History; 25 Year Anniversary

In 1983, Lorraine and Marvin Little saw the need to help abandoned animals in their community. Working from their own residence, they took in strays and found homes for them. The couple couldn't bear to see the animals euthanized when they weren't claimed or adopted, so they took their life savings and built the original building and eight runs for dogs 26 years ago. Marvin, a carpenter, built the original building which was to become “Adopt-A-Pet” to house the needy dogs and cats, and Lorraine used her power of persuasion to help find homes for the abandoned and abused. Never in their wildest dreams did they think that 26 years later their vision of a no-kill shelter would be going strong. Marvin is no longer with us but we know he would approve and encourage the passion that he helped start 26 years ago. .....celebrate with us, because without your help and support we couldn’t continue.

Lorraine remains active each day with the shelter. Her days usually run from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 or 11 at night, seven days a week. She doesn't even take holidays off...the animals are here each day and she is there to take care of them. Click here to download a news story from the Montgomery County Journal-News; June 12, 2008, courtesy of Nancy Richardson.

About Us

Adopt-A-Pet is a not-for-profit, no-kill animal shelter located in Benld, Illinois and is registered and inspected by the State of Illinois. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charity. Our mission is to rescue abandoned and/or abused pets and place them in loving homes.

No state or federal funding is received. Adopt-A-Pet is supported solely by memberships, fundraisers and donations. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Numerous veterinarians in several counties participate in Adopt-A-Pet's spay/neuter program. Local authorities and police departments call Adopt-A-Pet in cases of animal abandonment, abuse or auto accidents. The Macoupin County Board has recognized Adopt-A-Pet multiple times with awards for its work.

Pets arriving at the shelter are given vaccinations, wormed, and their physical condition is evaluated. An area veterinarian visits the shelter on a regular basis. Dogs are checked for heartworm and cats for feline leukemia and FIV. All pets are spayed/neutered.

Shelter facilities include the original building with a grooming room, feed room, two small rooms with stainless steel stacked cages, eight indoor-outdoor roofed and heated runs, multiple outdoor fenced exercise areas. There is also a cat room with separate exercise areas, an isolation room, an office/adoption area, and a warehouse with food and supplies. We also have a modern surgery room where spay/neuter surgeries on shelter residents are performed.

Animals are fed top quality food, watered, cleaned, exercised, groomed, and as time permits, trained. Pets needing socialization are given extra handling by Adopt-A-Pet volunteers, which may be the first gentle touch the animal has ever had. Dog and cat mothers and their babies are also given special individual attention by our caring volunteers.

Administered by a Board of Directors, the shelter is operated by a Shelter Director, 3-5 part time employees, and a small but very dedicated group of volunteers. An occasional column of Shelter Stories, animal care advice and education on animal welfare issues is sent to 25 area newspapers in several counties. The Adopt-A-Pet Newsletter, published 3 times a year, has a circulation of approximately 1,200 households in Illinois, Missouri and other states. Adopt-A-Pet has approximately 200 members in addition to contributors who prefer to remain "non-members."

Adopt-A-Pet and its pets travel to local schools, familiarizing children with the be-kind-to-animals attitude. Gentle teaching with a hands-on role model is the best way to educate children towards kindness to all animals.

Adopt-A-Pet visits nursing homes with its pets to encourage interaction with the senior citizens. One of the nursing homes took a giant step by adopting a cat and a dog for its residents. The adoption was a great success and we hope to convince more area nursing homes of the therapeutic benefits of a dog or a cat.