To our PAWS community, 

Since our founding in 1997, when more than 42,000 cats and dogs were killed in the city of Chicago, PAWS Chicago has been wholeheartedly dedicated to the mission of changing the status quo for homeless animals. We’ve pioneered free and low-cost spay/neuter located in and serving under-resourced communities and established state-of-the-art adoption and medical centers for homeless animals. We’ve set higher standards for the care and treatment of homeless animals, while also using data to inform the most impactful solutions to bring an end to the killing of homeless pets in Chicago and beyond.   

As our work continues to grow, so does the need to effectively communicate the intricacies of our organization, the depth of our programs, and our results for homeless pets. We’re excited to share a first look at our refreshed PAWS Chicago logo—an identity designed to communicate our mission more powerfully and amplify our impact in the months and years ahead. 

Our North Star is now captured within our horizontal logo. For centuries, the North Star has been a symbol of direction, constancy, and safe passage. For PAWS Chicago, it’s more than just a point of light — it’s the embodiment of our mission. Our star represents the hope we offer to animals in need and the guidance we give to the people who love them. This custom mark also pays tribute to one of Chicago’s most recognized symbols - the Chicago star - rooting our visual identity deeply in the place we call home. Like the star itself, PAWS is a steady guide — lighting the path toward a No Kill future and helping pets and families find their way to each other. 

View our 2025 Digital Impact Report

No matter how many cuddles we give at PAWS (and we give a lot), pets are happier at home—it's where they belong. But adoption takes time, and no pet should have to wait. By fostering, you can show a homeless pet the love and comfort they deserve until they find their family.

Become a foster

Edison originally came to PAWS Chicago when he was just 3 months old, and he was a favorite from the very start—his massive smile won us over immediately. Over the next 2 years, Edison was adopted and returned twice because his owners faced unforeseen and devastating hardship. Thankfully, Edison was never alone because PAWS was there.  

When Cinderella arrived at PAWS Chicago with her three tiny kittens, they were just two weeks old, fragile and wide-eyed, and born in a Trap-Neuter-Return colony where Cinderella had chosen what she thought was the safest place to give birth. With temperatures dropping and newborn kittens unable to regulate their body heat, this family could not remain outdoors. Thanks to quick action by one of our colony caretakers, they were brought to the Kocourek Medical Center, where they could finally rest, recover, and grow.  

Watch the feature here!

Building on this momentum, the Lurie Clinic is expanding access to spay/neuter services for Pit Bulls and large dogs (40+ lbs.) through $25 spay/neuter surgeries — supporting the pets most at risk of euthanasia and most frequently seen at Chicago Animal Care & Control. The initiative targets 21 Chicago ZIP codes with the greatest need, helping remove financial barriers for families enrolled in Medicaid or CountyCare.

Since its founding in 1997, when more than 42,000 pets were killed in Chicago, PAWS Chicago has helped lead an 89% reduction in homeless pet euthanasia citywide. Together, these milestones reflect PAWS Chicago’s leadership in addressing pet homelessness at its source through data-driven, community-focused solutions that deliver measurable, lifesaving impact.

We have taken proactive steps focused on the health and safety of anyone in contact with the dog. We are working closely with public health authorities to provide all relevant history and clinical information regarding this animal.

As Content Creator at PAWS, Gillian McFerren is a jack of all trades and a master across mediums. You’ll find her work in written form via monthly PAWS newsletters, in the faces of adoptable pets on our website, and in video when PAWS is featured on the news. 

We’re proud to highlight Stephanie Castro, our September Employee of the Month and a key member of our Shelter Medicine team. As Lead Veterinary Technician, Stephanie plays an essential role in caring for some of the most vulnerable animals who arrive at PAWS Chicago. Her favorite part of the job is seeing sick and injured pets recover and go on to loving homes. “Being able to help our sickest patients get better and find their forever homes is the best feeling,” she says. 

Meet Kara Whitenburg, our Leader of Quarter Three and the guiding force behind daily operations at the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic. As Clinic Manager, Kara oversees the administrative and customer service side of the clinic, helping the team stay efficient, organized, and supported through every busy day. While her responsibilities stretch across many areas, Kara says the highlight is always the people she works with. “The clinic team is really one big, happy family,” she says. “They keep things fun and interesting each day.” 

