We provide various support services for veterans and their animals. Scroll down for details of the following support services:
Hinsdale Humane Society provides pet pantry supplies to those in need once a month up to a 12-month period from the time of the first request. Our Companion Animal Support Program provides assistance throughout the year when a veteran falls on hard times, but is not meant to become a sustainable program for your pet’s needs.
Our Exact Pet Food Pantry Support* ships items in need directly to the veteran. When a request is made for an Exact order, the food will be shipped from Chewy/Amazon and delivered right to the veteran’s door. By allowing a veteran to keep their companion on the same type of food, it allows less room for sickness and health issues that may arise from frequent change.
To start your pet food pantry request, please fill out the following form:
Veteran Food Pantry Support Request
Once you fill out the form, our team will reach out to you within two business days to discuss your request, confirm shipping information, and provide you with the approximate arrival time for your request.
Upon the program reaching its funding limits for the Exact Pet Food Pantry Support during the year, veterans can request supplies through our general Veteran Food Pantry Support Request form and will be provided with items that are in stock at the shelter at that time only.
For a list of additional pet food pantries, please visit our Community Resources.
Our Companion Animal Emergency Medical Support (EMS) Fund provides financial support to help reduce the costs of pet guardianship to prevent veterans from returning their adopted pets to the shelter due to financial hardship. The BJ Chimenti Angel Fund for Veterans and Pets can help pay for the cost of medical care needed due to unplanned or unexpected illness, injury, or other medical causes that are needed to help keep the animal in the home. Our EMS Fund will allow up to $500 per veteran yearly to help support pets in need. Payment for the services will only be made directly to the veterinary office and will not be reimbursed to the individual.
Emergency Medical Support Program Allowance*
*When the funding has been exhausted for the Emergency Medical Support Program in 2023, it will be paused until a new budget has been approved in 2024. Until the new funding has been approved, no additional assistance will be provided.
Emergency Medical Support Request
Hinsdale Humane Society offers special pricing on spay/neuter services to our veterans along with low cost vaccinations and microchipping to help keep pets in their homes and safe if they escape. Our low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services are offered to the veteran population at a lower cost than a typical veterinarian appointment.
Services must be scheduled in advance by calling the shelter at 630-323-5630 and making an appointment. Vaccination appointments are available only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 1–4 pm. Walk-in appointments will not be accepted. Veteran identification is required to obtain special pricing.
Free Vaccination and Microchip Clinics
Hinsdale Humane Society will hold free vaccination/microchip clinics around the area. Each clinic accepts up to 200 pets, with 10 spots held specifically for active service members and veterans to guarantee that they have the opportunity to get their pet vaccinated for free. Microchipping is also offered for no cost because it helps keep animals with their owners should they unexpectedly become loose.
If the 10 spots set aside for veteran and active service families have been filled for the clinic, you may still check in as long as as there are general spots available. If you are unable to attend one of the free vaccination clinics, you may sign up for a different clinic date, schedule an appointment for our Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Wellness Services Program (see above), or attend one of our VIP Petcare Community Clinics (see below).
VIP Petcare Community ClinicsVIP Petcare provides access to convenient, affordable preventative veterinary care that fits your lifestyle and your pets needs. Hinsdale Humane Society hosts VIP Petcare at the shelter on a regular basis. Click here for information on services provided. Walk-ins are welcome at this clinic and no appointments are necessary. You only need to be in line prior to the end of the clinic. To see a list of dates scheduled at our shelter and pricing, click here.
Hinsdale Humane Society believes in keeping people with their pets. Our Veteran Companion Behavioral Training Program provides veterans the proper training techniques to work through those difficult training times so that the veteran and companion animal can stay together. Our certified trainer will work with the veteran and their pet onsite to discuss positive reinforcement training to correct behavioral issues. For more information, please email training@hinsdalehumanesociety.org.
Veteran Companion Behavioral Training Program Allowance for 2023*:
*When the program allowance maximum has been reached for the year, funding assistance will no longer be available through the BJ Chimenti Angel Fund for Veterans and Pets until the following fiscal year. If you would like to be put on a waitlist for when it opens back up, please contact Andrea Wendlandt.
