Mission and Core Values We believe in rescuing responsiblySM

Our Mission 

Second City Canine Rescue’s mission is to rescue homeless animals and responsibly place them into permanent, loving homes. We believe in rescuing responsibly℠.

Second City Canine Rescue (SCCR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is largely volunteer-operated. We are dedicated to serving the homeless dogs of Chicagoland as well as other areas where at-risk homeless dogs & puppies need us.

We are extremely selective about the dogs we place and temperament test each and every adult dog prior to adoption from our program. Our goal is to responsibly place dogs with solid temperaments that will make loving family pets.

We rely heavily on foster homes to house our dogs. These foster homes are the backbone and heart of our organization. Without them, we would not be able to save as many dogs as we do. We also opened our first Adoption Center in 2020! While the majority of our dogs still remain in foster homes, the Adoption Center opened up additional space for us to house litters of puppies. The Adoption Center is an innovative, bright, warm, welcoming, and safe home-like environment for those puppies in our care. It also allows us to match dogs seven days a week!

SCCR does NOT discriminate. All breeds, ages, sizes, and colors are welcomed and loved.

Our Mission 

Second City Canine Rescue’s mission is to rescue homeless animals and responsibly place them into permanent, loving homes. We believe in rescuing responsibly℠.

Second City Canine Rescue (SCCR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is largely volunteer-operated. We are dedicated to serving the homeless dogs of Chicagoland as well as other areas where at-risk homeless dogs & puppies need us.

We are extremely selective about the dogs we place and temperament test each and every adult dog prior to adoption from our program. Our goal is to responsibly place dogs with solid temperaments that will make loving family pets.

We rely heavily on foster homes to house our dogs. These foster homes are the backbone and heart of our organization. Without them, we would not be able to save as many dogs as we do. We also opened our first Adoption Center in 2020! While the majority of our dogs still remain in foster homes, the Adoption Center opened up additional space for us to house litters of puppies. The Adoption Center is an innovative, bright, warm, welcoming, and safe home-like environment for those puppies in our care. It also allows us to match dogs seven days a week!

SCCR does NOT discriminate. All breeds, ages, sizes, and colors are welcomed and loved.

We see each dog as an individual, giving them the patience, love, and care they need to thrive. Just as importantly, we extend empathy to people, recognizing that we may never know the challenges they face. By choosing compassion over judgment, we support both dogs and people with respect and kindness. Core Values
 We are the voice for the voiceless, standing up for dogs who cannot speak for themselves. Advocacy means not only ensuring their safety and well-being, but also raising awareness and spreading the word about the importance of rescue, adoption, and responsible care. Through compassion and persistence, we work to create a better world for every dog in need. Compassionate Advocacy Inclusive Kindness Honest Stewardship Every dog and every person who connects with our rescue is treated with respect, warmth, and acceptance. We embrace diversity in our community of adopters, volunteers, staff, and supporters, knowing that kindness without boundaries builds bridges and saves lives. Inclusivity ensures that all feel valued and welcome in this mission of care. Respect also extends to how we speak about and treat one another — we uplift, encourage, and avoid gossip so that our community remains supportive and strong. With each life entrusted to us, we act with integrity and transparency. Stewardship means carefully managing the resources, donations, and trust placed in our care — always putting the dogs first while honoring the faith of our supporters. Through honesty and accountability, we ensure every action reflects the gravity of the responsibility we hold. This also includes respecting our fellow volunteers and partners, recognizing that trust is strengthened when words and actions align. We know rescue is never a solo effort. By working hand-in-hand with adopters, volunteers, staff, veterinarians, donors, and community partners, we create a powerful network of care. Every voice matters, every hand helps, and every connection makes a difference in saving lives. We commit to open, respectful communication, never undermining one another, because unity and trust are the foundation of true collaboration. Together, our collaborative spirit turns compassion into action. Collaborative Spirit Empathetic Care

Diversity and Inclusion

SCCR recognizes that a diverse and inclusive team is the key to creating a relevant and differentiated experience for our volunteers, fosters, adopters, donors and board members. By broadening our outreach to reflect the society we operate in we can create deeper connections and better collaboration throughout the organization.

Diversity and Inclusion Mission

We at SCCR are making a commitment to equitable treatment and elimination of discrimination in all its forms at all organizational levels and throughout the program. Recognition of the rights of all individuals to mutual respect and acceptance without biases based on differences of any kind will be at the forefront of our mission. We respect and value diverse life challenges and are committed to creating an environment that is inclusive of all. Just as the animals we strive to protect come to us from different backgrounds, we are all different in who we are, what we have experienced and how we think. Compassion and acceptance of both animal and human are the building blocks necessary to establish a brighter tomorrow for all.