History

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.

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.

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. The Adopt-A-Pet Newsletter, published 3 times a year, is distributed to homes in Illinois and Missouri. Adopt-A-Pet has approximately 1,000 members in addition to contributors who prefer to remain "non-members."

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.

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.