The devoted people that work here and volunteer here are amazing human beings. In a time when there are kill shelters PAWS tries to care and find homes for our fur friends. I attended an event where the Illinois State Treasurer returned unclaimed property to PAWS in the form of nearly $30,000 as they were named beneficiaries in a life insurance policy of a person who had passed away It was great to see PAWS get this chunk of money because they are doing GODs work Thanks all involved read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Alderman Brian Hopkins presenting PAWS a check. How cool is this ! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We rescued a wonderful Labrador 11yrs. ago. He was our 4 th large dog. We are ready for a small dog..... choices are TERRIER-POODLE OR A MINIATURE POODLE... even a STANDARD POODLE.. My sister had poodles & they were wonderful! Most rescue locations have mixed poodles & when we went to dog parks, they were trouble makers. I know I'm asking for probably asking for the impossible, but, our last dog came from PAWS! Thanks, Elaine Ladany read more

We rescued a sweet Chihuahua over 20 years ago. We still support this amazing group. Their mission should be a guideline for all rescue groups read more

I understand volunteering,but everyone should be on the same page.I was given very little information on the cat I was interested in. I was given no information on the cat until I was ready to sign the papers, then we were presented the full history. The volunteer at the adoption area behind the desk was a snob. We were blamed for not knowing the coding for animals who are/ are not available yet. The volunteer with the cats said," get a blue card." We did and I really found a cat I liked. At no time were medical issues, nor medications mentioned, or the very obvious behavioral issues.We had spent ( the volunteer and I) about 15 minutes cajoling her out of her bed. Just fill out the required paperwork to get the ball rolling. Yet this volunteer told us everything wrong with ANOTHER cat. Again, I spent a lot of time with said volunteer any she never mentioned anything negative. The woman behind the adoption counter basically blamed us for not getting all the information and requesting a cat that was not ready. We had just spent a lot of money to bring the cat home. I'm sure wonderful work is done here ....but maybe some re- eduction is needed. The two young ladies at the front desk were very nice, courteous and knowledgeable. read more

Just wanted to come back and say it's now been 8 months since Charlie has joined our family and he is doing so well!! I'll add a few updated pics of him looking so healthy now. read more

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I've been supporting Paws "fur" several years. I've donated tens of thousands of dollars. I've contacted them several times, the most recent, to adopt beagle who was rescued from WI. I wrote to Paula, the founder, the only email address I had, long story short, rude, rude, rude the second time I've had contact with her always rude! I adopted a beagle, who was a "beauty" pageant girl, who lived in a cage her whole life. She got to come out when she was "preforming". I've had her 4 years now, and, she's just beginning to know love and trust! So, I know I know how to adopt a baby, and my baby would also help. But, I guess they don't care about people who donate, and walk the walk read more

My kitten was brought here to get spayed, her incision didn't seem fully closed, but over the course of a few days she reopened it. The main part as to why they don't get 5 stars is because they do not answer the phone. You can call and call but they refer you to a voicemail even if you select that your animal is currently in their care or has recently been there for service. It's very inconvenient to not be able to contact them, and in my opinion unsafe if my animal were to be in their care at the time. I went up to the clinic without an appointment and let them know the issue, and they fixed it right away. I waited no more like 5-10 minutes for my kitty to be brought to the back to have her incision stapled, with new medication, a cone, and instructions to bring her back in the following week with no ifs ands or buts. I was appreciative that they fixed the problem so seemlessly, but wish I could've had the comfort of knowing before I got there that it wouldn't have been a problem! All in all I've brought every single one of my pets here for a neuter/spay and will continue doing so read more

Couldn't recommend Paws more. We have felt so well prepared for our adoption and are incredibly grateful for the resources, and all that went into getting our new puppy ready for us before we even met her. She is so healthy, loved and is transitioning perfectly. Yes, she is a puppy, but because Paws prepared us with what to expect, what we need and even our first vet appointment, our experience has been so seamless. Sears is loving, playful, kind and very well socialized. When we first left the adoption center, she turned back several times like, "I don't want to leave" and that gave us so much hope for Dogs and Cats in Chicago under Paws' loving care. That while they are in between homes, they have a place to be cared for, loved and warm. Thank you for all you do! We are overly impressed, and will continue to adopt with Paws for all our lives! read more

