About Our Organization

It all began in 2005 with a group of animal lovers who saw beauty in the overlooked — the older dogs and cats with silvered muzzles and wise eyes, whose hearts were still full of love. Dogs who may have slowed down a step, but whose tails still wagged with joy. Cats who pretended not to hear you — until the can opener told a different story.

These pets had once been part of a family, cherished and loved — until, one day, they weren’t. Left behind due to age or circumstance, they found themselves in shelters, quietly waiting. Waiting for a kind voice, a gentle hand, or even a friendly glance. Often scared, often shut down, and almost always passed over.

Yet these very pets are so often exactly what adopters want — calm, house-trained, affectionate, and grateful beyond measure. But many wait too long for someone to see them. And for some, that someone never comes.

That’s why Young at Heart was born. In April 2005, we set out to give senior dogs and cats in the Chicagoland area the second chances they deserve. Since then, thousands of older pets have been rescued and adopted into loving homes.

In September 2019, we opened Chicagoland’s first adoption center and sanctuary just for senior dogs and cats — a homestead where age is just a number, where care and comfort come first, and where every grey muzzle is met with love. A place where happily ever afters begin again.

Young at Heart’s mission is simple but powerful: to provide senior pets with a safe haven, ensuring they live their golden years with comfort, compassion, and companionship.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by a small staff and a dedicated army of volunteers. We receive no government funding and rely entirely on the generosity of animal lovers like you, on fundraisers like our Silver Paws Gala, and on grants to carry out our mission.