Please fill an adoption application on line if your are interested in adopting one of the animals that are available for adoption through Animal Rescue of Illinois. Please hit submit once when complete. If you are having trouble, please contact us at info@animalrescueofillinois.org. You must be 21 years old to adopt and all family members and resident dogs must meet (at the foster parent's home or adoption event) the prospective new member of your family prior to adoption! We are unable to ship your new pet.

Animal Rescue of Illinois concentrates on rescuing the animals that are awaiting their horrific fate of euthanasia in high-kill facilities throughout Illinois and the surrounding states. As one gets adopted, we are able to rescue another. Therefore we are unable to hold adoptable pets. Adoptions are done on a first come, first served basis.

Once rescued, the pets are generally located in foster homes. In order to meet one of these wonderful pets, please fill out an adoption application on line. Please expect 24 to 72 hours for a response by phone or email. If we have not contacted you within that time frame, please contact us to ensure the application was sucessfully received. We are generally only able to process applications on business days, but meet & greets are done based on the potential adopter's and foster home's availability. We are volunteer based rescue (meaning we all have our own full time "regular" jobs), so please be patient in awaiting a response. Occasionally with some dogs/cats we thankfully receive an overwhelming response which takes us a greater amount of time. Please rest assured that our main goal is to place the new pet into their forever home as soon as possible in order for us to rescue another. We have a great amount of respect for you in your decision to rescue, and your patience is appreciated!

While going through the application process please keep an eye on our website for the availability status of the pet you are interested in. If the pet you are interested in is no longer visible on the Adoptable Pets Page, that pet is no longer available and/or has found their forever home. If the pet you are interested in adopting is no longer available, please continue your search for your new best friend. We rescue all different shapes, sizes, breeds, and personalities, often! There is ALWAYS another around the corner. One who might need your rescuing even more!

As we process applications, we will contact you if we need additional information. Again, adoptions are done on a first come, first served basis and will be processed in order of receipt of completed applications (applications which include all necessary information). In addition to the processing of applications, meet and greets and potential adoptions are also done on a first come first served basis.

An adoption coordinator or the foster home will contact you once your application is processed and you are next in line for adoption. At that time, we will discuss with you your needs and the pets future needs, in order to try and ensure everyone is a good match. (Note: breed descriptions and/or representatations are based on visual and/or temperment charecteristics not lineage, in most cases. This is true in the majority of pets coming from any rescue or shelter.) Please, prior to this time, have a good idea of what type of pet you are looking for (breed, age, sex, size, temperment, energy level, grooming and exercise needs, etc.) and what you would like your pet to be able to do, or you with your pet. Our foster parents and/or adoption coordinators cannot assist you with these decisions but may be able to offer more light as to what the pet you are interested in is in need of. If everyone agrees that they are a good match, we will attempt to set up a time for you and your family to meet and potentially adopt your new pet. If that pet might not be the right match for your family, we can assure you, we will find the pet who is! 

Please visit our "Bring Your New Dog Home" page and/or "Bring Your New Cat Home" page prior to your visit with your potential new pet! Should you decide to adopt a pet, at the time adoption, we will fill in any known behaviors of your new pet on this form. In order to ensure we make the best match possible for you and your new pet, we always disclose to you all known behaviors along with their medical history. With apologies, we are unable to respond to every application and inquiry received.

Animal Rescue of Illinois DOES NOT have a shelter, and most animals are awaiting their forever homes in loving foster care with volunteers ; in order for us to get a jump start on training, learn their unique personalities and to ensure they are a perfect match for you! We respect many other ways of rescuing. However, we do not believe that sentencing any animal behind chain link to live their lives on a concrete floor is humane. Nor may it be the most proactive approach to the pet overpopulation problem. Therefore, once rescued by us, their new lives begin. They are in a home filled with love and structure. All of our rescued pets live as family members in our foster family's homes. The dogs also learn crate training at night and/or while their families are away. Please visit our website for more information on crate training. Our foster homes spend a great amount of personal time on the care of these rescued pets. Care such as love, cleaning, training, medical care, and getting to know each ones individual personality. All in order to ensure we make the best match possible for their new forever family, as well as for each pet.  With as little adjustment stress as possible. We can make a great match for you!

Adoptions include, based on health and age requirements, spay/neuter at our participating vet, heart-worm checked (adult dogs), given 1 month minimum of heartworm prevention, dewormer given (prepare to follow up deworm them), vaccinated (prepare to follow up booster the pet’s vaccines), rabies vaccine if age appropriate (prepare to register your new pet with your own county for a rabies tag), microchip (prepare to register your new pet’s microchip), have been given a minimum of 1 month flea/tick prevention.
Also note, we are unable to guarantee any living animal. So please be prepared to take on the responsibility of the health of your new pet once you take them home. Your new pet must be seen by a veterinarian with 48hours of adoption, with proof of signed veterinary form



ARI highly recommends pet insurance prior to adoption, should you decide to adopt any new pet. We have a great deal of experience paying veterinary bills, so we are fully aware the costs associated with owning a pet(s). We recommend that you purchase pet insurance or enroll in a care package from a reputable veterinarian prior to adoption. There are many different options with many choices. Generally insurance and package coverage will help to cover your new pet for vaccinations, spay/neuter (if applicable), illnesses, injuries, discount on medications, etc.

In order to qualify for the free 30 day/$1000 illness or injury coverage available through Pet First Health Care (see our website for registration) offered with adoption, you must register prior to adoption. The cost will be deducted from your adoption fee ($5). If you do not supply documentation of package registration with a veterinarian or a pet insurance company prior to adoption, your adoption contract will reflect that you have waived such option.

If you do not opt to purchase the recommended pet insurance prior to adoption, please do so post adoption. We work very hard to ensure the health of your pet and as we mentioned, disclose to you any and all known medical history. Once you adopt your new pet, you are the responsible caregiver for your pet. ARI is unable to assist with post adoption costs. Your new pet is a living and loving creature and it is impossible, in life, for anyone to give you any guarantee.

So! We of course say, "Prevention is the best medicine"! Especially when it comes to your new family member! 

The non-refundable adoption cost of your new pet may vary and it assists us in the rescue of another. Retail costs for the services included in your pet's adoption, vastly outweigh adoption fees. 

For more information on the pets available for adoption through Animal Rescue of Illinois contact info@animalrescueofillinois.org ,or visit us on line at www.animalrescueofillinois.org  

We look forward to assisting you in the rescue of your new pet!

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering
apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew
I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she
wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view
from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want
her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter
keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about
my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make
a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made
little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head
up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.
A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all
would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I
instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I
would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do
everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her
eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.

So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors.So many more to be saved.

At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

-AUTHOR UNKNOWN