Felines & Canines

We (my wife and I) tried several shelters. Almost all of them were extremely friendly, but the first place award goes to this one.
The staff is amazing! The cats have plenty of space and toys! It is the cat-​lady dream house.
We found our new family member in less than a minute but we stayed there for more than 2 hours (our option). They gave us all information needed. We are extremely happy with our decision.
The only downside was the name of our ball of fur. The previous owner named him Cheddar. We didn’t like it, so we are still looking for a good name. So far, I’ve been calling him «The Lodger». My wife doesn’t like it, but he comes and ask for belly rub every time, so maybe I will keep calling him this… Who knows…

Once again, Abby and Kelly found us the perfect pet. I just love Felines and Canines. Please visit the shelter if you are looking for your next family member on four legs. You will find just the right one for you!

We had a wonderful experience at F & C. We met the dog we fell in love with on line but the dog wasn’t in love with us. They showed us the only other dog that fit our criteria (small-​medium & young) and that dog picked us:) Kelly was really helpful and so very patient with us in our hemming & hawing over if this was the dog we should adopt. She listened to our sad story about our previous dog and told us what F&Cs process is for bringing dogs in and making sure they are paired with the right people. She was so comforting and you can tell she really cares about the animals’ and the humans’ feelings;) she was just what we needed to make such an important decision. We never felt pressured to adopt.
We are super happy and in love with the dog that picked us!
Thanks everyone at F & C!

This is one of the most lovely shelters I have ever seen. From the sparkling clean facility to the most loving, kind people who work there, if you would like to adopt an animal, this is the place! The animals are beautifully cared for in a happy, cheerful environment and the adoption process itself is streamlined and thorough and very easy. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Felines & Canines. I wish every shelter were like this one – it would make for very happy animals AND people!!!

My girlfriend and I adopted a sweet dog here yesterday and I could not be more pleased with how everything went. What a top notch organization! Everything from the facilities to the people was just so great. I can’t recommend this shelter enough in the less than 24 hours we’ve had our new boy in our lives!

I adopted a family member from this place, Sampson. Everything about Felines & Canines is high quality. The animals are well cared for, the staff is so accommodating and best of all, they don’t adopt to just anyone. They make sure you are a great match. They treat these animals like they are part of their family. I will always check here when looking for a new animal friend.
Tip: Come prepared especially if you live far away. Bring the people whom the animal would be living with and bring proper paperwork/​identification. Be ready to answer questions. Also, get excited for a new love in your life!

There aren’t words sufficient to praise this organization. The people are lovely and knowledgable. Their strategy turns out pets to forever homes at a remarkable rate, and their screening process I’m sure makes it stick. They know people as well as dogs and really make sure the situation is right so it’s best for the dog, and the owner.
We took home our new baby today and are so grateful! Thank you F and C, we will be back to volunteer!

I had the nicest experience at this shelter when I adopted 3 cats last September. The staff at the shelter spent a lot of time discussing the cat’s backgrounds and behaviors. I was very impressed with the setting that allowed the cats to be free to roam around. I went in looking for two and decided on three! They are wonderful cats. Two acted like they had lived with me forever and adapted to their new home immediately. One was semi-​feral and had lived in the shelter for years. It has taken a while for her to come around but she now participates with the rest of the family and demands to be petted although she doesn’t like to be picked up. I am very thankful to Abby and her staff for running such a wonderful shelter.

We went in looking for a cat and I was expecting to see a row of cats in cages with the place smelling like ammonia. I was pleasantly surprised to find the cats had the liberty of roaming free and it was very clean. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this shelter if you’re looking for a companion.