Carissa, a sensitive 7-year-old cat surrendered in 2023, spent nearly two years in PAWS Chicago’s care — much of it in foster, where she felt safest. Her shyness made it hard for adopters to meet her, but during one rare stay at the Lincoln Park Adoption Center this November, the right person finally walked through the door. 

When a stocky bulldog quietly began trailing behind PAWS caregivers outside the Kocourek Medical Center, our team knew something was wrong. The gentle 2-year-old had been wandering alone and instinctively sought out the people who could help her. With a hopeful tail wiggle, she followed our staff straight through the doors and into safety. 

Across the city, homeless dogs and cats are struggling to survive winter’s bitter wind, icy streets, and long nights without shelter. But the crisis at Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) has made their fight even more desperate. From January through November, intake surged from 14,094 pets in 2024 to 16,543 in 2025 — a 17% increase. CACC is overcrowded, resources are stretched thin, and even healthy, loving animals face the unthinkable: euthanasia simply because there isn’t enough space.

Help homeless pets now

“I was visiting a friend in Chicago who suggested we go there. As an animal lover, I know that animal shelters are almost universally depressing places, so I couldn’t imagine why he thought it would be a fun idea,” says Meredith. But that impression changed the moment she opened the door.

Moose was originally adopted from PAWS when he was just a kitten. 7 years later, he returned to us when his owner unexpectedly fell ill. Of course, we welcomed Moose back with open arms—unfortunately, he didn't feel well either.

When a tiny, four-month-old scruffy white puppy was left behind at one of our veterinary partner clinics, the staff immediately knew something was wrong. Cosmo wasn’t just frightened and alone, he was in pain. X-rays revealed a fractured leg, the kind of injury that needs urgent care and a team ready to act fast.  

Once in the expert hands of our medical team, Pearl was diagnosed with a long list of ailments, including problems with her stomach, joints, skin, eyes, liver, and teeth. Thankfully, her issues were treatable at PAWS Chicago. And even though Pearl didn’t know it yet, she already had a friend in her corner—Kelly Crook.

This year has been one of the most powerful demonstrations yet of what is possible when a community unites for animals. Together, we are on pace to find homes for nearly 5,000 cats and dogs, provide 21,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, deliver 50,000 vaccinations, and serve over 26,000 homeless and at-risk pets.

FOX 32 takes you behind the scenes of Shep’s new life. To learn more about fostering, visit pawschicago.org/foster.

Once back at PAWS, our medical team put Wendy on a new diet to support her heart, pain meds to help with her arthritis and surgery to remove the uncomfortable masses. At the same time, our behavior team assessed Wendy’s emotional needs – she needed a patient and quiet foster home. 

Wendy spent more than 200 days in foster care decompressing until one day when Sarah Unterman spotted Wendy on the PAWS Chicago website.  

“Wendy looked like she needed love and peace and quiet. And we could provide that,” said Sarah. Sarah couldn’t have known yet that Wendy wasn’t just finding a home—she was completing one. 

In Sarah’s own words, here’s how Wendy changed her family forever:  

In December 2024, I was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. The survival statistics are good for the first 2 years but then fall off over the next 3 years. My kids are 16 and 13, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to do with the possibly limited time left. I decided that I wanted to focus on creating joyful memories with them. They have wanted a dog for a long time, so I finally decided to get us a dog. 

We started fostering Wendy—because we had never had a dog before and needed to see how it went—the week after my big cancer surgery. She immediately clued into the times I didn’t feel well and would check on me, get people to come to me when she was worried—usually it was just I was taking a longer shower, but doing just fine—and chasing people away from me when I didn’t feel well. She became so protective of me.  

She also helped me heal faster, because walking and getting up is crucial after surgery but no fun! So, walking her was part of what helped me heal up faster. The day before I went back to work—after 12 cycles of chemo and 3 procedures—is the day we officially adopted her.    

Wendy has literally helped save my life. And in the meantime, she has brought immeasurable joy to me and my kids during an otherwise very difficult period. 

Wendy's welcome home story has been deeply impactful to us all at PAWS, and we wish her and her family a lifetime of love and happiness together.

FIP is a devastating disease caused by a mutation of the feline coronavirus (FCoV) that turns the immune system against the body. For decades, it was considered fatal, with no approved treatment and very few survivors. But that’s changing. A groundbreaking medication, GS-441524, was recently approved for use in the United States, offering hope for cats like Wallabee for the first time.  

