Heartland Animal Shelter
A Heart for Every Pet
Heartland Animal Shelter is dedicated to providing excellent, life-saving care to the most vulnerable dogs and cats until we find them their perfect, permanent homes. We believe in building a humane community where pets and people thrive together, ensuring every animal gets the second chance they deserve.
Our Journey
Founded in 2002 by Dr. Herbert Preiser, DVM, our shelter was born from a desire to make a real difference for pets at risk due to overpopulation. Since our inception, we have remained a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, committed to a no-kill philosophy that prioritizes the health and happiness of every animal in our care.
How We Help
As a no-kill shelter, we provide a safe, nurturing environment where our staff and volunteers offer the medical, behavioral, and emotional support each pet needs to flourish. We combine specialized care with progressive programs, community outreach, and collaborative partnerships to ensure our animals are healthy, loved, and ready for their new families.
Your Partner in Adoption
When you adopt from Heartland, you aren't just finding a new best friend; you are saving two lives: the animal you bring home and the one who takes their place in our shelter. We are committed to thoughtful, transparent adoption processes that help build lasting, joyful partnerships between pets and their human guardians.
Join Our Mission
Your journey to finding a new companion begins with a visit. We invite you to meet our adoptable cats and dogs during our open hours at our Wheeling facility—no appointment needed. You can also explore our available pets online or reach out to our team to learn more about how you can support our life-saving work through volunteering, fostering, or making a donation.
- Exceptional facility cleanliness
- Dedicated and compassionate staff
- First-come, first-served policy friction
4/23 - Man who helped save animals from flooding shelter now needs help of own after paralysis
A man who helped save animals from a flooding shelter now needs help of his own after his unexpected paralysis.
10/14 - Ready for this smart lady to join your household? Apply for Twirl here: https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/adoptable-dogs/#sl_embed&page=shelterluv_wrap_1775186091%2Fembed%2Fanimal%2FHLIL-A-133306
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10/12 - Erin is only 2 years old. 💔 And right now, she’s fighting a battle no animal this young should have to face. Erin has an enlarged liver and anemia, and we’ve already spent over $10,000 fighting for her. Our medical team is working tirelessly, day and night, to give Erin the best possible care. We don’t know how her story will end, but we know one thing: we aren’t giving up on her. ❤️ Every animal deserves a chance, and Erin is no exception. If you’d like to help us continue fighting for Erin, donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. Every bit helps us give her the care she deserves. 🐾❤️ Donate here: https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/donate-now/ #cats #sheltercat #illinois #donationsneeded
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10/11 - Buy your tickets here!! https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/news_events/golden-raffle-ticket/ #raffle #animalshelter #winbig
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10/7 - 🎶Apply to adopt Bach, Mozart, Hayden, Barton, Ravel, Rousseau, or Chopin here: https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/adoptable-dogs/ #adoptablepuppies #puppies #wheelingillinois
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10/6 - October is Pit Bull Awareness Month, and adoptable Sarabi would like to raise awareness of a few important facts: 🐾 Pittie smiles are extremely contagious. 🐾 Their tails can and will reach dangerous speeds when properly motivated. 🐾 “Pit bull” isn’t actually one specific breed, but a label applied to a whole lot of dogs with blocky heads, muscular bodies, and varying mixes of breeds. 🐾 And perhaps most importantly: you can’t know who a dog is simply by knowing what they look like. Dogs labeled as “pit bulls” have spent decades carrying around stereotypes. Like every dog, they are individuals—with their own personalities, histories, quirks, strengths, and needs. Sarabi’s contribution to the cause is simple: be extremely cute, smile at everyone who walks by, and wag enthusiastically until someone notices her. We think she’s doing excellent work on behalf of her people! This Pit Bull Awareness Month, we hope you’ll take a moment to look past the label and meet the dog in front of you. And if the dog in front of you happens to be Sarabi…prepare to be smiled at. ❤️ 👉Read more about Sarabi here: https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/HLIL-A-133474
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10/4 - We’ve got so many great dogs right now! 🤩🤯 But don’t take our word for it… See for yourself 😉 We are open on Sunday from 12-6, and we would love introduce you to your new best friend 🐾❤️
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10/3 - Apply to adopt Emree here: https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/adoptable-cats/#sl_embed&page=shelterluv_wrap_1775181037%2Fembed%2Fanimal%2FHLIL-A-132892 #wheelingillinois #illinois #adoptablecats
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10/2 - Apply to adopt Duncan, the dog of many talents, here: https://heartlandanimalshelter.org/adoptable-dogs/#sl_embed&page=shelterluv_wrap_1775186091%2Fembed%2Fanimal%2FHLIL-A-133578
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10/1 - Use code 30OFF for $30 off your ticket to Heartland’s Golden Paw Gala! 💛 Buy your tickets here: https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/heartland/tickets/tix #wheelingillinois #animalshelter
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10/1 - Mornings are always busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! ❤️ #animalshelter #wheelingillinois
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9/27 - Welcome to Heartland! We are so grateful to give these babies the second chance they deserve ❤️ #chicagocats #cacccats #adoptablecats
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9/25 - Yesterday we welcomed a VERY special boy from Chicago Animal Care and Control… JERRY! 🐶💛 This big goofy guy is already showing us just how sweet he is. 🥹 He’s currently living his best foster life while we get him ready for adoption! Follow along for Jerry’s glow-up → adoption journey. 👀✨ #chicagodogrescue #chicagodog #shelterdog #chicagosuburbs
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