Giving Tuesday (11/28) is coming up!
Benefitting the Wilbur Memorial Fund for animals with extraordinary medical needs.
Get Involved with A.D.O.P.T.
A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter provides assistance to hundreds of animals each year, we are able to do this only with the help of our supporters. There are many ways to get involved from becoming a foster family to volunteering at the shelter or by simply becoming an A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter member, you can help us make a difference “Until Every Pet Has A Home.”
Fostering an animal
An important component of the A.D.O.P.T. organization is our foster homes. The principle behind fostering is to provide one of our homeless dogs or cats with a stable environment in order to evaluate their personality, habits, needs and behaviors. This allows us the opportunity to gain information that is useful in finding the appropriate permanent home for the animal. We need caring, responsible adults to join our licensed foster home team by opening their homes and their hearts to a special dog or cat in need. We require a completed application for fostering be provided to the foster coordinators. Our foster’s must be licensed with the State of Illinois. It is not a difficult process, and if you are interested in being a foster the paperwork and information will all be provided to you. The animals we typically look to place in a foster home are kittens and puppies that are too young to be adopted, dogs or cats that that are recovering from a medical issue, have an emotional issue, a training need or one that has just been at our shelter too long and can use a break while we continue to search for the perfect home. In addition to being a fun and rewarding experience, fostering can be time consuming and both physically and emotionally demanding.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about fostering an animal.
A.D.O.P.T. Membership
Join us in saving lives! Become a Friend of A.D.O.P.T.
In the critical battle against pet overpopulation, A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter needs your support. Please join us in helping those many voiceless creatures who are in need of permanent loving homes.
Friends of A.D.O.P.T. are the backbone of our organization, a group on whom we call to help support the needs of our organization and those values that make A.D.O.P.T. unique.
Won’t you become a friend today?
Giving options
Friend-Up to $49-recieve an A.D.O.P.T. Window Cling
Pet Patron-$50-$99-recieve an A.D.O.P.T. Water Bottle
Advocate –$100-$499-recieve an A.D.O.P.T. Tote Bag
Partner –$500 and above-receive an A.D.O.P.T. Rescue Red Yeti Mug
For additional information or questions about becoming a Friend of A.D.O.P.T. contact chris@adoptpetshelter.org
Volunteer at A.D.O.P.T.
Our volunteers are the engine that keeps A.D.O.P.T. running! Volunteers donate their time and talents to help keep our animals happy, healthy and prepared for adoption.
All volunteers will need to submit a completed Volunteer Application and attend an orientation session prior to starting volunteer work. All volunteers will receive a copy of the volunteer manual at the orientation. Volunteers must be 18 years and older.
Once you submit your application, you will receive an email from our Volunteer Coordinator to let you know the available dates for orientation. There is an optional $20 fee if you would like to purchase a volunteer t-shirt.
There are many opportunities for volunteer participation at A.D.O.P.T. Specific roles and activities are listed below.
Please note: Volunteering cannot be used for court-mandated community service hours.
Volunteer Login
Current Volunteers can log in here.
Volunteer Roles
Volunteer at the shelter caring for the animals. This includes providing animals with fresh water, cleaning the kennels/cages and dog runs, leash-walking dogs, maintaining the animal’s living spaces, and providing ample love and attention to our shelter animals. Individuals can volunteer with cats, with dogs, or both.
Foster Program
Dogs: Experienced fosters are needed to care for specific dogs requiring consistency in their routine or possibly special attention. In addition, fosters for litters of puppies are occasionally needed.
Cats: We are always on the lookout for foster homes that will open their doors to pregnant cats, cats with kittens, orphaned kittens, as well as special needs animals.
Facilities Maintenance
Throughout the year, help is often needed with various indoor tasks as well as outdoor projects. In addition, special projects involving computer and data technologies arise.
Marketing & Public Relations
This volunteer role assists our Development Coordinator in various ways including writing and posting press releases, assisting in promotion of services and events, & creating brochures and flyers as needed. Prior experience needed.
Fundraising & Friendraising
Volunteers are always needed to help with information tables, fundraising activities, and events. Typically these events are posted on our website. If you are interested, we can use your help!
A.D.O.P.T. Website and Content Creation
Assistance is needed in keeping our website up-to-date. We are also on the lookout for specialized IT talent with experience in Javascript, Flash, etc. Talented photographers are always needed as well. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Off-Site Activities
Particularly during the summer months, A.D.O.P.T. participates in many off-site events for the purposes of promoting our organization, showing our animals, and raising funds. Off-site activities include both regularly scheduled pet store meet-and-greets as well as on-time off-site events. Coin bank placement and collection is another part of our Off-Site Program.
Work here
A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter is currently seeking part-time Animal Care Staff. Interested applicants must have a flexible schedule with available days, evenings and weekends. Experience working with animals preferred but not required.
To be considered for a position, complete an application and fax it to 630-800-2194 or email it to our shelter director.
If there are no current employment positions we hope you consider volunteering. Complete a volunteer application and fax it to 630-800-2194 or email our volunteer coordinator.