TAPS Pekin Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
If a dog or cat on the TAPS website has caught your eye, there’s something important to know before making the trip to Pekin: TAPS currently meets potential adopters by appointment after their application is approved. It is not offering ordinary public walk-throughs.
Tazewell Animal Protective Society, known as TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter, is an independent nonprofit at 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, IL 61554. It cares for homeless dogs and cats, works with foster families and helps pets find new homes across Central Illinois.
For stray pickup, animal bites, dangerous animals or enforcement, the correct government service is Tazewell County Animal Control in Tremont, not TAPS. This guide explains both routes without confusing them.
Nonprofit animal shelter
TAPS is an independent local nonprofit, not a municipal police department or county enforcement agency.
No walk-in adoption viewing
Submit your application first. Staff will contact approved applicants to arrange a meeting.
For Pekin-area strays
Use the proper local Animal Control authority. TAPS directs found strays to Animal Control where they were found.
TAPS Pekin Adoption Hours 2026: Appointment Required
The official TAPS website currently says: open by appointment only with a pre-approved application. It also states that TAPS is not currently open for public viewing.
Some older online listings still display Tuesday–Friday noon–7 PM and Saturday noon–6 PM. Those schedules should not be interpreted as an invitation to walk in for adoption. The current official appointment policy takes priority.
| Visit purpose | 2026 access | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Meet a dog or cat | Approved appointment only | Apply online and wait for TAPS to arrange the visit. |
| General public kennel viewing | Not currently available | Browse current animals online rather than arriving without an appointment. |
| Adoption-application review | Processing may take several days | Submit accurate reference and household details; monitor your phone/email. |
| Approved application | Valid for six months | Call 309-353-8277 ext. 104 to express interest in additional animals. |
How to Adopt From TAPS: The Real Application Process
The process takes a little patience, particularly for puppies and kittens with many applicants. Completing an application doesn’t obligate you to adopt, but it allows staff to consider whether a pet could be the right fit for your family.
Browse current dogs or cats
Open TAPS’ official adoptable dogs page or adoptable cats page. Review an animal’s details, name and availability. The galleries are powered by Shelterluv.
Open the correct application
Go to the official TAPS adoption form page. Choose Online Dog Application or Online Cat Application.
Give accurate household information
Complete all required fields, including household members, your current address, pet-care arrangements and requested references. If you rent, make sure the landlord can respond when contacted.
Allow time for verification
TAPS reviews applications and may verify veterinary references, household information, address or other details. Its form says an additional 24–48-hour waiting period may sometimes be necessary.
Wait for the adoption team’s response
The front desk contacts applicants with updates. TAPS says review time may vary depending on animal availability, reference responses and landlord contact.
Schedule an appointment once approved
Only after approval should you plan to meet an animal. Confirm the time, which pet you’re visiting, and what family members or resident pets staff wants present.
Make a confident decision
Ask about the animal’s energy, adjustment needs, known history, medical records, socialization and care. Prepare a carrier or leash and an appropriate space at home.
TAPS Adoption Requirements: Who Can Apply?
The official adoption form lists these eligibility requirements. Check them before submitting, especially if you’re applying on behalf of someone else.
Applicant requirements
- Must be 21 years or older.
- Must have the knowledge and consent of all adults in the household.
- Must possess valid identification proving the current address.
- Must have a steady source of income.
- Must receive TAPS approval before adoption can proceed.
Possible additional checks
- Veterinary-reference verification
- Address verification
- Landlord response, when applicable
- Possible home visit
- Additional 24–48 hours if checks are needed
One common source of delay is an incomplete or unreachable reference. Before applying, let anyone listed as a reference know that TAPS may contact them.
TAPS Pekin Adoption Fees in 2026
TAPS currently publishes age-based dog and cat adoption pricing on its official adoption page. These are TAPS nonprofit adoption fees—not the fees charged by Tazewell County Animal Control.
Dog and puppy fees
| Dog age | Fee |
|---|---|
| 6 months and younger | $250 |
| 7 months through 6 years | $175 |
| 7 years and older | $75 |
Cat and kitten fees
| Cat age | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 7 months | $100 |
| 7 months through 6 years | $75 |
| 7 years and older | $50 |
What Veterinary Care Comes With a TAPS Adoption?
An adoption fee supports more than shelter space and food. The TAPS website lists preventive care and medical procedures that animals receive as part of the adoption program.
