About Us

Just Animals is a non-profit no-kill animal shelter.  We have been serving Grundy and surrounding Counties since 1997. All of our funding comes from donations and fundraisers.  Each year we take in hundreds of cats and dogs that come in as strays off the street, from animal controls and owners that surrender them.  Many of these animals have been neglected, abused and abandoned.  Our goal is to provide the best medical care to mend their broken bodies, patience and love to rebuild their spirits, and when they are ready, offer them for adoption to a permanent, safe, loving home.

Financially, the last several years have been difficult for many people and many of them had to give up their animals because they were losing their homes, or just couldn’t afford to take proper care of them.  Because of this, there were many more animals that needed our help. We are happy to say that we have continued to place many dogs, puppies, kittens and cats into loving forever homes through the hard work and dedication of the workers and volunteers that give so much of themselves to the animals here at Just Animals.    

This is an amazing number of precious lives saved working from our small office in Mazon and some wonderful foster homes.  Thank you to the wonderful people that adopted a new family member from us and thank you to the wonderful people that so generously donate to us, we could not do this without you. 

Before going to their new homes, all pets are vet checked, spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated, flea treated and dewormed.  Cats are tested for feline leukemia/FIV, dogs are tested for heartworm and started on preventative.  Many of the animals we take in can require extensive medical care. Without your donations, we would not be able to provide the care many of them need.

Just Animals Shelter is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. We receive no tax-payer dollars or government funding. All funding has been donated by caring community members or raised ourselves. All donations to Just Animals Shelter are tax-deductible.

Since our start in 1997 we have since saved thousands of animals. Just to give you an idea of how many animals we have found homes for over the past few years:

2015 we found homes for 424 cats and 83 dogs.
2016 we found homes for 434 Cats and 70 dogs.
2017 we found homes for 395 cats and 81 dogs.
2018 we found homes for 532 cats and 127 dogs.
2019 we found homes for 489 cats and 147 dogs.
2020 we found homes for 506 cats and 132 dogs.
2021 we found homes for 455 cats and 163 dogs.
2022 we found homes for 387 cats and 147 dogs.
2023 we found homes for 338 cats and 97 dogs.

That’s a total of 3,960 cats and 1,047 dogs in just 9 years!

In 2009, the shelter started its Pet Vaccine Clinic Program, further benefiting members of the community and their furry friends. Visit the PET VACCINE CLINIC PAGE on this site to find an upcoming clinic, book your appointment and see our very affordable prices.

In May of 2013, we purchased a building in Mazon where we could house our cats.  After nine months of extensive repair and remodeling, we officially moved into the new building on February 26, 2014. 

We have several rooms designed for the cats.  We have a room for the cats that are ready for adoption, a room for the kittens, a room for incoming cats, an isolation room and a quarantine room.  We also have an exam room for conducting our low cost vaccine clinics. 

In February, 2017, our surgery room was finished and our Veterinary team began doing low cost spay and neuter clinics. 

Our dream is to someday have a newer larger facility where we can house dogs as well as cats and we are saving for that dream.  Any donation toward the purchase of land and the building of a new facility would be greatly appreciated. Remember, all donations to Just Animals is tax-deductible.

There are many ways you can support our shelter;
Use our clinics to vaccinate and spay or neuter your current pets,
ADOPT! All adoption fees go towards rescuing and caring for the animals,
and of course, you can always make a cash or in kind donation to our shelter.

Just Animals will only keep growing, improving, rescuing and finding forever homes for more animals with the loving support of community members like you!

Our Board of Directors and Rescue Leaders protect Just Animals Shelter’s mission and
serve as a critical link to the communities we serve.

Officers:
Brenda Leake, President/Director
Rebecca Britz, Vice President
Dr. Danielle Opolka Grohmann, Secretary
Jody Guske, Treasurer

Directors:
Jody Guske, Vaccine Clinic Director
 Dr. Danielle Opolka Grohmann, DVM, Vaccine Clinic Lead Veterinarian