The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago exists to prevent cruelty to animals and to advance humane education. Their mission is building a community of caring by helping pets and educating people.
The Anti-Cruelty Society (SPCA of Illinois) is a private, not-for-profit humane society that does not receive government assistance. It is one of the largest such organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1899 and has been in the River North neighborhood of Chicago for many years.
In the 2009 fiscal year, The Anti-Cruelty Society's spay/neuter clinic—one of the highest volume spay/neuter clinics in the country—performed over 12,000 surgeries. The Society also found new homes for nearly 6,000 animals.
In autumn of 2008, Dr. Robyn Barbiers, formerly the Vice President for Collections at The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, became The Society's new President.