We adopted our Master P about four years ago and although we absolutely love our baby, Paws willfully neglected to tell us some key information about his care that we should have known prior to adopting him. He's got issues that were displayed while he was at Paws to the time we fostered but as brand new animal owners we had no idea those issues were signs of serious medical conditions. Had we known this prior too we would have been equipped with the knowledge to make the best decision about our capabilities and his care. Unfortunately, Paws took that away from us. For any future adopters just make sure you get all the information you can from them about your new addition to the family before you walk out that door and do your own independent research. read more

I went yesterday to adopt a cat. I have been looking for a great fit for quite some time and Scarlett was it! The staff was so helpful in answering my questions and understanding my needs. She is new to the home but she is settling in really well. What a sweet girl! Thank you paws! read more

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First of all I would like to say thank you for Paul's I had adopted my dog Friday from you all and he's doing good I'm going to get a chance to bring him so you all can see him I have a question his papers I had for his shots I lost the whole folder and how can I get a copy of Friday's shop papers again you can reach me Sonja Bates at 312-208-37 27 that's my new phone number and I have a new email address the email is b a t e s s o n j a 962@gmail.com please can somebody reach me and I can get a copy of Friday's shop records as soon as possible thank you. read more

I found 4 kittens Went to paws the told they wouldn't take them i didn't have an appointment i was The only customer there read more

We adopted our dog 31/2 month Lab a week and 1/2 ago. The process took about 4 hours because they were unusually very busy that day. Even though it was along process it went smoothly and was a very positive experience. All personnel were very friendly and helpful. I would recommend PAWS to Anyone looking to adopt a pet , you won't be disappointed. JG read more

We checked out this adoption center for the first time. It's a pretty nice facility. Probably one of the nicer ones I've been too. They had kitty city area and a doggy town area. Looks like they just had an adoption event but we still got to meet some sweet fur babies. Definitely check it out if you looking to adopt. Great facility and great informative staff. read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am very thankful to PAWS Chicago for making the adoption process a smooth experience. Everyone there was kind and took the time to discuss which animal would be best for me. They were honest about each animal and its habits. Initially, I planned to adopt one dog, but I discovered that it had issues with other people, which prompted me to reconsider my decision. I appreciate them for informing me about this before I adopted the dog. If you're looking to adopt an animal, this is definitely the place to go. read more

they were very knowledgeable about the cats I adopted and they made me feel very comfortable and now it's been two years and I love my crazy cats and I was treated with respect and kindness read more

We decided to adopt a dog at a stressful time in our lives. So it was important that the dog met certain specifications. PAWS Chicago allowed us to provide a little bit of extra information regarding what we were looking for in a dog. PAWS showed us the perfect dog right off the bat. He was the first and only dog we looked at, and he has been the perfect addition to our family for the past 5 months. We are deeply grateful to PAWS for saving our precious dog for us, and connecting us with him. PAWS really knows what they are doing when it comes to matching the right pet with the right owner. We highly recommend working with them if you are considering adding a pet to your family. read more

For Thankful Thursday, I wanted to give a shout out and a heartfelt appreciation for this place. My husband and I often come here to visit and see all the dogs as they just bring joy and smiles to our faces. It was especially a life saver as my husband was dealing with grief over the loss of our dog. He would go every day. The staff is so kind and caring. We also adopted our dog, Colton, after. He has been absolutely amazing and was exactly what we needed. They made the process easy and straightforward. I am so grateful for this place and all the hearts they heal. read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

in my experience, everyone at PAWS is amazing! In May, we adopted an amazing one year old cat. And most recently in December we adopted an adorable little kitten. They are perfect playmates. i'd like to thank everyone, especially Katie, who made sure that we were able to have our sweet little Saluki. everyone is kind, caring and truly are there to help these amazing animals find forever, loving homes read more

First of all, most people that are trying to adopt are great but every time I've come in, I've experienced fellow adopters that are NOT nice to the staff. Y'all need to be more gracious and patient. Most of these people are volunteers! Please have some sense of respect! My first experience with PAWS was at an offsite event in Highland Park. Met a cutie but I wasn't quite ready. It only affirmed that I really wanted to adopt. The volunteers were kind to walk me through the process and talk to me about a couple available pets that would be a good match and encouraged me to keep looking. I made it to couple appointments to walk through but every time I wanted one, someone beat me to the punch. I saw Beckett on the site the day before thanksgiving and fell in love. Made an appointment first thing Friday and showed up an hour early. Lucky that I did because there were 3 families waiting to see him. They put us in a room where you have to stay seated while they make the introduction. Then once you decide on a dog, you wait to be walked through their available history and then meet a counselor who shares info about training, vets, and gives your a starter bag of high quality food. For Winston FKA Beckett, the owners decided not to take him back because there were a lot of medical issues he needed financed. PAWS had took him in, helped him recover from pneumonia (or perhaps what seems to be the rumored Dog Covid) and neutered him. After 2 months of antibiotics and monitoring, he fully recovered. They said he wasn't super socialized but was good on walks so they asked me to be cautious about busy areas like high rises or dog parks. After 2 days settling in at home, I took him out to meet family in the burbs and Win is superrrrr well behaved and social. He did so well with meeting the family. Excited to start his training! Thank you to everyone that worked on Black Friday! It was super busy. Thank you to Elaina, Katie, Don, Mya (sp?): Thank you for all the work that you do at PAWS. You're everyday heroes. Follow Winnie's adventures with his dad @wintheportie on IG read more

