The Society speaks lightly of a great many things. This is not one of them.
The Society's official dog was, for many years, a chocolate Lab — frequently photographed at the Dog Park, occasionally photographed asleep under a brunch table. The Society's official dog has, statistically, changed. It is now a goldendoodle, a Bernedoodle, or a cavapoo. Trends evolve. Members evolve with them. We do not begrudge anyone a good haircut.
However.
The Society would like to formally suggest something it does not speak lightly of: when a Member is ready to add a dog to her household, she should consider adopting before purchasing. There is no shortage of wonderful dogs — including doodles, puppies, seniors, and dogs of every kind — waiting right now at organizations The Society deeply admires. Three of them are within easy reach of the village.
The Anti-Cruelty Society
510 N LaSalle Drive, Chicago. Founded in 1899, it is the Midwest's longest-running animal welfare organization — open-admission, no-kill, and absolutely worth a Saturday morning visit. If you have never walked through, go once. You will understand.
PAWS Chicago — Lincoln Park
1997 N Clybourn Avenue, Chicago. Right here in the village. Chicago's largest no-kill humane organization, and one every Member has driven past a hundred times. Every adoption directly supports rescuing the next dog.
One Tail at a Time
2144 N Wood Street, Chicago. Founded in 2008 in an Albany Park apartment by Heather Owen — then a Chicago-Kent law student, now an Illinois attorney who left her litigation practice in 2015 to run OTAT full-time. No-kill, all-volunteer, and one of the city's largest transfer partners with Chicago Animal Care and Control. Heather is usually accompanied by Trout, an OTAT alumnus.
The Society receives no fee or consideration for these recommendations. Members who are ready for a dog are encouraged to meet the animals and ask the adoption teams about a suitable match.