Safe Humane Chicago

Safe Humane Chicago is an Illinois 501(c)(3) whose stated purpose is "creating safe and humane communities by inspiring positive relationships between people and animals." Its work sits at the point where animal cruelty meets the court system, which makes it unlike most groups in this section — it is not primarily an adoption agency.

What it does

• Court Case Dogs — dogs seized as evidence in cruelty and neglect prosecutions. The program's own phrase for them is dogs that have "done the time but not the crime": they are held while the case against their abuser proceeds, and the program works to get them through it and into homes.
• Court Advocacy — volunteers follow animal cruelty cases through the courts, and the organization publishes a Court Case Calendar.
• Lifetime Bonds — participants bond with, socialize and train shelter dogs so they are easier to place.
• Ambassador Dogs — dogs that appear in community and education work.
• Collaborative Justice and Community Engagement — partnerships with government agencies and neighborhood groups on animal abuse.

How to help

The site lists volunteering, a corporate and group volunteer days program, merchandise, events and direct donation. There is no walk-in location and no adoption floor: contact runs through the form on their site, the phone number above, or the P.O. box.

If what you actually want is to adopt a dog today, start with Chicago Animal Care and Control, the city's open-admission shelter. Safe Humane's role begins later, once a case is already in the system.