| 1972 - | Save-A-Pet was founded by Gertrude Maxwell of Highland Park. Realizing the eventual fate of animals left unclaimed in the pounds of local communities, she asked if she would be allowed by their city councils to take animals before they were euthanized. When they consented, Mrs. Maxwell boarded the animals in kennels or with local veterinarians until new homes could be found. With the help of her good friend Hannah Goldman, Mrs. Maxwell was able to pay the boarding bills; and soon she interested other friends in this cause and a network of volunteers developed to help with fundraising and adoptions. |
| 1976 - | After operating out of a room in the Winnetka Community Center, a barn in Lake Forest, and finally a boarding kennel in Deerfield (where cats were housed in a donated trailer), Save-A-Pet purchased the property at 2019 North Rand in Palatine. A full-time Kennel Manager lived on the premises and some part-time kennel personnel were hired. |
| 1981 - | An addition to the Rand Road shelter was completed and contained facilities exclusively for cats, a kitchen, bathroom, offices, and isolation and treatment rooms. |
| 1982 - | A full-time Executive Director was hired. Other full-time and part-time shelter-based personnel have been hired over the years, but volunteers continued to work at the shelter with our dogs and cats and do almost all of our fundraising - which is still true today. |
| 1983 - | Planning begins on a new shelter. |
| 1991 - | 10 acres of farmland purchased on Fairfield Road in unincorporated Grayslake for the construction of a new 20,000 square foot shelter. |
| 1995 - | The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new shelter on Fairfield Road was held on June 25, 1995. |
| 1996 - | With construction on the new shelter almost complete, the building was opened on June 1. |