Dogs
- Spay or neuter
- Age-appropriate vaccinations
- Deworming
- Flea/heartworm prevention
- Heartworm test
- Microchip
Cats
- Spay or neuter
- Age-appropriate vaccinations
- Deworming
- Flea prevention
- Feline leukemia test
- FIV test for cats aged six months or older
- Microchip
Ask the adoption coordinator what was actually completed for your specific pet and request any available medical documentation. A healthy-looking shelter animal can still need time to adjust, future vaccinations or follow-up veterinary care.
Emergency & Important Pekin Animal Contacts
TAPS adoption questions and government Animal Control emergencies belong to different agencies. Use the correct route for the situation.
| Organization | Contact | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter | 309-353-8277 | Adoption applications, approved appointments, fostering, nonprofit shelter matters. |
| TAPS front desk email | tapsfrontdesk@tapsshelter.org | Routine nonprofit shelter correspondence; not an emergency dispatch route. |
| Tazewell County Animal Control | 309-925-3370 | Strays, injured animals, welfare concerns, animal bites, wildlife service and rabies-registration questions within its jurisdiction. |
| Pekin Police non-emergency | 309-346-3132 | Official Pekin Police non-emergency number; a practical local police route for after-hours county Animal Control coordination when applicable. |
| Tazewell County Sheriff dispatch | 309-346-4141 | Official county sheriff dispatch contact; particularly relevant to county areas outside Pekin municipal police jurisdiction. |
| Emergency services | 911 | Immediate threat to human life or serious police/fire/medical emergency. |
Lost or Found a Dog or Cat Near Pekin?
When a pet disappears, it is easy to lose valuable time calling the wrong shelter. TAPS cares for homeless animals, but it does not replace the county’s official stray-animal intake process.
Call county Animal Control
Contact 309-925-3370 and give the exact last-seen or found location, including the town, closest street or landmark.
Provide identifying details
Describe the animal’s species, breed if known, sex, size, color, collar, tag and microchip. Keep a clear photograph ready.
Check the correct intake shelter
Use the official Tazewell County Animal Control website and its posted pet-finding resources. Ask whether an animal matching your description has been picked up, transferred or reunited with its owner.
Act quickly
The county states that strays are held for five to seven business days before evaluation for adoption or transfer. Do not assume a pet will remain at the shelter indefinitely.
Prepare proof of ownership
Have photographs, veterinary records, microchip information, rabies tag details and valid ID available if you need to reclaim your animal.
Tazewell County Animal Control Is a Separate Shelter in Tremont
TAPS — Pekin
100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, IL 61554
Independent nonprofit, no-kill dog and cat shelter. Applications, adoption appointments, fostering, surrender requests and donations.
Phone: 309-353-8277
County Animal Control — Tremont
21314 State Route 9, Box 158, Tremont, IL 61568
County government animal-control authority, open-admission shelter, stray holding, ordinance enforcement, bites, wildlife and county rabies registration.
Phone: 309-925-3370
Official Tazewell County Animal Control hours
Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM; closed weekends and county holidays.
The county says routine services include loose animals, sick or injured animals, welfare checks, specified wildlife removal and rabies/bite concerns. After-hours emergency scope includes bite investigations involving an aggressive animal currently loose, sick/injured animals and wildlife inside living spaces.
Tazewell County Pet Rabies Registration and Fees
County registration applies separately from nonprofit adoption. Tazewell County instructs owners to arrange rabies vaccination with a veterinary office, then register using the current certificate.
| Rabies tag | Spayed / neutered | Unaltered |
|---|---|---|
| One-year registration | $16 | $33 |
| Three-year registration | $42 | $75 |
County late fees are listed as $5 after 30 days overdue and $10 after 60 days overdue. A three-year registration tag requires a corresponding three-year rabies vaccination.
Get the rabies certificate
Schedule rabies vaccination with your veterinary office, or obtain an updated certificate if your pet is already vaccinated.
Use the county registration instructions
Open How to Register Your Pet on the county website.
Send the documents and fee
The county instructs owners to mail two copies of the rabies certificate to Tazewell County Animal Control, PO Box 158, Tremont, IL 61568, with the correct check or money order, or visit to purchase the tag.
Do not assume online payment
The county states it does not currently accept online or telephone payments for these tags. Veterinarians within the county may also provide the tag at vaccination.
Need to Surrender or Rehome a Pet Through TAPS?
Giving up an animal is rarely an easy decision. Sometimes a housing change, unexpected bills or personal circumstances leave a family looking for help. TAPS asks pet owners to use its formal surrender request process rather than arriving without advance arrangements.
