicate with them. When they pulled Ski and placed him in his foster home, the vet wasn't sure he would make it. He did, and I am so lucky he did! Kristen, the founder of the organization, is unbelievable; both she and Sisely do everything they can to ensure the adoption/foster work out for the pet and the parent. They don't discriminate when it comes to different breeds; they simply look at all they rescue as individuals. I also have to say, they do a great job with the fostering process. Ski's fosters and I still keep in contact because they honestly want to know how he is doing. This group is great, and they're in the process of doing more great things. Check them out on Facebook, and you will see. If you're looking at adopting a new family memeber, I can't say enough good things about Alive. If you're looking to donate, they're non for profit, so any donation would help save another precious life! read more

Filled out an application twice, emailed about 3 dogs and was told all 3 had others interested in them. Said I'd like to be on the waitlist. Asked for updates several times as all 3 stayed up on the website with no apps pending. Never heard a word from them. Seems like they do this to a lot of people based on other reviews. Will adopt elsewhere. read more

I would like to add from my first posting that my husband and I have now fostered 6 dogs with ALIVE and it has been a great experience. They are currently looking for more Foster Homes so if you are interested visit their website and apply. They provide all fosters with food, crate, bedding, toys, collars/leashes, bowls, and vet all the animals. You can foster for as little at 10 days to as long as it takes the animal to get adopted (anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months normally). Think about it! If you have always wanted a dog and cannot make a lifetime commitment, fostering is the way to go! read more

It is my opinion that the negative reviews are from people who did not want to save an animal in need, they wanted to obtain an accessory and thought they could do so through this rescue. The frustration at the application/vetting process is confounding. When you apply for a job, do you tell the person calling to schedule the interview that the process is frustrating if they need more references? Do you expect to meet clients before you've even been interviewed? Why would you give less consideration when applying to *adopt a living thing*? We adopted Sergio from Alive in January of 2017, we applied in December. The process from application to bringing him home took a little over 3 weeks, mainly due to coordinating with the holidays. I knew this dog and this rescue was special when everybody I interacted with at the rescue had so much love for him and knew his individual needs and quirks so well. They were so careful to make sure his needs would be met and that he would have the time and space to adjust and come out of his shell if we were to adopt him. On top of that, the founder, Kristin, brought him to the home visit. That's how dedicated they were to finding the perfect home for our dog. With good reason. He was abandoned and ended up with animal control, "unclaimed", in 2012. He was adopted and surrendered to animal control again in 2015. From there, he was saved and finally given a real chance by Alive Rescue. Alive goes to "open access" shelters with high euthanasia rates, then on top of that they take in the animals most likely to be euthanized. An open access shelter generally takes in all lost, abandoned, strays, etc regardless of temperament or breed, as opposed to a no kill shelter which will have certain "standards" so they can maintain their "no kill" status. An open access shelter doesn't maintain a "no kill" status. So, Alive goes to kill shelters and takes in the animals most likely to be killed, regardless of illness, injury, special needs, or temperament. They nurse them back to health, they work on training and socializing. With the hard work of volunteers and through donations, they make the unadoptable, adoptable. Our dog is one of those dogs. Without Alive, *he* wouldn't be alive. But even for Sergio, the third time was not the charm. He was adopted from the rescue and returned, they took him back and continued to care for him. At that point he was only 4 years old. Most of his life was abandonment, except for the love bestowed upon him by Alive Rescue. The employees, the volunteers at the Little Barn, the fosters, they gave him the love and patience he needed that people up to that point in his life could not be bothered to show him. Now he is my heart, because Alive saved him twice. They did this for him for two years. If the application process is long, there is a reason for it, if the vetting process seems drawn out or invasive, there is a reason for it. They put all of this effort into saving each animal, what is the point if they don't do what they can to ensure that they won't end up given right back to them? Abandoned, neglected, or back at a kill shelter? They are putting a life that has already been at risk in your hands, if you're frustrated by the application, are you even ready? If you're not willing to do "all the leg work", as some put it, then you shouldn't be trying to take on the responsibility of an animal. read more

Don't even bother. They will reject you without bothering to even talk to you or check your references. No reasons are given.

If I could give 0 stars I would. My boyfriend and I recently went to this shelter to look at puppies. We fell in love with one of them and the volunteers and the workers were very nice, informative, and overall seemed to be good people to adopt from. We went home and I filled out the nearly 10 page long application online. I 100% agree with getting to know potential adopters, but their application was a little to extensive in my option. Needing references, non family, all vet information. About previous pets. It was slightly invasive. Anyway, I filled out the application and sent it. The next morning I received an email stating I missed a few sections. I answered every question that I was asked and the woman who was emailing me was seemingly very nice. I was then emailed by someone else saying my application was denied. DENIED! I was in shock. Why on earth would you deny my boyfriend and I ? We own our property. We have both had dogs before. We are both active and planned on walking the dog several times a day. After I received the denial email, I emailed back within 1 minute asking why we were denied. I hadn't heard back within 2 days so I decided to email the first woman and it's now been 2 weeks and have yet to receive an email explaining why we were denied. I work in the customer service industry and the customer service that came from the people at this shelter is just terrible and extremely unprofessional. I'd given them 2 chances to respond to my emails explaining why we were denied and didn't receive a response so this is what I'm left to do. Writing bad reviews. If they just explained why they denied us, I wouldn't have written this bad review. My boyfriend and I were recommended to a much better animal rescue in Naperville called Dog Patch Pet and Feed. Much nicer people. Approved on the spot. We also got to take out puppy home that day. This shelter was much nicer. Had everything there that we needed to get to make our home puppy ready. I highly recommend that shelter vs alive rescue. read more

I second all of the terrible reviews. After waiting weeks for a home visit where I'm allegedly first in line for one of the puppies they're hoarding rather than adopting, I signed up to foster through PAWS to open up a space at a shelter and save some lives! Don't waste your time applying to adopt from this organization, but more importantly don't waste your money donating to this organization. What they're doing is terrible for human adopters but even worse for the animals. Your money is going to keeping these animals in this shelter rather than finding the animals homes and opening up the space to save more lives. read more

Although we didn't end up adopting through Alive, they were so kind throughout the process. We applied for a puppy and were contacted back after a few days. I will say- it's a bit nerve wracking because they say they only contact potential adopters back so we were on the edge of our seats waiting for an email! They do, however, have a specific email address for applicants to check in. We ended up adopting with another rescue and I felt horrible because we had gotten to the interview stage of the process. Cassandra was so kind and empathetic about us choosing another dog at a different rescue. It can be tough and a little anxiety inducing waiting for an email back, but they have a million applicants at a time and only so many people screening the apps. I recommend shooting an email to the applicant specific address if you've waited more than 3 days for a reply. They're a smaller foster based rescue after all. read more