There's a lot to learn when you have a new pet. Our sister brand, The Wildest, is here to support you—with new pet checklists, virtual training, and expert guides. Sign up for free.
About Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County
For over 60 years, the Animal Protective League has been the voice for animals in Springfield and Sangamon County. APL operates a limited admission animal shelter and a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic along with comprehensive animal-welfare programs. APL is a private, not-for-profit organization and operates primarily by donations.
APL's limited admission animal shelter prioritizes intake by sick, injured, abused and abandoned dogs and cats. APL strives to match animals with carefully screened, loving, permanent owners. All animals leave our shelter spayed or neutered, microchipped, and with all age appropriate vaccinations. Over 2000 deserving dogs and cats are placed in homes every year! APL also has an active group of foster families who provide interim homes until space is available at our shelter.
APL's Spay/neuter clinic performs over 12,000 spay/neuter surgeries every year. In addition to the public, we work with other animal shelters, animal control agencies and animal welfare groups within a 30-mile radius of Springfield. Our free transport system picks up animals from various locations and transports them to our facility for surgery and then returns the animals the following day. This allows many other organizations to have access to low-cost spay/neuter services for their own animals as well as animals in their communities. We currently work with 31 partners in 18 surrounding counties.
APL MISSION
The Animal Protective League is a non-profit 501C(3) organization dedicated to caring for ill, injured and abused homeless animals and coordinating the adoption of those animals by responsible pet owners. It further is commited to ending companion animal overpopulation by offering high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services.
For over 60 years, the Animal Protective League has been the voice for animals in Springfield and Sangamon County. APL operates a limited admission animal shelter and a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic along with comprehensive animal-welfare programs. APL is a private, not-for-profit organization and operates primarily by donations.
APL's limited admission animal shelter prioritizes intake by sick, injured, abused and abandoned dogs and cats. APL strives to match animals with carefully screened, loving, permanent owners. All animals leave our shelter spayed or neutered, microchipped, and with all age appropriate vaccinations. Over 2000 deserving dogs and cats are placed in homes every year! APL also has an active group of foster families who provide interim homes until space is available at our shelter.
APL's Spay/neuter clinic performs over 12,000 spay/neuter surgeries every year. In addition to the public, we work with other animal shelters, animal control agencies and animal welfare groups within a 30-mile radius of Springfield. Our free transport system picks up animals from various locations and transports them to our facility for surgery and then returns the animals the following day. This allows many other organizations to have access to low-cost spay/neuter services for their own animals as well as animals in their communities. We currently work with 31 partners in 18 surrounding counties.
APL MISSION
The Animal Protective League is a non-profit 501C(3) organization dedicated to caring for ill, injured and abused homeless animals and coordinating the adoption of those animals by responsible pet owners. It further is commited to ending companion animal overpopulation by offering high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services.
Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County's adopted pets
Search and see photos of adoptable pets in Springfield, IL area.
Find a pet to adopt
Adopt a Pet is the easiest way for you to search for a new pet in Springfield, IL.
Support adoption and rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?
Why should you adopt?
Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life.
What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?
When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.
So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.