Thanks to PAWS Chicago’s advanced medical resources and expert veterinary team, Wallabee was able to begin treatment right away. The 12-week course of oral medication directly targets the virus rather than just easing symptoms, and within days, Wallabee began to rebound. His appetite returned, his energy soared, and the fluid in his abdomen disappeared. He’s now wrapping up his final doses and will soon be cleared for neuter and adoption. Luckily, he won’t be waiting long for his adoption day. While recovering in a foster home, his foster mom fell in love with him and plans to make him a permanent part of the family!   

Stories like Wallabee’s show how PAWS Chicago continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in animal medicine. By providing access to emerging treatments and the highest standard of care, we’re giving pets who once had no chance the opportunity to live long, healthy lives.    

You can help us continue providing lifesaving care and cutting-edge treatments for pets like Wallabee by donating.  

Save more lives

Dogs like Macaroni, a one-year-old mixed-breed with boundless energy, often come through our doors. “Macaroni is learning how to navigate the world around him. Sights and sounds can be overwhelming, but with patience and gentle guidance, he’s beginning to find his confidence,” PAWS Assistant Director of Animal Behavior Jordan Michaels shared.  

Our team enrolled Macaroni in our Relaxing Reactivity class to help him build the skills he needs to handle stressful situations. We also began to implement a steady, predictable routine in a foster home to give him the sense of security he craves—because we all feel better when we know what to expect. 

Over the next few months, our team worked closely with Macaroni and his fosters to implement and evolve this plan, and the progress was incredible. “When Macaroni first arrived at PAWS, the world felt like a lot for him to handle. But with time, training, and love, he’s learned to trust and focus. He proudly shows off his sit, down, and hand touch, and he’s working on stay and place. Between play groups and regular training classes, Macaroni is blossoming,” Jordan shared.

But dogs aren’t the only pets that benefit from training. Holly, a seven-year-old tabby cat, came to PAWS after being shuffled between multiple homes. Naturally, trust was her biggest challenge.  

“When Holly first came to PAWS, she was unsure about people—hissing, swatting, and yowling at anyone who tried to get close,” shared Adoptions Coordinator Haylee Keller. “But in just four short weeks, she’s gone from anxious to confident, now running up for affection and soaking up every chin and head scratch.” 

Holly’s transformation came through patience, consistency, and clicker training—building trust one tiny moment at a time. She now greets her friends with nose “boops,” high fives, and a perfect sit—proof of just how powerful training and trust can be. 

Through patience and training, Macaroni and Holly both learned the skills they needed to find happiness. And they did! Today, both Macaroni and Holly are happily adopted and soaking up every moment with their new families.  

Are you thinking about adopting a pet from PAWS Chicago? Please consider a furry friend who still needs some training. With your help and the help of PAWS Chicago’s many virtual and in-person training classes, you can be an integral part of their transformation—an experience you’ll hold in your heart forever.

• Streeterville Doggy & Kitty Halloween Party: This year is the 38th annual event, featuring a doggy and kitty costume contest from 9-11 a.m. in the MCA Sculpture Garden. Advanced registration is recommended, and there is a suggested $10 donation benefitting the pets at PAWS Chicago. Register online here.
• Costume Contest at Harry Caray's at Navy Pier: From 4-5p.m., bring your pet to the pier for a costume contest with fun, Chicago-themed prizes! Costume categories include: Most Creative, Cutest, Spookiest, Best Ensemble or Pair (human/pet or pet pairs), and Grand Prize "Best in Show". Tickets are $10 and benefit PAWS Chicago. Tickets are available online here. Additionally, Boston Beer is donating $1 per beer purchased back to PAWS Chicago. 

Sunday, October 26

• Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest: Visit Time Out Market from 1-3 p.m. for a scary cute pet costume contest and join PAWS Chicago volunteers and local, pet-friendly vendors for a festive afternoon event! Enjoy music, food, festivitites, and make a new furry friend. Registration is free and available online in advance here.
• Halloween Party at Andros Taverna: From 1-3 p.m., bring your pet for an afternoon party including a raffle with neighborhood prizes, pup menu and a portion of sales benefiting PAWS Chicago. No tickets are necassary, but reservations are recommended and can be made here.

