The Last Resort - Surrendering Your Pet to a Shelter

Giving up a pet is a very difficult decision to make, but we are here to support you. The process may take a little bit of time to ensure you find a loving home that is a good fit for your pet. Many shelters/rescues are operating at or near capacity, so you may need to contact those not in your immediate area. There are shelters/rescues that specialize in specific ages, breeds, behaviors, and medical conditions. Click here to view the complete list of licensed shelters/rescues in Illinois.

Many shelters and rescue organizations will take back an animal that is originally from the shelter if the owner is no longer able to care for them. Please reach out to the original adoption agency before contacting our shelter.

If you are unable to rehome your pet, Kane County Animal Control accepts healthy domestic animals with no behavioral concerns by appointment only. At the time of the appointment, your pet will be evaluated by shelter staff to ensure they are a good fit for our program. While we do our best to re-home as many animals as possible, humane euthanasia is a possibility. Each animal is unique and evaluated on a case-by-case basis when evaluating potential outcomes.