I was so glad to see this shelter in my neighborhood. One of the hardest things about adopting a cat is the ride home. And although we were prepared to adopt 2 if there was an especially bonded pair, we really were looking for ONE new, long-​lifed companion. We found what we were looking for. Or more accurately, a couple of cats found what they were looking for – a one way trip to a forever home!
This is a no-​kill shelter. it is also mostly cage-​less. Some 40+ cats roam across 3 – 4 rooms where there are cubbie-​holes, condos, hide-​a-​ways, etc. Cats come in from the anti-​cruelty society and other shelters/​agencies as those places fill up. Each cat can do as it pleases, being as active/​passive, social/​shy as it wants to be. Some visibly show evidence from wilder times (missing eyes, torn up ears, scars, bare patches). There are a few who are considered feral/​semi-​feral and they are openly presented as such. There are others that are in a type of comfy isolation room. And some liked to hang out in their beds in their cages. The staff loves cats (I’m sure the same may be said for the dog portion, but we’re cat people), cares deeply for their welfare and are committed to making good matches between felines and homo sapiens. And as it so commonly happens in these free range spaces, some cats are better than others at selling themselves. Shortly after our arrival, I sat on the floor to interact with some of the cats. Yes, I sat on the floor in my jeans. This place is immaculately clean, absolutely odor free and the staff want you as comfortable as possible. There is no rush. And a kitty came over, climbed on me, spun around and then affixed herself in such a way that there was no way out. She adopted me! Great! that didn’t take long. She even had a name which was great news to us because it took us over a week to name our previous feline companion. We’ll take Annie! What I didn’t know was that my husband had been ambushed in the adjoining room by a slightly older cat with a few personality quirks that the staff was very forthcoming about. Since we were experienced cat owners, including significant time in a multi-​cat household, they described what they thought would be the best scenario if we wanted to add Mary Ann with Annie.
While they don’t «hold» animals per se, if you want to go to lunch to talk it over with your co-​adopter (our situation), they encourage you to take your time. So we did. We went back a couple of hours later (which by that time, there were other interested adopters in the cat as well as the dog areas). While I can’t say «our cats» remembered us, when we came upon them again, they made their case again. We hung out to see if any others might present themselves. And several more did. As such, we knew we made the right choice with our original finds. And as others have mentioned, there are 3 day guarantees for return with refund and 7 day guarantees as well, particularly for illness. If cat gets sick, contact shelter and they’ll set you up with medical treatment as necessary. If the adjustment just isn’t working, they’ll take it back. No shame, no questions. After a week, you forfeit your payment (funds of which go to future animal care as all cats in the shelter are spayed/​neutered, checked for FIV/​FeLV, given rabies and distemper shots, micro-​chipped. A lot and a great value for $ 100/​cat, $ 150/​two cats. Obviously, it takes a lot of staff and support staff to run a place like this at the top notch level F & C is at. There were aides and techs discreetly going about the business of keeping the shelter running.
Sorry, didn’t want this to be a play by play. BOTTOM LINE: great staff: friendly, competent, sincere, totally committed. Beautiful space: clean, spacious, fresh, quiet. Easy parking. Honorable intent: create the best match possible, even better than
or
! The adoption forms are pretty standard across shelters in the City. And they made sure all our concerns were addressed and also that any of THEIR concerns about US were addressed as well.
Felines & Canines is worth the drive if necessary, the time and the money. Once you are vetted to their satisfaction, you can go home in as little as 30 minutes. Or stay longer if you want. You’ll get a great animal, you’ll be photographed with your new family member and put in their album. They will indeed literally welcome you «into the family». It was a great experience far superior to any of the other ways I’ve procured cats in Chicago over the past 20+ years.
If you don’t want to adopt, then donate or volunteer. This is a great place and animal lovers should actively support it!

After having an unpleasant experience at PAWS in the city, which left us feeling down and bummed, we decided to check out Felines and Canines in November on our anniversary weekend. My husband called them ahead of our visit to clarify questions we had, and to prevent us from wasting our time and their time, growing interested in adopting a fur baby, and then leaving empty handed. The Director, Abby, spoke at length with my husband and was so warm and inviting. When he called back with another question he forgot to ask, she spoke again with him, and we decided it was worth going in to visit.
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted so kindly and had an amazing experience. We were treated as what we were, experienced and responsible pet owners, unlike at PAWS. I grew attached to a little guy who had neurological problems so his back legs weren’t as coordinated and he walked like he was drunk. He was so playful and sweet, and they were completely up front about this small, black kitten and how he was «differently-​abled,» which just made my heart smile hearing them stay honest, but positive. We loved this little guy and decided to adopt him. He is now named Booger because of his feisty and playful personality; we call him Boogs for short! When we left they hugged us and said «welcome to the family,» making us further feel connected. They have since followed up to check in on Booger and his adjustment to our ten month old black lab puppy and have sent postcards. I can’t highly recommend them enough! Truly phenomenal experience, great people with big hearts, and employees and volunteers who are knowledgable and inviting! We plan to always maintain a relationship with Felines and Canines!