Through a supportive conversation, a common storyline emerged. Mamas had been abandoned outside in the extreme cold when her original owners moved away. A kind neighbor took her in, warmed her body and heart with nurturing, and ultimately wanted to keep her as a member of the family — but Mamas came down with a terrible bout of pneumonia. Without resources for costly veterinary care and treatment, the family was in line to give her up. 

That’s when PAWS Chicago jumped into action. Mamas was booked for a free outpatient community medicine appointment at the PAWS Chicago Lurie Clinic, where she received the antibiotics and treatment she needed. And, of course, once healthy, she was spayed at no cost to prevent unwanted litters. 

One less large bully breed entered the city shelter. One more family kept together. One less pet breeding. 

Charlotte was curled up in a tight ball in a cardboard box. Her family was simply devastated. They had rushed their beloved cat of eight years to the emergency clinic, but she had a uterine infection and required an emergency surgery that they could not afford. They brought her to CACC to be euthanized. When a PAWS team member greeted them at the door and discovered what was wrong, Charlotte was immediately booked for an emergency pyometra spay surgery at the Lurie Clinic. She was rushed over for surgery, and she was home with her family that night! 

Mamas and Charlotte are two real-world examples of what PAWS Chicago’s innovative new partnership with Chicago Animal Care and Control is doing each and every day – finding ways to either keep pets out of the shelter system or save the lives of the pets who end up there. Called 360@CACC, this comprehensive program is oriented at providing 360-degrees of support for the underfunded and overstretched city shelter. And after its first year, there are positive results in both the number of animals saved and innovations to improve lifesaving and reduce euthanasia. 

The surging Chicago homeless animal crisis

Around the country, there has been a surge of pet homelessness in the aftermath of the pandemic, and Chicago is no different. In 2023, intake increased by 10.2%, with 1,198 additional pets entering CACC over 2022. 

On top of that, add a Chicago government fiscal crisis to the mix. Despite being the third-largest city in the U.S., Chicago has the lowest municipal animal control budget among major cities, with CACC operating on an annual budget of just $7.17 million in 2023 while peer cities have budgets ranging from $15-30 million. With budget freezes city-wide, additional investment was not coming for animals in need. 

These worrying trends led PAWS Chicago and CACC to launch the 360@CACC partnership in November of 2023. And the challenges have only gotten worse since the launch. 

In 2024, CACC recorded an intake of 15,262 pets — an 18% increase over 2023 and 30% increase over 2022. The numbers are spiking, and with a citywide budget crisis and hiring freeze, the city shelter cannot add services. 

PAWS Chicago stepped in with 360@CACC — a robust suite of prevention and lifesaving programs that provide a safety net to Chicago’s homeless and at-risk cats and dogs. 

The comprehensive suite of programs that make up 360@CACC

Pet Owner Support is the program that helped Mamas and Charlotte stay in their homes. By meeting families at the door, the PAWS Chicago team finds ways to support families and keep pets in the homes they already have. Even when families cannot keep the pet they have brought to CACC, PAWS offers additional services, like spay/neuter for other pets in the home to prevent more breeding, or direct intake to PAWS Chicago to keep pets out of the over-crowded city shelter. In 2024, Pet Owner Support provided medical care for 143 pets and 135 came directly to PAWS, preventing further overcrowding. 

The Rescue Ready program launched thanks to funding from The Rachael Ray Foundation. This support increased the number of transfers to other shelters and rescue groups in Chicagoland by providing medical care for pets from CACC. Each year, transfer is the #1 way that homeless cats and dogs make it out of the city shelter alive. But in 2023, non-PAWS Chicago transfers decreased 13%. Due to difficulty accessing veterinary care, many shelters and rescue groups without their own veterinarians were transferring pets from other states because animals arrived spayed/ neutered and vetted. 

With Rescue Ready, all cats and large dogs transferred from CACC to rescues without in-house veterinary capabilities are eligible for a $65 spay/neuter procedure and veterinary care at the PAWS Chicago Lurie Clinic. In 2024, transfers increased by 19%! 

The Big Fix program ensures that pets at CACC are ready to go home when adopters come to the city shelter. By law, pets must be spayed or neutered before adoption, but the CACC medical team is stretched thin providing care for the 15,000 animals who enter their doors. That means adopters often wait weeks for a pet to be spayed or neutered before they can bring them home. With the Big Fix, PAWS volunteers drive CACC dogs to the Lurie Clinic for surgery. 

In 2024, PAWS provided spay/neuter surgeries and medical care for 405 CACC animals through Rescue Ready and 931 CACC pets through The Big Fix. In total, 39 rescue groups transferred pets who received medical care from these two programs. 

The Adoption Expansion program staffed a PAWS Chicago employee at CACC to support prospective adopters in finding and adopting a pet. The CACC budget has never had a staffed resource dedicated to adoptions, which means there is not often a clear process, approach or alignment of volunteers to help adopters. The PAWS staff position has helped change that by bringing additional resources to matchmaking and adoption counseling. 

With this additional PAWS support, CACC facilitated 3,019 adoptions in 2024, a remarkable 28.6% increase. 

The first year's impact

These 360@CACC programs work together towards a single purpose: lifesaving. 

Despite intake increasing 18% in 2024 – resulting in an additional 2,295 cats and dogs entering the shelter – the save rate slightly increased, from 76% in 2023 to 76.8% in 2024. This means that homeless animals had a greater likelihood of leaving CACC alive. 

At the same time, euthanasia increased by 416 animals, totaling 3,380 pets in 2024. But euthanasia would have increased by 77%, with 5,255 pets euthanized, without the additional lifesaving. 

In 2024, 1,875 additional animals had a positive outcome, totaling 11,634 total cats and dogs who are alive thanks to the work of CACC, PAWS Chicago, the Chicagoland rescue community, and adopters who came together to save homeless animals. 

The initial results have been inspiring, but the 360@CACC program is only getting started. Together, the 360 partnership is working towards a world where pets and families stay united, where fewer animals endure the uncertainty of shelter life, and where homeless pets in Chicago not only survive but thrive. 

Investing resources where they're needed most 

With a surging intake of more than 15,000 pets last year, the team at Chicago Animal Care and Control is doing the best they can to save lives. Through the generosity of the PAWS Chicago community, these innovative 360@CACC programs are investing in direct lifesaving services. 

The Emergency Fund Leadership Council was established in 2024 to help fund the new 360@CACC program. Chaired by Stephanie Field Harris and Katie Gledhill, members commit annually to help Chicago’s most at-risk animals. 

The Rachael Ray Foundation, one of the most generous national leaders supporting homeless animals, has made a leadership grant to fund spay/neuter efforts for CACC animals, increasing adoptions and transfers to dozens of rescue groups. 

It takes a village to save homeless animals, and PAWS is grateful for these innovative funders. 

Without additional 360@CACC lifesaving programs, like adoptions and transfers, euthanasia would have increased by 77%! 

The Rachael Ray Foundation to the rescue

The Rachael Ray Foundation supports The Big Fix and Rescue Ready programs, helping hundreds of adopters and 39 other rescues transfer more at-risk animals out of CACC. 

For The Rachael Ray Foundation, The Big Fix and Rescue Ready programs were ideal programs to further their mission. 

“We believe in the importance of fostering collaboration among shelters in a manner that addresses urgent needs right now,” said John Hall from The Rachael Ray Foundation. “The Rescue Ready and The Big Fix programs leverage PAWS’s remarkable veterinary capabilities to facilitate pathways to adoption for more cats and dogs.” 

The foundation’s generous funding helped PAWS provide spay/neuter and medical care for 1,336 CACC cats and dogs. These medical services ensured that animals could be transferred to other rescues, adopted out from CACC, or returned safely to their original owner. As a result, CACC adoptions were up nearly 29% in 2024, and transfers to other rescues increased by 1,156 cats and dogs. 

“That’s a significant victory for Chicago animals in need,” said Hall. 

“What I enjoy most is keeping everything in order so the team can work without problems,” Gustavo shares. That commitment shows in every corner of the facility. He says some of his proudest moments come when he’s organized the basement or handled large deliveries. “I feel satisfied knowing my effort makes the work of others easier.” 

Gustavo was drawn to PAWS by its reputation and the chance to be part of a positive, mission-driven environment. He’s found reward in the immediateness of his work. “It gives me satisfaction to know that my work contributes to the daily operation of the place,” he explains. 

His manager highlights just how important his role is: “Gustavo is a great asset to the Medical Center team! He helps to keep the facility neat, tidy, and well stocked. He is always quick to assist with special projects and requests and has been especially supportive to the basement organization project. He does all this with a positive attitude and it’s clear he receives great satisfaction from knowing he’s lent a hand. Thank you, Gustavo!” 

Outside of work, Gustavo values simple pleasures like resting, spending time with family, and enjoying everyday activities. Though he doesn’t have pets himself, he’s grateful to be part of an organization dedicated to helping so many animals. 

We’re incredibly thankful for Gustavo’s hard work, positivity, and the pride he takes in his role. Please join us in congratulating him on being recognized as our August Employee of the Month! 

What Rosy enjoys most is helping shy or fearful animals begin to open up. “It’s a rewarding feeling to gain their trust,” she says. One of her most meaningful experiences at PAWS was watching Red, a long-term special needs dog, overcome so many challenges. “His resilience and spirit were inspiring and motivating,” she remembers.  

Rosy’s PAWS journey began even earlier than her staff role when she first volunteered at the former Cat Adoption Center on Clark & Fullerton, just before the Lincoln Park Adoption Center opened. That early experience of making a difference for homeless animals sparked her commitment to the PAWS mission, and she’s been a cornerstone of the Animal Care team ever since.  

Her manager shares, “Rosy is simply the best! She brings a wealth of experience and collaborates so well with leads and staff to create daily plans. One of the most important skills in this role is adaptability, and Rosy excels at problem-solving with the team to come up with the best solutions for our ‘kids.’ She always goes above and beyond every day, and we are so lucky to have her here at PAWS.”  

Outside of work, Rosy enjoys living close to a nature preserve, where she hikes the trails, birdwatches, and creates a humane backyard habitat for local wildlife. She shares these adventures with her dog, Willow, who happily tags along.  

We are so grateful for Rosy’s dedication, compassion, and leadership. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition as Leader of Quarter Two! 

With the help of PAWS vets, caretakers, and fosters, Cutler grew big and strong. At three months old, after spay surgery and vaccinations, she was happily adopted. For the next ten years, Cutler enjoyed life with a family. Then something happened.  

Cutler’s owner was hit with hardship and could no longer care for her. Thankfully, PAWS was there to pick up the pieces: “Once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet.” We immediately welcomed Cutler back and got to work preparing her for her second chapter.  

After spending many years in a loving home, Cutler was sociable and cuddly, but she wasn’t a fan of the shelter. She spent time in foster homes, but Cutler clearly needed the comfort only a permanent place and companion could provide.  

A few miles away at the same time Cutler’s life was changing, Meghan Brotz’s life was changing, too. Meghan’s 18-year-old cat Remy was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor that very suddenly took Remy’s life. Meghan missed Remy very much and started looking at adoptable senior cats. That’s when she came across Cutler.  

Meghan says, “She looked so sad to be in the shelter, and I figured I'd go in to give her some love, if anything. I went the next day. Within 5 minutes of meeting her, Cutler lay down and used my hand as a pillow.” Their connection was undeniable. 

Adopted once again, Cutler couldn’t be happier with her new life. Meghan says, “She made herself at home quickly as if she'd been here before. I was prepared for her to spend some time hiding, but she never did.  

She loves sitting in the windows and looking outside, eating treats, hanging out in her cat tree, catnip toys, getting her neck scratched, using items as pillows, and she's recently decided she loves to play with string and chase after balls—she found them scary for a period of time.  

She is the absolute sweetest cat and has been so brave, despite everything she went through in the past few months. She has brought so much love, comfort, life, and laughter to my home during one of the hardest times in my life. 

Cutler, aka Chicky Cutlet and Cat Cutty, just celebrated her 11th birthday! I'm so glad she was able to do it at home. Adopt a senior kitty, they are the absolute best.” 

His journey began on the streets of Chicago, where a concerned citizen called 311 after spotting the young puppy suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. He was brought to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC)—where staff immediately suspected a serious illness. 

Testing confirmed their fears: Boots was parvo-positive, a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus in puppies. Time was critical—not just for Boots’ survival, but to prevent the virus from spreading to other dogs in the shelter. 

That’s when CACC reached out to PAWS Chicago for help. Our Medical Center team responded immediately, bringing Boots into our care that same day. He was placed in medical isolation and began intensive treatment right away. 

