Shelter
Help Save Pets
Help Save Pets
Help Save Pets was originally founded as the Humane Society of Plainfield in 2000 by our director Meg Kremer, wife of Dr. Anthony Kremer. Dr. Kremer would periodically be called to animal control to euthanize animals that were unclaimed. The animals that were being euthanized were often viable, friendly and simply in need of somebody to help them get into a good new home. Dr. Kremer would at times bring these animals back to the Animal Care Center in Plainfield to see if a home could be found among the veterinary clinic clients. As the frequency of this practice increased, it became clear that a separate non for profit organization was needed to continue rescue work.
Since 2000, we have placed over 16,000 animals into loving homes. Each one of these animals was given shelter, food, medical aid and vaccinations and time to find the right home. Our doctors mended mutilated limbs and cured many illnesses so that these animals could get a second chance at good lives. We have grown and now operate out of 10 locations, in the Chicago metro area and in the Columbus Ohio metro area. In 2008 we changed our name from the Humane Society of Plainfield to Help Save Pets, still HSP.
Help Save Pets is dedicated to our mission of saving and finding homes for dogs and cats about to be euthanized at animal control facilities. Our unique structure allows us to run an effective rescue at minimal expense, with the majority of our funds directly used for the care of dogs and cats. We are proud to share our financial and statistical information with our friends, volunteers and donors. If you are considering donating to us, you’ll find that your donation will be put to good use saving homeless animals from death.
Thank you for your interest in adopting a rescue animal. Over 6 million unwanted animals are put to death each year in the US and Help Save Pets (HSP) is proud of our efforts in saving, healing and finding homes for the ones that we are able to rescue. You can prepare for your visit to us in advance by reviewing the information on this page. If you do not find the right pet on your first visit to HSP, check our website for the new pets added daily.
Our Pets
The majority of our animals come from kill shelters in rural areas with an overabundance of animals that need homes and have limited space to house them. Efforts to find their owners or new homes have been exhausted, and they are about to be put to death. Volunteers intervene to rescue and arrange transport of the adoptable dogs/cats to us. These animals come to us typically with no history on health, parentage or previous owners. We attempt to identify breeds and potential sizes of animals, but it’s a guess that we can’t guarantee.
Adoption Requirements
Must be 21 years of age or older to adopt a cat, 23 years of age or older to adopt a dog.
Must provide a copy of your lease agreement or association by laws if you live in an apartment, condo or townhouse
Must provide documents/receipts that specify your cat or dog’s immunizations/required tests are current. Click here for a list of those requirements. If you don’t have the documents, we can call your veterinarian to get this information. If you know they are not current, bring the animals with you and can have them updated by the animal hospital that houses HSP.
All adults in the household must be present and co sign the adoption agreement.
All your currently owned dogs/cats must be spayed or neutered. This is a non-negotiable requirement.
Adoption Donations
Adoption donations for adult dogs range from $59 to $399 and puppies from $159 to $599.
Adoption donations for adult cats range from $29 to $99 and kittens from $59 to $399.
We are a private pet rescue and are not affiliated with any government or national organization, and as such our adoption donations are set to cover as much of the cost for the spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, tests and medical care of our animals that is realistic. We lose money on every animal we take in as our adoption donations are less than what caring for the animals actually costs us. We ask more for puppies, kittens and purebred adults to help cover the expenses of the older mixed breed animals for which we receive minimal donations and incur significant debt. However, even at our highest prices, puppies and kittens are still half the price of pet store animals AND our animals are already altered and up to date on vaccinations at the time of adoption.
Heartworm prevention must also be purchased at the time of adoption and prices vary depending on the size of the animal being adopted.
Puppies under 6 months old are required to sign up for a puppy obedience class. ($89 deposit required, refundable upon completion)
Each Adoption Includes:
Spay or neuter surgery
Vaccines current to the date of adoption*:Rabies
Bordatella (Dogs)
Canine Influenza (Dogs)
Canine combination vaccine for Distemper, Adenovirus type 1 & 2, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus (DHLPPC – Dogs)
Feline combination vaccine for Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calici, and Chlamydia (DRCC-Cats)
Fecal test
1st deworming
Heartworm test (dogs +6 months old)
Leukemia test (cats)
Capstar flea treatment
Microchip identification implant
*Â Boosters required for puppies and kittens (depending on age) POST adoption are the responsibility of the pet owner.
Post Adoption Care
If you choose to give one of our deserving homeless animals a second chance at a good life, a New Pet Health Assurance Program provided by our partner veterinary clinics is available. This will cover the cost of treating shelter related illnesses should one occur, for 60 days after your adoption date up to $500. If you do not purchase this coverage, you would assume total financial responsibility for any needed medical treatment immediately after you adopt.
Application Process
Once you have decided on an animal, you will be provided with an Adoption Questionnaire which requires name, address, phone numbers and asks some questions about your household, why you want a pet and how you plan to care for it. The Adoption Questionnaire needs to be approved by an authorized humane society volunteer. If an authorized volunteer is on site, that occurs quickly and if you’ve provided all required information on applicable lease agreements/association by laws and current immunizations/tests for any existing pets, you may be able to take your new friend home immediately. If an authorized volunteer is not on site, you’ll receive a phone call or email when the status is determined.