New Leash On Life

Love NLOL! After seeing Teddy (formerly Leonard) on
, I contacted NLOL to try to meet him. They responded quickly and encouraged me to meet him at an adoption event. I’m so glad I went to the event! They encouraged me to apply and I adopted him not long after the event! NLOL does a foster-​to-​adopt program where they provide everything you need (food, crate, leash, collar, meds, supplies) for 2 weeks and then if all goes well you can formally sign the adoption papers. I think this is a great idea for both you and the dog to get to know each other before making a formal decision. Noelle from NLOL has been especially great. She was there for me by email and phone answering any random question I had (i had many!). I appreciated all the attention and support from NLOL. Applications are not necessarily first come first serve, it’s about choosing the right fit for dogs and humans which I think sets apart NLOL from the rest :) I was not the first to apply for Teddy but luckily I was picked to adopt him. Definitely go to an adoption event if you are interested in a dog they rescued, that way you can get to know the dog and the adoption counselors can get to know you :) Feel free to ask the adoption counselors anything! They are a huge resource and if there is something they don’t know they will always do their research to get you the answer!

I love New Leash On Life. My fiancé and I adopted our dog Josie (previously Fowler) through them and I can’t tell you enough how much we love her. Our adoption counselor, Lisa, was so incredibly helpful every step of the way. They truly care and love animals and they want to see them placed into good homes. The work they do is important and special!

I foster for New Leash on Life, and they have been AMAZING!
I have a cat at home, who is fairly picky about who his cohabitants are, and NLOL has been 100% supportive in making sure he and I are both comfortable.
They have helped out with anything I needed to care for the foster, and have been great at communicating needs, plans, post adoption status, etc.
I would recommend both fostering and adopting from them to anyone I meet!

They have great intentions but you know the old saying, «the road to hell is paved with good intentions» I know people who have adopted through NLOL and they do a great job of getting their dogs matched with the right forever homes. BUT as a previous post stated they are not great with communication.
I received their 10^th ann. Amazon Puppy shower list. Very excited to help, I immediately sent something out. As I’ve had problem with deliveries not getting where they need to be I tried to follow up. The «gifts» are sent to a private home in Evanston so I was unable. I’m not asking for gratitude or adulation but just an acknowledgement that package arrived would have been appropriate.
There are so many good similar organizations out there if they want to stay relevant they need to be more conspicuous and communicate.

They do good work with dogs and know what they are doing when it comes to matching pups with compatible, responsible homes, and for that I commend them.
HOWEVER, an organization is only as strong as its weakest link and New Leash has some weak links. The way they treat their volunteers who donate their free time to help is sad, disorganized, and borderline rude.
Multiple times, I was scheduled to volunteer at adoption events only to find out upon MY OWN last-​minute inquiry (after they failed to contact me) that my help was not needed or that the event was cancelled. If this was a one time incident, fine. Three times? I’ll donate my time elsewhere. Communication skills are imperative. Learn them.

Thanks to New Leash On Life, I found my first dog and love of my life, Olivia. She was an older pup when I adopted her in 2012 and has been nothing but wonderful ever since. The organization is run really well, as they are run completely by volunteers and foster homes so they don’t have the overhead of having a facility. They have a 2 week foster to adopt process which is great for the dogs and potential owners, but I knew Olivia would be fine after the first night I had her in my apartment. If I still lived in Chicago, I would absolutely adopt from them again! They are celebrating their 10 year anniversary, so you know they have to be doing something right!

I love this organization! We have rescued 2 dogs from New Leash on Life. Their team is the real deal. They care about the dogs and the people and are easy to work with and talk to. Questions, concerns, and comments are always well-​received and quickly addressed so that the two and four-​legged friends are all happy and cared for. They are truly after finding the best fits and right matches.

I adopted my dog from NLOL back in 2006 and have been involved with the rescue ever since. They are volunteer-​run but you’d never know it — they are responsive, responsible, and 100% dedicated to finding a great match between dog and adopter and supporting fosters and adopters in any way possible. Because most dogs are in foster homes, they know their personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and can help make the right match. All dogs are fully vetted, vaccinated, and microchipped. If you are looking to add a foster or forever dog, definitely check out NLOL.

I love NLOL. I got my pup from them about two years ago and have since volunteered with them. They are a volunteer run foster to adopt program, no shelter location. All the dogs live in homes with people and perhaps other animals. They may be small, but what they do is mighty. Very well organized and efficient, they always have the dogs as their #1 priority so you know they are well cared for and fostered in the best homes. Plus, they really get to know a dogs temperament and personality that way. I loved their foster to adopt process during adoption. They give you everything you need (food, crate, leash, toys) and you have the dog on a trial basis for two weeks. After that time is up, you decide if the dog is right for you and your lifestyle.
Check out their facebook page to keep up with their adoptable dogs.

I cannot say enough about this organization. If you are looking to adopt a dog you MUST go through NLOL. The entire process from start to finish was such a smooth transition I feel like I have had my dog Hunter for years. The two week foster to adopt period is key in helping you find the right dog for you. I have had my dog for about 6 months now and am still in contact with his adoption counselor! Please Please Please if you are considering adopting or even want to help out and foster a dog contact NLOL.

