One Tail at a Time

Great organization that saves dogs lives! This is a no kill shelter that really cares for these dogs and helps find them loving homes.

One Tail At a Time is amazing! The were very responsive and helpful. We were looking at a particular dog for about a week and were finally able to visit (due to our busy schedule not theirs). We have another rescue dog so it was great to be able to bring him to meet the other dog and play in the fenced in area and inside the house area as well. The adoption center is so cute! I was also amazed at the resources that come along with adopting from them and I know that I will always have help if I have questions or need anything! I HIGHLY recommend One Tail At a Time to anyone looking to adopt.
They do not hold dogs so you need to be quick if you see one in particular that you wish to adopt… BUT they have so many great dogs that need homes you will find one you love!

While it is good to list both the good and the bad in a review, I cannot think of a single bad thing about this place.
This is an organization that takes dogs out of high-​kill shelters not only in the Chicago area, but also other states. Then, they are put into foster homes to help facilitate the socialization process while awaiting their forever homes. It’s a one-​of-​a-​kind kinda place, and I am grateful they exist.
We got our Chihuahua, Sugar (aka Ruth) from them about six weeks ago. She is just this amazing and loving pooch that took a day or two to get used to us. But after that, she because this little cuddlebug that you just couldn’t help but adore.
This was my first time going through an organization to adopt a dog. Back when I still lived in the city, dogs always seemed to find us. There was no shelter or other «medium» involved. And I was pleasantly surprised after working with OTAT on Sugar’s adoption, especially after I’d heard about all the pain and annoyance of adopting from other shelters. This is a very smooth and quick process. Anna, the lady from OTAT that I worked with, was very helpful and answered all my questions along the way, and even some post-​adoption.
With that said, I can honestly say that when the time comes that we are ready to add another pooch to our family again (we had several feline babies before Sugar joined the family), I’ll definitely be looking at OTAT.

My boyfriend and I decided to adopt around March. I did heavy research on which rescue shelters to adopt from, and when I came across One Tail at a Time, I knew this was the place to adopt from. One thing that really sold me about One Tail are their adopter benefits. Once you adopt from them, there are specific groomers, vet clinics, and K9 classes who will discount fees because you adopted from One Tail.
We originally planned on adopting an adult dog, just because we didn’t want to deal with the puppy phase of potty training, teething, etc. But after browsing through each dog’s profiles, emailing back and forth with Adrienne about which dogs would fit our lifestyle, we came across 2.5 month old Willow and were smitten. Even though she was, still is, a puppy, we knew she was our’s and were willing to change our routines in order to raise a puppy from the ground up.
What also drew us in was that each dog/​puppy is «foster to adopt». Meaning, all their dogs are fostered in homes until they are officially adopted. So these dogs aren’t just sitting in cages all day, but being socialized in homes of dog lovers. So we visited Anna, Willow’s foster mom, and she was so informative, and so welcoming. She also told me she owns pit bull mixes, so I knew she was an awesome person to begin with. :)
It only took a week for Willow to come home, so the process is very straight forward. It’s been almost two months, and we couldn’t be any more happier. The vet clinic we got Willow’s remaining shorts from Higgins Animal Clinic on Belmont and Paulina are great, and we got Willow’s first bath and trim at Kriser’s on Milwaukee are so pleasant.
If we decide Willow is ready to be an older sister, we would definitely adopt from OTAT again. Thank you! :)

Who could have thought it, but we did it again! Adoption number 2 in the last 12 months! Such a great organization to work with. Answer their emails promptly, honest replies about the dogs, and lots of helpful advice as well. Always a pleasant experience. Love our Cheagle Parker and Chiweenie Sadie. Who knows what next year will bring :)

When my dog passed my family decided to get two new puppies. My brother and I both decided to get from rescues and I chose one tail at a time and he chose a different one. My experience with one tail at a time was much better than my brothers and his rescue. While both are amazing just for being rescues one tail at a time was much more helpful and personal which I really enjoyed. Anna was great every step of the way and at the end we got Max which is such an amazing dog. I honestly wouldn’t go to any other rescue because this rescue truly cares about the dogs and the owners.
Thank you one tail at a time for all that you do for the dogs that come into your care.

I’ve contacted a lot of Adoption Facilities in the Chicagoland Area, and I must say that OTAAT is by far the best.
Anna was extremely quick in contacting me after my first inquiry, and she stayed with me patiently every step of the way. I interacted with a few volunteers while adopting my miniature poodle, Chip, and they were all really amazing. It’s heartwarming to be around people who care so much for the welfare of these animals.
I will definitely be back for more!

Love, love, love this organization and everyone who is involved with it. Adopted a dog from them and am in love with our newest pup. Amazing work OTAT!!!

All animal rescue organizations are to be praised for their good, caring work, but OTAAT is special. We applied with a number of other organizations and never even got replies. Anna from OTAAT got back to us right away and less than a week later we adopted the most amazing dog. I can’t say enough good things about the entire experience. Thank you!