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They have the best team there! I adopted a kitten in October and they were super thorough and helpful at every step of the way! They have counseling for first time pet owners and were very patient during the whole process. Thank you so much!!! read more

We adopted our cat Cookie (formerly Owl) from PAWS last summer. The adoption process took about an hour and a half from start to finish, they gave us some dry and wet cat food, and a "healthy start certificate" which is a complimentary vet exam and certain medical treatments up to $500 if seen within 14 days since adoption. Cookie was spayed at the shelter just a few days prior, and we noticed her incision site was oozing pus. We took her to one of the VCA hospitals where they cleaned her wound and gave her an antibiotic ointment, antibiotic injection, and a cone of shame. We also got her stool tested as recommended by PAWS and the vet. Aaaaannnd.. she tested positive for giardia parasite. So this time she was prescribed two different oral antibiotics. After that, we did a re-test and no parasites!! Everything was covered and we didn't have to pay ANYTHING because we adopted her from PAWS. It was amazing because you will need to buy so many things and spend a lot of money in the beginning when you get a new pet, so I'm sure this helps people. I highly recommend adopting from PAWS and using the certificate to the vet. Now our Cookie is healthy and full of sass and spunk! Thank you PAWS read more

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Adopt somewhere else! This one is a mess. My current dogs are from other local rescues. Maybe this place has become too big for its own good. It is disorganized, the communication is awful, half the staff we encountered were unprofessional, judgmental, and egotistical. The rest were friendly. We are ideal dog adoption candidates. To start, we were judged by one application answer, putting "as long as it takes!" for how much time we'd allow our adopted dog to get acclimated in our home. We are not ones to return dogs. But apparently the "correct" answer to that question is 3-6 months. The process from here was an unorganized mess. Our dogs we brought with us were kept in a small nook with a couple staff members, adding to their anxiety and stress from a long car ride and now being in a strange place. We were told someone will bring us back to see the available dogs. No one did. We already repeatedly said after thorough review of their website, there was a dog we were interested in. After asking two more times, we were told no one brings you back, you can just go. In the back room, we find out the dog we're interested in is being kept separate where people are not allowed. This could have been communicated right away. After meeting and falling in love with the puppy, we find out she has some behavioral issues. The lack of transparency about this on their website is concerning. All puppies had the same blurb online, gets along great with all dogs, etc. Seems to be some bait and switch behavior. This puppy we were told lacks confidence, is timid, "pancakes" to the ground. A lot of fear-based behaviors. We can work with this. We've rescued a dog with behavioral issues before, so my concern was 100% about why they weren't up front about this on their site. We then met with the "behavioral trainer." She immediately judged our dogs saying it was "an odd pair" to have one larger dog one small. It felt very uncomfortable and judgmental. She then judged the fact that we use a prong collar, was very fixated on this collar, and repeatedly asked if we wanted a lecture from her on these collars. After 6 years of pulling issues, training, harnesses, etc, it was determined this is the best option for our dog. She then asked us how we introduce new dogs to our dogs. SHE IS THE TRAINER!! It is incredibly concerning that this woman is allowed to make Dog to Dog introductions when she does not know the proper methods, taking into account current behaviors, age differences, environment, etc. She then made us put on an alternate collar and leash so SHE could handle our dog for the interaction with the puppy. I've now learned from my own research and talking with an actual certified trainer that everything this woman did was beyond wrong! The initial interaction was the dogs going straight to each other and they let the puppy jump up and bite my dog. My dog reacted. The puppy reacted back. The "trainer" insisted my dog's reaction was from fear. It's more likely to be pain from sharp puppy teeth leading to fear as well as now distrust in this strange person controlling these poor interactions. I understand some puppies can bite. This is for the agency to know, communicate, and adjust the interaction accordingly. Instead of improving her tactics, the "trainer" let the puppy and my dog interact again, had tense body language, and quickly yanked my dog away. My dog needed a break. She was anxious and not at all her normal self. The puppy kept wanting to interact, she seemed to have no issues with our dogs at all. But the "trainer" decided she didn't like this and asked if we wanted to see other puppies?? The "trainers" behavior and actions during this whole ordeal was appalling. It was heartbreaking to think we were about to be going home with a new family member, but did not due to poor handling by the "trainer" resulting in poor initial interactions. I will never adopt from this company and I will never recommend this company to anyone. read more

