Our Mission 

At West Suburban Humane Society, our mission is to work towards the day when all dogs and cats are loved and cared for and pet owners have access to essential resources so they may enjoy a fulfilling relationship with their pets. In doing so, we strive to:

Provide compassionate care for cats and dogs on their journey to compatible and loving homes.

Engage our community and serve as a resource for a variety of pet-related topics and challenges.

Team with volunteers of all abilities and strengths to build a robust network of support in our community.

Strengthen the human-animal bond through advocacy, humane education and promotion of animal welfare initiatives.

By working together, we can change the lives of the dogs and cats that have forever changed us.

No Kill Statement

The West Suburban Humane Society is a “no-kill” shelter. A “no-kill” shelter is typically defined by a save rate of 90%. West Suburban’s save rate is 98%. We never euthanize for space or time constraints. By “no-kill”, we mean that once we take an animal into our care, we treat that animal no differently than if it was one of our own pets. If our veterinarian determines that an animal in our care requires treatment for an injury or illness, we provide the necessary care to return that pet to a healthy, adoptable state. All animals are evaluated for health by local veterinarians and for behavior by trained shelter staff using standardized assessments. The only time we make the decision to euthanize is if an animal is suffering and has no expected quality of life or we feel the animal cannot be rehabilitated and is a danger to the public. We never make that decision lightly and utilize all options before taking that action.