Anna made the process of adopting my dog so easy! She was quick to respond to e-​mails and was caring in her responses even after I brought Emma home.
I had to take Emma back to the vet after her surgery, and Anna made sure that the costs would be covered if needed (we were still in the foster period).
She was also very flexible with dates for the initial visit and subsequent home visit.
I have also corresponded with Caitlin regarding volunteering, and she has been nothing but gracious and prompt, as well.
Thank you OTAT for helping to make my family complete!

There is a reason why this place has so many 5 star reviews. The amount of time this organization devotes to ensuring that dogs have a happy home is incredible.
Are you interested in adopting? They email you back immediately. Not only that, but if you have questions, or if the dog you’re interested in gets adopted, they always let you know where they are in the process.
The dogs are kept in foster homes with great families and they get adopted quick, which is so great!
They are SO nice, SO prompt, SO loving and appreciative of those adopting the dogs and the dogs themselves. This place is a must go-​to if you are interested in adding a family member to your pack.

One Tail is an amazing organization — I really cannot say enough nice things about them. I volunteered with One Tail for over a year before I was able to adopt my own dog. The staff and all of the volunteers I’ve ever worked with are loving people really committed to what is best for the dogs in their care.
One Tail is also a very smart organization in terms of the way it is structured. All of the dogs are kept in foster homes rather than a centralized shelter, and potential adopters are given the option to foster-​to-​adopt. For me, this was great because I had a chance to make extra sure that this new puppy would fit in my lifestyle (while falling that much more in love with her) without the pressure of having already signed the adoption papers. Additionally, even after I formally adopted her, I was able to call and ask questions. One Tail really cares to know where their dogs end up and how they’re doing which is a really nice feeling.
Once I get settled with my dog, I am looking forward to being able to volunteer with One Tail as a foster.
Anna, thank you so much for being such a great resource and guiding me through the adoption process!

The staff and foster parents were very attentive and quick to answer e-​mails throughot the foster process. However, after specifying that we wanted to look at dogs who could live with cats, we were given a dog to take home and foster that had previously been relinquished due in part to his relationship with cats. Needless to say, he did not work out in our cat-​inhabited home. I have since found out that this was due to a failure on behalf of another shelter to forward OTAT all the pertinent information on our foster-​dog. OTAT staff and volunteers were immediately responsive once the problem was sorted out in getting the dog back to his last foster mom and did the best they could with the situation. Though our situation was stressful, I think it was an anomaly and that the staff and volunteers work extremely hard to find good matches.

Absolutely a wonderful experience volunteering with these guys! You can to multiple things to help out, and it’s just so rewarding. If you have any spare time and love dogs, please come help out~! When I moved to Evanston I felt at a loss when I left my job in Virginia as a groomer. I needed something to do with dogs until I could find a job, and this is definitely the best place I’ve gotten to work with.

We adopted our little Chicklet from OTAT almost six months ago. Not only have we fallen in love with our pup and can’t imagine what we did without her, but the service we received from everyone in the process was amazing. They were kind and accommodating and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. The work they do is wonderful and we’re proud to be owners of an OTAT alum and volunteers now too :)

My partner and I highly recommend OTAT if you’re thinking of adding a new canine member to your family. Their Foster-​to-​Adopt program is especially helpful. The team is so attentive and constantly checked in as we decided to take the ultimate plunge with our new loved one, Nala. They’re also so well connected in the Chicagoland area that we were overwhelmed by the discounts and many resources we received upon adopting. I wouldn’t go anywhere else if we ever adopted another doggie again.

Just wanted to update my review. I am still a One Tail at a Time volunteer and still think they do wonderful, wonderful things. Chicago is quite lucky to have a competent rescue like this in town.

Not ideal for someone with another dog.
Application accepted and had numerous emails back and forth, but was always skipped for other applicants with no dog yet/​currently in the home. With all the homeless dogs in need of placement, why not take the time to assist a family interested in caring for another dog?
I would give less stars for four month’ wasted time applying, emailing, passing the buck and ignoring. but they are mostly volunteers finding dogs homes — for that they will always be A-​OK!

Out of all my reviews this one is the most rewarding. It must have been fate that I clicked on Heather’s thread, Animals in Need v3. Her post about Rain needing a foster home within a few days or she’d be put down just was too much. So I sent her a PM that I could do it.
This sweetheart was everything they said she would be, they dropped her off at my house with food, crate, leash and some toys. Being new to this I did have some questions as we went along, no emergencies so I just went ahead and emailed. Emails were answered very quickly, so that was appreciated too.
Because of their dedication instead of Rain being history as of last Saturday or even sooner, I watched a family make her introduction today and take her to hopefully to her new forever home.
If you can’t foster or adopt, consider donating. I’ve donated to some of the big groups, however I’ve started to donate on a more local level, by doing so you can see the direct results.
This is one dedicated group of people, and they will put your help to good use.

This is a fantastic group, run by «one in a million” — type people.
If you are looking for a guaranteed good time, complete with opportunities for good karma — attend one of the fun, creative, exciting events! I sadly cannot have a dog at home right now, otherwise I would do more to help them, like become a foster failure. :D
Please consider donating to this legit, organized, fun group!