i haven't been able to adopt a dog. i keep trying to meet one who is in foster care but can't get anyone to get back to me. i've tried their website , email and phone. no one has responded to me. i put an appointment in but it's for the adoption center and not the foster home so i'm thinking we won't meet the dog we are interested in. can someone tell me how you go about meeting a dog in foster care with paws? read more

We've been volunteering at paws and decided to adopt a pet from them. They were amazing to work with. They were patient and kind with us as we tried to figure out which pup would be best for our fam. We're so happy we got our pup from paws and would highly recommend them to everyone read more

Update: We were contacted by Sara and she shared with us the current process (updated due to COVID) and their workload vs the available human resources. We completely understood that and were not expecting a prompt response anyway. But her listening to our side and sharing PAWS situation was definitely helpful. She also went through their database for us and kept us in the loop. The Outcome of it was a very happy one. We were able to meet a cute pup and adopt him too. The facility we went to meet the pup was clean, COVID safe as they have been taking proper precautions and the people who we spoke with were very friendly. Unfortunately, we did not get much information from the people who were fostering the pup but that's okay. Just want to say Thank you to PAWS team and Sara. read more

I love you is the only thing I can say. I adopted my two baby kittens from the Clybourn location in September 2019. Initially I went there looking for just one kitten but after spending some time with the volunteers they convinced me how much better is to adopt two instead of just one. I am so glad that I listened to their advise and went home with two. They are big boys now and they bring so much of joy into my life. They are super sweet, fun, loving hearted, and pretty much everything I needed. I live by myself and they are my very loved and most important family members. The adoption process was very smooth and everyone was very informative. I feel so happy with my fur kids! read more

Welcoming nice and fresh animals good environment the place feels friendly and a convenient location stopped by on the way back home and ended up with a cat read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We adopted a puppy from Paws and was assured that we could email or contact them if we were having any issues. Three days after adopting the puppy, she started biting and nothing would get her to stop. We were exhausted and physically in pain due to literally being covered in bruises (arms, legs, and torso). I called and emailed multiple times and not one person got back to me. After a week of the biting and thousands of dollars we did not know what to do and since no one was getting back to us, we went to Paws to talk to them directly. After talking to an adoption specialists and telling her our story and pictures of the bruises which she gasped upon seeing, we realized it was not a good fit. We were told we would get half the deposit back. It has now been two months and nothing. Of course, we have called and emailed and once again no one gets back to you. I think this place has a great mission but I will never go back there. read more

The adoption process was extremely smooth. Clyde is our second dog from PAWS Chicago. We believe in the mission and so do the staff and volunteers at PAWS Chicago, and it shows. read more

My husband and I started our journey with our new fur baby as fosters with PAWS. We took Nugget 7/5/2021 as a foster and adopted her less than a month later. It has not been the easiest journey, but we are so glad that we stuck with it! She had a hard time with potty training (took several months) but we got it sorted out and now she is the best girl ever! PAWS was great with advice and support during the training process and really helped us get through it. If you're looking for a new family member, PAWS is a great place to go. The staff is friendly and supportive, and the training help is top notch. We highly recommend PAWS as a place to both foster and adopt from. 15/10 would do it again! read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Nugget and me. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Although I have heard mixed reviews about Paws my own experience went really well. I had been looking at a cat on their website for a few weeks. Finally in July I went to meet Gaena. She was upstairs and not in the main cat area. The staff helped me for over an hour, told me all about her personality, medical needs, etc. I then spoke with my boyfriend and we came back about 2 weeks later, luckily he loved her! He is not much of a cat person. The staff were so excited we took her home! I paid for her, gave an extra donation as a thanks too! They also were great with a few follow ups we had about scratching & medical history information. I would recommend Paws, they take great care of their animals. read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Rizz - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Though since writing my original review my then-boyfriend, now-husband and I have moved to Portland, I still think fondly of PAWS and still wholeheartedly recommend supporting the work they do, whether through adoption or donation. After more than eight years with him, our beloved cat Rocky died earlier this year. We were terribly sad to say goodbye to him, but so grateful for all the fun times we had with him and the joy he brought us. Without PAWS, Rocky surely would have been euthanized if not for his wounds then his FIV+ status. If not for PAWS we never would have had this goofy, lazy, awkward-looking-yet-somehow-so-adorable, unbelievably soft cat who we loved. read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Rocky - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For my 500th Review I want to write my review about the adoption of my kitten from PAWS in August of 2018. The Process: An application must be filled out on-line (or at the facility itself). It is very, very thorough and an essential part of the process in order to attest that you are an appropriate parent to a pet that you adopt. They do this screening because apparently individuals or families adopt a kitten or puppy and then (in the past) have brought them back six months later when apparently the adoptive family is unable or unwilling to deal with the pet's behavior. Adopting a pet is a serious responsibility and they need lots of love, playtime, care-medical, emotional, physical, and financially it is important to be able to provide all of these things and more. Playing with and Picking Out My Kitten: After I met with someone about my application, I went to the closed rooms with windows to see the cats and kittens available for adoption. I was then allowed into the playroom to interact and play with the kittens and cats in the room. The Interview: After picking out my kitten, I met with one of the team members for 45 minutes filling out paperwork, being evaluated on my paperwork and application, receiving my "welcome kit" which included a bag of appropriate cat food for my kitten, and paying the fee. Taking My Kitten Home: I then was walked back to the kitty playroom where my kitten was scanned with the micro-chip so that he was identified in their computer system with me being his "Mommy!" While, they provide appropriate cardboard pet boxes to carry your new pet home, I brought my own cat carrier. FYI-They offer a first office visit/doctor's appointment for free. *They prefer to adopt animals "together" and will allow individual adoptions IF you are able to demonstrate that you will have enough time to spend with your kitten during the first formative year of their life! My cat will be Numero Uno-One Year Old in June! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPARTACUS NERO! WE LOVE YOU VERY, VERY MUCH AND WE COULD NOT IMAGINE OUR LIVES WITHOUT YOU! read more

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We adopted Pepper, a 2 month old mixed breed puppy & the staff has been extremely helpful and attentive! read more

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - Pepper - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We adopted a sweet pup last weekend from Paws Chicago. The process was smooth and thorough. Everyone was knowledgeable and happy to match you with the right pet. We are so grateful to have our new furry friend join our family! read more

I had been trying to adopt from CACC because I know CACC is overrun with pets. Unfortunately, CACC was extremely disorganized and impossible to get in touch with to come in and adopt (due to COVID restrictions you can not go without an appointment first), but fortunately, that meant I ended up just using PAWS instead. PAWS was so easy to schedule with - you fill out a survey/application online. Once you do that, you can use their (very user-friendly) online scheduling tool to choose when to come in. If you have to cancel, you can use the same online tool to cancel. If you're running late, there is also a button you can hit on the same tool to let the PAWS people know you are still coming. The wait to see the pets and then to go through the adoption process was longer than expected (it took about 2.5 hours in total for the process), but that was partly because multiple people were wanting to adopt different animals at the same time, so the staff was run a little thin I think. Everything was done extremely well. You will have all of your pets medical records. The pet you adopt will very likely already have received all of their medical treatments, vaccines, etc., and you will be given a full history and have someone explain everything to you about your pet. They will give you folders full of information, should you need it, and will email you to check up after a few days. Turns out, our pets were taken to PAWS from CACC, isolated for a couple weeks while being treated for respiratory illness, given vaccines, neutered, etc., and then put up for adoption. We got them fully ready to go. Because they were socialized very well and taken great care of at PAWS, they are friendly and don't have any behavioral issues. They are great kittens. It costs slightly more than CACC initially, but saves you so much time, stress, and money. You can trust that you are getting an animal that has been fully evaluated and cared for, and most (if not all) of their medical needs have likely been addressed. The staff/volunteers are extremely capable and it seems to be run very well. I'm very glad we ended up getting our pets from PAWS. read more

