If your kids have been asking for a dog but you're not ready to commit, DuPage County Animal Services has a program that lets Naperville families take a shelter dog out for the day.

The Fetch a Friend program is one of several ways residents can support the county's only government-run, open-admission animal shelter. DCAS posted a 93% live release rate for animals in its care in 2025, according to its website. That figure meets the national "no-kill" standard, but the shelter says its real mission is to stay open for every DuPage pet that needs help.

The shelter's community programs were the subject of a July 8 DuPage Business Beat Podcast episode featuring DCAS Administrator Laura Flamion and DuPage County Board Member Brian Krajewski, who chairs the Animal Services Committee.

How Naperville families can help

DCAS operates without a dedicated tax levy, relying on fees and public support. The volunteer charity DuPage Animal Friends covers costs beyond the department's budget, including medical care and supplies.

Here's what's available for residents who want to get involved:

Fetch a Friend: Take a shelter dog on a day trip (minimum two hours). Pick-up times are Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No long-term commitment required.

Cat Adoption Room Cleaners: Fridays at 8 a.m., alternating weeks.

Foster care: The shelter needs temporary homes for kittens, cats, dogs, rabbits, and small animals. Canine foster homes must be within 30 minutes of the shelter at 2255 Manchester Road in Wheaton.

Volunteering: Must be 18 or older to volunteer independently. Kids ages 11 to 17 can volunteer with a parent or guardian. All volunteers commit to a weekly timeslot for six months.

The numbers behind the need

The shelter took in nearly 1,100 animals as found strays through September 2025, with only about 275 reunited with their owners, Flamion told the Naperville Sun in a September 2025 interview. Of 779 pets surrendered during that period, financial hardship drove 508 of those cases.

"This isn't a shelter problem. It's a community problem that needs a community response," Flamion said.

Krajewski, a Republican representing District 3 in the Downers Grove area, helped oversee the completion of the county's expanded shelter facility. He has described the overpopulation situation driven by financial stress as a crisis in DuPage County.

Cost and access

Volunteering and fostering are free. Donations go through DuPage Animal Friends at dupageanimalfriends.org. The shelter asks donors to call 630-407-2800 before dropping off items to check current needs.

Cats can be viewed without an appointment every Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. The shelter is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 2255 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

Note for Naperville residents: DCAS serves the DuPage County portion of Naperville. Residents in the Will County portion of the city fall under Will County Animal Protection Services.