This organization ROCKS!!! They are all volunteers but, you would never know it! They are loving, kind and available to you 24 – 7! Simply Amazing! I worked with Megan F. to adopt my Dolly! I have never been so happy! I will go back again and recommend them to anyone who asks.
Pits are amazing dogs

Where do I begin? First, NLOL brought us the love of our life, Louie. For that we will be grateful for the rest of our lives. Second, the way the organization is run provides the best care for the animals, options for potential adopters and ways for everyone to be involved. Even though we knew the minute we had Louie in our home that he was ours forever, the two week foster-​to-​adopt process is a perfect setup for both the human and the animal. The love and care that is put into every animal and every adoption is obvious and I don’t know what our life would be like without Louie and therefore without New Leash On Life.

There are a lot of great organizations in the city– but NONE with as much passion and dedicated volunteers! They are all volunteer run (yep, your donations don’t pay for salaries or bonuses) and they rely TOTALLY on fosters– so no actual shelter to come visit the pups. You’ll find them out and about at local businesses on weekends (think Whole Foods, Starbucks, pet food stores), showcasing a couple of rescues at a time. Find them online or on Facebook and come check them out! THEY ARE INCREDIBLE! I have my pup, Wheaties, because of them– and he’s the best little guy I could have asked for!
–Tara

LOVE New Leash on Life.
If you are hoping to adopt a dog you MUST visit their website and /​or like them on Facebook because these folkd are WONDERFUL.
They care so much about what they do and are so supportive to potential adopters.
Watch for adoption events! Adopt from NLOL!

My boyfriend Simon and I started our dog adoption process by sending NLOL an e-​mail about what we love most about his parents’ dog, Missy, and asking if they had any available dogs similar to her. NLOL adoption counselor Megan knew exactly which dog was a match. At the next NLOL event, Simon met Duncan (then Siegfried) the toy Manchester terrier and sent me a picture-​text of himself holding Duncan — and I have NEVER seen him look happier in a photograph! Megan arranged for Duncan to visit us at home and then set us up for a foster-​to-​adopt situation, lending us all the supplies we needed and even paying to board him for a week while Simon helped me move from Brooklyn to Chicago. Megan was so kind and patient with us, extremely dedicated to Duncan, and so generous with her time and advice (NLOL is, astoundingly, completely volunteer-​run!) One of her last e-​mails hinted that we should get in touch again when we’re ready for pup number two… and we replied, nah, one is enough…
But sure enough, 6 months later, we wanted a companion for Duncan and saw Milton (then Gino) the elderly long-​haired chihuahua on NLOL’s Facebook page. This time, Kathleen was our adoption counselor, and she was every bit as wonderful as Megan. She was great about keeping in touch and absolutely a lifesaver when it came to transporting Milton to the vet for dental surgery and a check-​up (all paid for entirely by NLOL.) We are so happy with our complete pup family!
What sets NLOL apart, besides the staggering generosity of their adoption counselors, their strong communication efforts and their unique foster-​to-​adopt program, is their commitment to each and every animal. Megan and Kathleen knew everything there was to know about Duncan and Milton’s personalities, needs and quirks, and that insight made it much easier to welcome them into our family. We are so grateful to you, NLOL!

Got my dog through this organization in 2006. What a wonderful experience! Can’t wait to start volunteering for them now that I am back in Chicago!

Great organization. I’ve volunteered with them for several years now and they’re all a wonderful group of people that really care about the well being of pets in need. Adopt, volunteer, or donate… they can always use your help!

I’ve been volunteering with this group on and off since 2006 and have adopted two dogs of my own through them. Out of the 3 rescue groups I work with in Chicago they may not be the largest but I truely believe they put the most time and care into both the dogs and making sure adoptions are good fits/​go smoothly. Once a NLOL dog always a NLOL meaning once these dogs are pulled from ACC the are truely «saved» for the rest of their lives.
If you are hesistant in adopting a dog because of concerns about making sure he/​she will be a good fit for your family (because of children, cats, time commitments, etc) this is the organization to adopt through. Although they will not prevent a good home from adopting the dog they want they will suggest and even search for dogs they think that will be a good fit for your family help ensuring a smoother transition for everyone. The fact that most of the dogs live in foster homes or partner day care facilities means they often have more insight into the dog’s personaliaty versus a scared dog in a shelter. Their 2 week foster to adopt program is ideal too to ensure everyone is happy before a final commitment.
If you are not sure whether you a ready for a dog permenantly they are also always looking for foster homes. This gives you a taste of the dog ownership life without the life time commitment and gives NLOL a chance to save another life.
The fact they are 100% volunteer run also ensures donatonations are going to the cause of saving lives. Overall a great organization to support or adopt from.

I should point out that I’m a bartender and frequently have Mrs. P in the bar with me. It’s not like they are going to come knock on your door to follow up. They come by the bar. Mrs. P loves to see them and always gets all riled up. I love it.
We’ve become friends. They aren’t stalkers!

New Leash is the third dog rescue organization I’ve volunteered with and is by far and away the best. The events are very well organized and there’s one almost every weekend. From a both a potential adopter and potential volunteer standpoint, every one I have dealt with is extremely friendly and open — NLOL lacks the cliquish feel I’ve seen with other rescues.
Please note that NLOL is not a shelter — as someone else mentioned the address on this listing is only a mailbox. NLOL tries to house all of its dogs in foster homes, which is great for the dog and gives adoption counselors a better idea of how a dog will behave in a home. Available dogs can be seen on the website and several dogs will be at each of the weekly events.
The great thing about volunteering with NLOL is you don’t need to make a standing weekly commitment — you can volunteer to staff adoption events as you have time. NLOL is also always in need of foster homes, so that’s another great route if you want to help!