A.R.F.-Animal Rescue Foundation - Wheaton, Illinois

Amanda D.

We came across ARF when we were looking for a new fur baby to add to our family. We searched and searched and found a few dogs we were interested in meeting - we were able to set up a meeting and bring our new family member home. I love that they are 100% volunteer base and they ask for references (they do call them), vet references, and a family meet and greet. They truly place the animals with the families and homes that seem to fit best. They go above and beyond for the animals and save so many lives. Thank you for saving Star - her new name is Jolene and she is loved.

Stella G.

I am an ARF volunteer and a twice foster fail. This is an amazing organization and yes, we are very careful and thorough with our applications and this takes time. We want our angels to have the very best life. If an application isn’t approved it’s for a very good reason. Also our animals are fully vetted, vaccines, spay/neuter and training if needed. This might come to a surprise to some, but it can be very expensive since we never know the shape of the animals we are accepting in our care. Our adoption fees reflect this. If you want to make a real difference come join our volunteer team. We would love to have you!

Mark D.

We adopted Jolene (previously named Star) from ARF. The organization is absolutely amazing and they are all volunteers!! The people behind this organization truly care about the animals and the lives they will lead with their new families. Thank you for everything you do and for being compassionate and having a true desire to place the perfect animal & family together!!
❤️Mark, Amanda, Bella

Heather J.

I adopted both of my cats from this organization and cannot recommend them enough. I found my first cat at ARF shortly after a tragedy in my home and the foster parents and organization were both extremely kind to me and really ensured I took home my perfect match. A few months later, I was back to get him a brother and the process couldn't have been easier. I was already in their system so after showing up to an adoption event, I took home Misha the same day. I found the whole application process fair and easy while still making it clear the animals finding a good home is their top priority. They're also very transparent about the history of the animals which I really appreciated. I've since referred my brother to ARF who ended up adopting his cat through here and will send anyone else looking!

Grace A.

My husband and I adopted our puppy through ARF and were very pleased with the process. We felt they thoroughly vetted their potential adopters to ensure good pet placement and were efficient and responsive throughout the entire process. Our puppy was happy and healthy from the day we adopted him and has been doing well since! We plan on adopting him a sibling through ARF in the future. Thank you ARF for giving us a new beloved family member!

Paul N.

Based on finding a pair of "bonded" cats on the web site, my wife and I went to a PetSmart in Oswego Il. to look at them. They only cats they had on location were the pair we saw on the web site. They "looked" great and were quietly laying down next to each other. We were interested and filled out the application on the spot. We asked some of the store's employees, questions about the cats, they said they didn't have anything to do with them and we would have to call the number given. I had contact with ARF via email (after filling out the application) and was told they had to complete the application process before we can meet the cats. This was on a Friday, on Saturday, they called us and said that the two cats we were looking at were sold that day. Said we wouldn't have wanted them anyways because the cats came from a hoarder's home and that the cats had been at the store for almost a year and wouldn't let anyone touch them. Said that they could sell us another bonded pair. If the cats hadn't of sold and we would have had a "meet and greet" with the cats, if they wouldn't have let us touch them, we wouldn't have taken them anyways. To have cats for that long and not taken any efforts to make them more adoptable is abusive. We called ARF on Monday to talk with them and said that we didn't want to continue with the process. They responded trying to convince us that we wouldn't have wanted that pair anyways, and just to prove it, invited us to visit one of their other stores in Darien to look at another pair that was "rescued" from the same hoarder's house to show that they couldn't be touched either. Looks more like a racquet to make money then trying to rescue cats. I wouldn't trust PetSmart or ARF again.

Alyssa L.

We couldn’t not have had a better experience. We had interacted with other rescues and none compare to this. The volunteers and fosters (Sandy especially) were accommodating and informational. It was an overwhelming experience but they made sure both the dogs and adopters were comfortable. We are beyond lucky to have shared this process with them and I can’t recommend this rescue enough

Natalie B.

We have contacted this company many times. It was then the 3rd time that I contacted them that I received a response requesting pictures and more information about our dog. The same day, I sent an email with the information they requested. Two weeks passed and I had not heard anything from them. I decided to send a rather to the point email and roughly an hour and 15 mins later I received a very short response that they are full at this time.

If a company is full, why request more information about an animal and ask for pictures then wait two weeks to say you are full. Bad business from the start.

They say first impressions are everything…

Don’t waste your time.