This website was created for the purpose of creating transparency regarding what happens to companion animals in shelters in Illinois. As you will see, there are challenges and opportunities that exist in every county. Some facilities take in very large numbers of animals:
- City of Chicago: 24,364
- Winnebago County Animal Services: 8,600
- St. Clair County Animal Services: 7,295
- Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter: 6,983
- Sangamon County Animal Control Center: 5,997
- DuPage County Animal Care & Control: 4,866
- Madison County Rabies Control: 4,851
- Rock Island County Animal Care & Control: 3,990
- Macon County Animal Control: 3,462
- Aurora Animal Care & Control: 3,343
Most of these organizations have very low "reclaim" rates -- less than 25% of dogs being reclaimed at these facilities and approximately 2% of cats being reclaimed. Aurora and Rock Island posted the best numbers of dogs reclaimed: 34.9% and 33.7%, respectively. This presents a great opportunity for these municipal and county organizations to create public awareness and improve these percentages. These shelters can also promote microchipping as an effective means of increasing dogs and cats "reclaimed" by their families.
Fayette, Madison, Effingham, St. Clair, and Franklin counties all had total euthanasia of greater than 80%. Efforts to promote spaying and neutering are also among the most effective means of reducing intake and thereby reducing euthanasia.
Some entities, such as Brown County Animal Control, reported zero intakes of dogs and cats for 2006 -- no way of knowing whether there was simply not one single stray animal or else they just decided not to perform any animal control functions.
There is much room for improvement. The Village of Hardin (Calhoun County) took in a mere 5 dogs (no cats) and euthanized every single one of them. Shelby County Animal Control impounded just 21 cats and euthanized all of them. A small effort can improve these numbers!
Some organizations are working hard to save animals. Tails Humane Society in DeKalb County took in over 2,700 animals in 2006 and euthanized a low 13.5%. Save-A-Pet in Lake County impounded over 1,500 animals in 2006 and euthanized only 3.5%. Breed rescue groups can help offload the volume from animal control facilities. Some take in several hundred each year, such as Illinois Doberman Rescue (Lake County), 285 dogs and Guardian Angel Bassett Rescue (Livingston County), 280 dogs, just to name a few.
Animal control facilities and shelters make up one part of the equation. The public needs to do its part. If residents of Illinois get their pets spayed or neutered, reclaim them when they get lost, and adopt their next companion animal at their local shelter or animal control facility, staff and volunteers at these places will not have the job of killing the animals.
You are visitor number:
