Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control (FCACC) is the nonprofit group committed
exclusively to helping save the lives of over 19,000 animals that come into custody of
Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) each year.
Our Mission
The City of Chicago takes in thousands of unwanted animals every year from citizens, brings stray animals in off the streets, and provides care for evidence animals in court cases. Contrary to perception, most of these animals are wonderful, loving companion animals–they simply have nowhere else to go.
That’s why Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control was founded. We’re here to provide help for as many of those unfortunate animals as we possibly can. We do that by:
Providing food, medical care and adoption opportunities for ACC animals in our foster program
Spreading awareness about Chicago Animal Care and Control and promoting the great animals who are available for adoption there.
Educating people about the proper care of their animals
Advocating humane treatment of all animals
Gifting the city shelter with resources the city budget doesn’t cover
Our Impact
Since our founding in 2000, Friends of Animal Care and Control has been supporting the City’s shelter and providing resources to the Chicago animal community.
In 2025, we are proud to have had the following impact:
• Proudly recognized as one of CACC’s top ten placement partners, fueling a record-breaking year for shelter transfers.
• Recruited 36 new foster caregivers, bringing our dedicated foster network to over 60 homes committed to CACC animals.
• Successfully matched 220 dogs and cats with loving forever homes.
• Funded 17 urgent medical cases through our Crisis Care Program (formerly the After Hours Crisis Care Program), providing a lifeline for animals in their most critical moments.
• Installed a 24/7 microchip scanning station outside of CACC to help lost pets return home faster and bypass the shelter entirely.
• Outfitted over 1,000 pets with essential harnesses, leashes, and collars to ensure every adopted animal leaves the shelter safely.
• Celebrated and sustained CACC’s 200+ volunteers with appreciation events and lunches during monthly adoption events.
• Funded unseen but essential needs for the shelter that the city budget doesn’t cover, including specialized sanitation and cleaning supplies, repairs to the industrial washers & dryers, vaccine clinic equipment, and more.