Elmhurst, Illinois
Contact before visiting
Confirm visiting arrangements and animal availability directly. Some rescues use foster homes, appointments, or a mailing address rather than a public shelter.
About this organization
Players for Pits is a foster rescue established in 2013 to help pit bull type dogs and change perceptions through rescue and advocacy. Its team draws on athletes, supporters and foster homes, taking dogs from Chicago-area animal controls as well as other parts of the country. Dogs live in homes while receiving care and being matched with adopters. The rescue describes training support for its fosters and adopters through Practice Makes Perfect, with help tailored to dogs that need additional support to stay in a home.
How adoption works
Adopters must be at least 21 and be the head of household or have that person's permission. Complete your own linked survey in full when ready to adopt within two to three weeks; applications completed on someone else's behalf are not accepted. Renters need written or verbal landlord approval and complete landlord contact details; provide HOA/pet-policy information when applicable. Supply a veterinary reference and two non-family personal references living outside your household. The team verifies information and current pets' care, discusses fit by email, arranges a home visit or adoption-show meeting, checks animal compatibility and finalizes adoption. There is no universal fenced-yard requirement; restrictions depend on the individual dog. The survey includes investigation/verification authorization, possible denial/delay, automatic newsletter enrollment and animal-risk/liability release terms. Listed fees are $400 for 12-week–6-month puppies, $350 for older puppies through one year, $300 for adults over one through nine years and $150 for seniors ten or older; ask which category applies to boundary ages. Care includes age-appropriate vaccines, deworming, microchip and alteration, with additional testing by age. Obtain the current final adoption contract and return/refund terms before committing; these were not established by the survey.
Meeting the animals
This rescue has no public shelter where visitors can browse dogs. Start with its survey or email the team to arrange a home visit or adoption-show meeting. Elmhurst 60126 is the rescue's own published mailing locality for donations and care packages; the map is an approximate postal location, not a visitor entrance or foster home. No public phone number or general walk-in hours are listed. Confirm the meeting place, time, dog availability and household introductions directly with the team.
Areas served
The adoption process page describes Illinois homes within roughly 50 miles of the western suburbs, with possible case-by-case exceptions. Its current linked survey instead says no out-of-state or beyond-radius adoptions and that the radius varies by dog. Ask the team to confirm eligibility before applying or traveling. Fosters should live within one hour of the primary vet in Roselle and be able to attend veterinary appointments; some dogs may need surgery transport to Bannockburn. Practice Makes Perfect supports the rescue's fosters/adopters, rather than advertising a general public clinic. The Pack Walk page and linked registration still carry 2019/2020 terms; ask whether the program is currently running and obtain current pricing and registration before planning a walk.
Services
Dog adoption and recruited regular or short-term foster care. Complete the foster application/contract; another adult in the household must be listed as co-applicant, renters need landlord permission, and you cannot already foster for another rescue or shelter. The rescue verifies resident dogs' rabies vaccination and alteration before proceeding; describe any exception to staff. Local pet-number ordinances apply. Personal references are no longer required for fostering. Provide a separate decompression area and supervise every interaction with children. Crate dogs overnight and when away unless given written permission; a crate and needed professional training are provided. Expect to work on housebreaking and cooperate with training/behavior support. If resident-pet problems develop, keep animals separated while another foster is found; shelter compatibility tests are not guaranteed. Never visit a dog park or introduce outside dogs without written permission. Use a non-slip collar and leash outdoors unless securely fenced. Send weekly photos/updates and help with adoption events. Attend scheduled vet visits or give sufficient notice to arrange transport. Routine vetting needs advance rescue approval; outside vets need written team-leader consent. For emergencies, follow the rescue's designated vet procedure, make every effort to contact staff before costs and relay medical concerns; life-threatening care at its vet is preauthorized. Review the foster risk/liability release and rescue approval terms before signing. Ask about food/supply arrangements for the particular placement; no general public food or low-cost clinic program is established.