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PAWS perpetuates cruelty to animals and calls it "helping." Yes, the shelter building is clean & bright; yes, the animals are adorable; yes, the staff & volunteers are nice to you and are so glad you're there to adopt a pet. Now for everything that was off in my experience with adopting two kittens from two different litters at PAWS: -My own, independent vet said both kittens were not 8 weeks old yet, as PAWS had claimed (bare minimum age for separating kittens from their mothers and littermates) - Both kittens had food aggression issues, confirming they had either been taken from their mothers too soon, or hadn't had enough to eat. One grew out of it; the other didn't, to the detriment of the first one's mental health. -One kitten grew into a cat who doesn't understand limits and plays far too rough with the other cat. This is something that's taught at a young age by the mother cat and littermates. -Both kittens grew into cats with poor hygiene. They rarely wash their hindquarters (halfway down their backs and below). The fur on their lower backs gets greasy, sticky and matted if I don't tend to it everyday--and they're shorthairs. One has feline hyperesthesia and, despite enjoying the back-scratching from the brush, has difficulty tolerating anyone touching his lower back. It's a great situation. -Both kittens grew into cats with poor bathroom hygiene. I have to follow them around with baby wipes everyday or they get crusts and smelly grossness around their genitals, and then, when they sit down on the furniture... I now have 3 different appliances for cleaning upholstery, rugs, and floors. I keep a gallon jug of pricey enzymatic cleaner on hand at all times. I keep the fur on the cats' back ends shaved to help me do their hygiene. Good luck shaving and washing your cat's butt. Both cats are sweet and wonderful, but I credit their personalities and my own care for that--not PAWS. Neither cat knows how to "cat" in areas that can only be taught by a mother or foster mother. No one thinks they're signing up for this ridiculous level of care when they adopt a cat. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gotten these guys. My and my family's previous cats weren't like this at all. Similarly, my friend adopted a puppy at PAWS who turned out to be infested with parasites. The poor baby got very ill. Deworming is such basic care... Find someplace better. This shelter is negligent and you'll have to live with--and pay for--the consequences. read more

Good, kind people and a caring, reputable business. That's PAWS Chicago. I am a youngish, retired professional with a good house and a fenced yard. I am a former dog owner and I consider my family a "dog family." We regularly see the vet; we pick up dog poop; we pay attention to a crying dog. I registered (online) at three different shelters. PAWS Chicago had the perfect dog for me. Their people are good and kind and their process is thorough. I was asked about people and other animals in the home, healthcare, vet expenses, areas for play and areas for exercise outside. The people who work there all seem to care a lot. They volunteer to work there. My adoption counselor was a 12-year volunteer. We loved him. The process: fill out online registration; obtain visit appointment; at facility, walk through hallways with windowed "kennel" rooms; tell an employee which pets you want to meet; go to a separate room to meet the dog; decide if you want to adopt; if so, pay fee; talk to adoption counselor and sign a contract; get free stuff ( leash, collar, small supply of food, bandanna); take photo ( pet and new owner) ; go home. At PAWS, my $350 adoption fee covered neutering, microchipping, all needed meds and shots, a small supply of food. They offered referrals for free initial wellness visits. He was clean and healthy. Again, a top-notch place. My requests: a small dog, (15-20 pounder), a young adult, housebroken, calm around other friendly dogs. I got everything I wanted. We adore our new little guy. He is polite and sweet and puts up with baths in the kitchen sink. For the appointment, we had a blanket for the ride home from PAWS, a baggie of treat, and at home, food dishes and a snuggly bed. I will ALWAYS recommend PAWS for anyone who wants to rescue a pet . They are no-kill and they really care about every pet. If I were in a position to hire, I would give extra points to a PAWS volunteer. Note: If you need supplies, the location on Clybourn in Chicago has a big pet store right across the street. read more

I has been nearly 2 months since my disaster of an experience with them and I have still not been able to shake it. As many others have echoed on Google and Yelp, there is distinct level of pretentiousness, elitism, and racism that people who have lived experience as people of color recognize immediately. Not only was I flat out lied to, but I was spoken to as though I was too dumb to know I was being intentionally deceived and blocked from adopting. If you know, you know. Apparently, they had concerns about my fitness to care for a cat that could have been easily cleared up with an honest conversation, but I don't think that was ever their intention. I'm a veteran cat lady and have brought intact kittens/cat to their spay/neuter center for years. Never had a problem. But the when I tried adopt, I met a completely different organization. I hope to one day forget all the details of my experience, but I will never forget how they made me feel. It was truly awful. ***This review does not at all apply to Celene Mielcarek. She was the only staff member to TELL ME THE TRUTH (so hard, I know) She spoke to me with respect, candor, and dignity. Thank you, Celene. read more