Read the current surrender policy
Visit TAPS Surrender Your Animal.
Select the correct form
Use the Dog Animal Surrender Form or Cat Animal Surrender Form. Returning a TAPS-adopted animal also requires the surrender form.
Complete every required field
TAPS says incomplete forms are deleted. Describe behavior, health, circumstances and your requested date honestly.
Understand kennel availability
TAPS cannot promise a waiting period. Its policy asks returning adopters to allow up to two weeks for kennel space under the adoption contract.
Do not assume a reply means acceptance
The shelter says it receives many requests and contacts applicants only if it believes it can help by the requested surrender date.
TAPS currently suggests a relinquishment donation of $25, but says no fee is required. This is separate from the actual availability of a kennel.
Fostering, Volunteering and Supporting TAPS
Foster a pet
TAPS uses foster homes for puppies, kittens, seniors and animals needing a quieter environment. The shelter says it provides medical treatment while foster families provide a home, care and appointment transport.
Volunteer
TAPS uses Better Impact for volunteer registration and scheduling. Its volunteer page says processing a new application may take up to a week.
Donate practical supplies
Useful items include canned dog/cat food, litter, treats, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and paper towels. TAPS also has a donation and wish-list page.
TAPS Shelter Leadership and Veterinary Services: What Is Verified?
TAPS’ official leadership page identifies Tori Menke as Executive Director, Jennifer Filley as Operations Manager and Nicole Wilson as Animal Health and Welfare Manager. These are organizational roles, not proof of public veterinary appointments or qualifications as a veterinarian.
The official pages confirm that TAPS provides medical care to shelter animals and uses veterinary checks during adoption approval. However, a publicly bookable veterinary hospital, named DVM appointment roster, routine public examination fee and emergency veterinary opening hours were not verified at TAPS.
Before You Visit 100 TAPS Lane
Adoption checklist
- Online adoption application submitted
- Approval and appointment confirmed
- Valid ID with current address
- Household consent
- Reference and landlord contacts ready
- Appropriate carrier or transport setup
- Questions about animal health and adjustment
For lost, found or urgent animals
- Identify the exact incident location
- Contact the correct Animal Control authority
- Describe the animal and safety risk
- Keep photographs, tags and microchip details available
- Use local police for county after-hours Animal Control routing
- Use 911 for immediate human danger
Map: TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter, Pekin IL
100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, IL 61554. Appointments should be confirmed before arriving. This is not the Tazewell County Animal Control location in Tremont.
Official TAPS and Tazewell County Resources
10 TAPS Pekin Animal Shelter FAQs
1. Where is TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter located?
TAPS is located at 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
2. What is the TAPS Pekin phone number?
The main phone number is 309-353-8277. Approved adopters interested in additional pets can ask for extension 104.
3. What are TAPS adoption hours in 2026?
The official website currently says adoption meetings are by appointment only for people with pre-approved applications. TAPS is not currently open for ordinary public viewing.
4. Can I walk into TAPS and look at the dogs or cats?
No. TAPS asks adopters to complete an application first. Once approved, staff will arrange an appointment to meet the animal.
5. How old must I be to adopt from TAPS?
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and satisfy TAPS’ ID, household-consent, income and approval requirements.
6. How long does TAPS take to approve an adoption?
The review can take several days. TAPS also says an additional 24–48 hours may be necessary for veterinary checks, address verification or a home visit.
7. What are TAPS dog and puppy adoption fees?
Current listed fees are $250 for puppies six months and younger, $175 for dogs seven months through six years, and $75 for senior dogs seven years and older.
8. What are TAPS cat and kitten adoption fees?
Current listed fees are $100 for kittens under seven months, $75 for cats seven months through six years, and $50 for cats seven years and older.
9. Does TAPS handle lost strays and animal-control emergencies?
TAPS is a separate nonprofit shelter, not the county enforcement agency. Stray and animal-control matters should be directed to the appropriate local authority, including Tazewell County Animal Control at 309-925-3370 where applicable.
10. Is TAPS the same as Tazewell County Animal Control?
No. TAPS operates at 100 TAPS Lane in Pekin. Tazewell County Animal Control is a separate government facility at 21314 State Route 9 in Tremont, with different adoption fees and field services.
Independent editorial guide: Animal-Shelter.org is not affiliated with TAPS, Pekin Police or Tazewell County government. Important operational details were reviewed against official sources on October 11, 2026. Adoption availability, fees, appointment policies and agency contacts may change.
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