6 Things You May Not Know About Animal Welfare League

You’ve driven past the building at 10305 Southwest Highway in Chicago Ridge.  Maybe you’ve even stopped in to take a look at some of the animals there or to bring in your own pet for its vaccinations.  But what exactly does the Animal Welfare League do in our community?  Here are six things that you may not know about AWL.


The Animal Welfare League has been helping animals in the Chicago area for over 75 years.  The Animal Welfare League was founded in 1935 to stop the suffering of animals that seemed common place in Chicagoland.  AWL's founding shelter, located at 6224 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, still exists today as the only humane society on the south side of Chicago.  In 1974 the Animal Welfare League opened a second shelter in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge to expand the care and services that were desperately needed in the south suburban area.

The Animal Welfare League cares for about 18,000 animals each year in its shelter.  AWL houses, on average, about 900 animals daily, with the capabilities to care for 1,400.  Nearly 50 animals come in each day as strays, owner relinquishments or as a result of cruelty investigations.  Have you ever stopped to think what would happen to your pet if they got loose in the middle of the night and were hit by a car?  What if a house fire sends you and your loved ones to the hospital...who would care for your pet?  Animal Welfare League will never turn away any animal that comes through its' doors - a box of snakes, an injured goat, a litter of stray kittens or an abandoned dog.  See What We See

The Animal Welfare League reunites 1,500 pets with their owners each year.  Animal Welfare League's Chicago Ridge location is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the intake of stray animals. (After 9pm, a police escort is needed.) Over 53 communities bring stray animals to the Animal Welfare League.  If you are missing a pet, be sure to fill out a lost pet report with your local police and local pet shelters in your area.  Visit local pet shelters each day to look for your pet – nobody knows your pet as well as you do so a phone call may not be as effective.

The Animal Welfare League also operates a low-cost, full service clinic open to the public at its Chicago Ridge location.  The clinic staff of 7 veterinarians and 10 technicians sees, on average, 100 clients each day. They do everything from general vaccinations and dental care to spay/neuter surgeries and life saving tumor removals.  AWL's doctors and technicians also care for the many animals in the shelter by giving each one vaccinations, spaying and neutering them and mending those that come in sick or injured. Learn more information about the clinic.

The Animal Welfare League houses the largest number of adoptable animals from a non-profit organization in the entire midwest.  Everyday, there are over 200 pets waiting to find their forever homes. This includes everything from birds and rabbits to cats and dogs.  Available animals change each day and a wide variety of animals with different breeds, sizes, ages and personalities can be found waiting for adoption.  Learn more about adopting from AWL and to view adoptable animals.

The Animal Welfare League is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that receives no city, state or federal funding and relies solely on private donations to continue with its mission of helping all animals.  Animal Welfare League depends on the generous support of the community to care for the thousands of animals that make their way through its doors each year.  Both monetary and in-kind donations such as canned or dry dog and cat food, blankets, towels, bleach and newspapers are gratefully accepted.  For a complete list of items needed, see AWL's wish list.  Or, make a donation to the Animal Welfare League.  Whether you can donate $1 or $100, a bag of dog food or your time, every little bit helps.

Save your old newspapers, buy a couple cans of cat food when you see it’s on sale and drop it off at the Animal Welfare League the next time you’re driving by. Who knows?  You might just meet your new best friend that you never knew you were looking for.