Cricket is the first dog I have ever had. I did my homework and felt I was ready, so I went with two friends to Felines & Canines. This is truly an amazing facility and the staff really love what they do and take amazing care of scared animals coming from all over the Midwest from horrible pounds and save their lives.
They are very selective in the dogs that they take in. The staff is knowledgable and truthful about the dogs. They know their personalities and traits. Each one of these dogs is amazing; however, I feel like I could have 100 dogs and never find one as sweet and gentle as Cricket. My friends, who have dogs, are amazed and a little envious of how fast she is coming along.
It is a very happy, relaxed place. I felt like I could spend the whole day there and they would let you, too. They carefully explain how to care for your new best friend, something I was very concerned about. I cannot express how happy I am I found Cricket and Felines & Canines. It is truly one of a kind and if you are looking for a dog, especially if you are first time dog owner like me, it is the place to go.

My wife and I did a lot of research looking for a good place to adopt a puppy and went out to several places a couple of weeks ago to look at different options. We were so fortunate to have selected Felines and Canines as one of our stops because not only did we find our new best friend Pacey (formerly Bambi), but we had the pleasure of meeting the amazing staff at Felines and Canines. Abby, Carol, and Isabella are the best in the business. They are extremely professional and not only do they care about every potential adopter that comes in, but they truly care for the well being of every animal that comes to them and make sure that they receive the best care possible. We visited several shelters, but as soon as we walked in and met these great people, we knew that we found what we were looking for. There is no question that if you want to adopt a pet this is the place to go! Thank you all for making this such a pleasant experience!
Mike and Kathleen

We went in with the intentions on just looking, the staff was beyond amazing. Everyone was so friendly and we loved that the cats weren’t caged up like prisoners. They were free to roam around and people were welcome to pet them and play with them. We fell in love with this precious baby girl (Elsa) at the time but we have renamed her Mochi.
She’s the sweetest baby and completes our family.

I was looking for a cat to adopt and walked into Felines & Canines on my way home on a lark. It was the first adoption center I stumbled into and had no idea what to expect. Immediately I was struck by the amazingly friendly staff. Everyone I spoke with was kind, knowledgeable, and clearly wanted only the best for the many, many, many wonderful cats that roam about freely on the second floor (yup, no cages here). After a quick intro and a few questions about what I was looking for they let me spend a full hour just hanging out with the cats to see if I «clicked» with any of them.
It was nice. It felt less like speed dating and more like an actual adoption center. I got to know the cats and their personalities and immediately fell in love with a one-​year-​old former stray named Pixie.
Still, I didn’t want to run away with the first cat I met so I made myself leave and try one or two more adoption centers. So I ran over to PAWS in Lincoln Park. What a difference! Everything that Canines & Felines was, PAWS was not. Unfriendly, snooty staff, and a slave market atmosphere. Maybe it was the fact that it was Lincoln Park or that everyone come to adopt looked super trendy, but I immediately felt my inner Karl Marx come out. I had a momentary fantasy of opening every cat pen and screaming «Viva la Revolucion!» as a dozen 20-​something hipsters and a hundred drowsy cats looked over at me with shock, confusion, and disdain.
After sleeping on it I made my way back to Felines & Canines. Pixie was still there! After forcing myself to hang out with the rest of the pack for another hour I decided to commit. Chanel, one of the awesome staff members, helped me fill out the paperwork and after a few more minutes Pixie and I were on our way home.
As I write this Pixie is sitting under my bed, not quite sure if she should trust me yet, but I’m as happy as could be. Everything about my experience at Felines & Canines was stupendously good and I highly recommend it over other, trendier, adoption centers.

After having a horrendous experience with PAWS, I was a little disenchanted with the process of adopting a dog. We went to Felines & Canines hoping for a better experience… and wow! We definitely got it. We went on Saturday, and they told us they did not have any dogs available, but they would on Sunday. We went back when they opened on Sunday. The process was fairly fast and easy. Our entire household went, and we all found our guy (Hank formerly Union) that we felt fit with us. I am drawing a blank on names, but everyone was so friendly! They let us hang out with a series of dogs before we settled on Hank. Since we have two cats in our household, they also «cat tested» every dog we were interested in (and they all did really well!). Kudos to that brave cat that helped us find the right pup. Your courage did not go unnoticed.
The actual adoption process was easy and very non-​judgemental. It was a very positive environment. Felines and Canines also seems to have a very non-​judgemental «return policy» (I hate to call it that, but for brevity’s sake…). The let us know that if it wasn’t working out, they would take him back. It is nice that they acknowledge that people are imperfect and make mistakes and give people the opportunity to return the dog without judgement to a safe place. I think some people do not realize how exhausting getting a new dog acquainted to your home is.
Luckily, Hank has been welcomed with huge open arms into our family! He is so gentle with EVERYONE… even the cats. We’re so happy to have him in our family. :)Thanks Canines and Felines!

I adopted a cat from Felines & Canines a little over a week ago and have nothing but amazing things to say about this place and Paula, who I worked with. They truly care about each and every animal here. I can only speak to the cat section as I didn’t visit any dogs, but I have no doubt they are similarly great! The facilities are very clean (definitely no sad shelter smell here!) and the animals actually seem happy. I looked at quite a few shelters around the Chicago area and was very disappointed to see animals that seemed so tired and sad. The cats came up to say hi to the volunteers and workers I saw as well. They are in a large cage-​free environment and are able to run around, play and socialize with other animals. I met a few cats who didn’t get along with others or had special needs who had their own little rooms rather than cages to restrict them.
The biggest thing that sets Felines & Canines apart besides the beautiful facilities and really happy animals is the fact that the staff really do want to find the perfect animal for you and vice versa. I spent a couple hours looking around the cat floor and meeting them all, but ultimately went home with the sweetest little girl who was also the very first one that Paula introduced me to after listening to what I was looking for in a pet. April (fka Willa) adjusted beautifully into her new home and I could not have been happier with her or the shelter. I am so glad I stopped in to Felines & Canines! :)
ALSO– I had totally forgotten to write this review, but was reminded when Paula called to check in with me a week later. They really look out for their pets and I felt so welcomed by Paula and the other staff members. Thank you so so so much for everything!

I have been sitting on this review for well over a month. I have written and rewritten it several times and have finally decided keep it short and finally pull the trigger. So…
I am having difficulty describing how fantastic our experience was at Felines & Canines. On April 4, 2015 we were introduced to young Stanley. This 11lbs shy little dude was abandoned/​lost/​whatever near a school on the north side and ended up at Felines or Canines. A friend of ours found him on their outstanding website, sent us a pic and we were hooked.
The facility is truly amazing. Both my wife and I have volunteered at shelters before and this is by far the cleanest and most well managed we have seen. Abby, Kelly and everyone at F&C are so kind and helped us make sure we were making a well-​informed decision. They walked us through paperwork and we were able to take Stanley home. Abby is so committed to her work with her furry ones that she asked to continue to be Stanley’s emergency contact (she is). That really sums it up right there.
Update: It’s been a month+ and Stanley (we did not change his name as it fits as you can see by the photo) is doing great. We like him and he seems to like us. Well done Felines & Canines! Keep up the great work.

Yesterday I fell in love with a little fellow– and was able to make him my very own! Felines & Canines is a wonderful place– mostly because of the people who work there. Truly– they are kind and warm people– especially Marie Claire who was so fabulous in helping me find the right companion. I could tell she genuinely loved all the animals there and was probably the second happiest person (me being first) there yesterday after the adoption was finalized! This is my first time being a dog owner and she was so helpful and explained and helped me with all my concerns.
The facility is small– but clean and well organized. You have to find street parking– which wasn’t difficult. They have a little side door with a doorbell– I was worried when it was locked but they were very prompt with coming down to let me in. Adoption fees: adult dogs= $ 275, puppies= $ 300 (I think), and cats= $ 100 (pretty sure).
The overall experience and adoption procedure was so stress-​free, really so grateful to have found this place!

I went in to felines and canines last September 2014. I was looking for a short haired 3 – 4 yr old cat. I told them preferably male but that was not set in stone.
I had an amazing woman help me she had short lighter hair. Not only did she instantly have 10 cats in mind that fit that description she seemed to know the name of every single animal that approached us. She never once pressured me into taking home an animal that didn’t fit with me. About the 8^th cat I spent time with she smiled pretty big and genuine and said I think I know a cat you will like.
She brought me over to a cat named socks. He fit my description was the most handsome animal I have ever seen and was perfect.
Overall I couldn’t be happier with every aspect of dealing with them. They knew their sh**. They never pressured me where friendly remembered me and were willing to hold him for a day (which to be noted they don’t normally do) until my roommate could meet him. She knew the animals they had there and effortlessly matches us together! Highly recommend!