Parvovirus is a tough battle, especially for a puppy. Boots needed IV fluids, anti-nausea medications, antibiotics, both plasma and blood transfusions, a feeding tube, and round-the-clock monitoring. But through it all, this brave little guy never gave up. Despite feeling sick and weak, he remained gentle and full of heart, slowly but surely showing signs of improvement. 

After days of care and determination, Boots turned a corner. His appetite returned and thanks to our feeding partner, Kismet, he had all the nourishment and nutrients he needed to recover. His strength grew, and soon his tail was wagging again. Against the odds, he made a full recovery thanks to early intervention, expert care, and the support of animal lovers like you. 

Now fully healed, Boots is ready for the next chapter. He’ll be arriving at the PAWS Chicago Adoption Center soon, looking for a loving family to continue his journey with a new, healthy lease on life. 

Boots’ recovery was only possible because of the generosity of our supporters. Everything we do is funded by donations, and Boots' lifesaving medical care is no exception. We know that another dog in need just like Boots is always around the corner, please consider making a donation to ensure their lifesaving care, too.

For example, our Community Outreach team is continually encountering kittens on the street. Recently, one of our staff, Dolores, actually found a cat in the midst of labor.  

“Dolores found Jambalaya in the middle of giving birth and was concerned, so she decided to take her home. Dolores cared for Jambalaya and her two kittens for a couple days until there was room for them at PAWS. It’s sad—Jambalaya is a healthy, nice stray, so who knows if she was put outside or what happened? But at least all the kittens are healthy and on the path to adoption,” says Prairie Scholl, PAWS Intake Program Senior Coordinator.  

But kittens aren’t just coming to us straight off the street. Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, is also being flooded with babies. As CACC’s largest transfer partner, PAWS is doing everything we can to protect these innocent animals.  

Just weeks ago, a kitten named Ozzy came into CACC all alone, 2 days old, and suffering from pneumonia. Motherless kittens at this age need constant care to survive, including being bottle fed every two hours, keeping their body temperature up, and manually stimulating them to use the bathroom. PAWS Chicago is one of the few places where kittens like Ozzy can get a second chance. 

The very same day Ozzy arrived at PAWS, we placed him with one of our most experienced fosters. Today, Ozzy is thriving and he’s almost big enough for spay/neuter surgery—the last step before his adoption search begins.  

PAWS has many friends and partners beyond CACC who also look to us for help. When a Good Samaritan brought an injured, stray kitten to Veterinary Emergency Group in Chicago, they called us to heal her wounds and ensure she would be safe for life. Once at PAWS, we named the kitten Digit and got to work treating puncture wounds on her front and back legs.  

It took lots of bandages and cuddles, but Digit fully recovered. Today, she’s happily adopted and, we suspect, getting fluffier by the hour.

Kittens are completely helpless—that's why your help is crucial to saving their lives. Here’s what you can do to support Chicago’s kittens:  

Adopt: Adopt kittens in pairs! Not only will they have a built-in playmate to keep them out of trouble, but they’ll also develop into happier, more sociable cats.  

Foster: Consider fostering mother cats with nursing kittens—they don’t need much, just food for mom and a comfy place to stay. Every pet moved into foster makes room to save more lives.  

Volunteer: Kittens need lots of love and care, especially when they first arrive. Sign up to volunteer at the Kocourek Medical Center, the first stop for every PAWS pet.  

Donate: Our No Kill mission relies on donations. By supporting mission-critical programs, like spay/neuter, you’re helping build communities that respect and value the life of every dog, cat, puppy, and kitten.   

Growing up in a household that often took in strays, Annie has always had a deep love for animals. “I’ve never known a life without pets,” she says. “Helping animals find safe, loving homes has always been important to me.” That passion shows every day as she works with adopters, fosters, and staff to make sure everyone feels supported.  

One moment that stands out is when Annie helped place Mr. Big, a senior dog with some health challenges who had been in and out of foster care. “He made an impression on all of us when he returned after nine years in a home,” Annie remembers. She stayed in close contact with his eventual adopter for weeks, sharing updates and ensuring the match was right. “Seeing him finally go home was incredibly rewarding.”  

Annie’s manager says, “Annie consistently goes above and beyond to support adopters, fosters, and fellow staff. She is compassionate, caring, and always willing to lend a hand, making the adoption center a welcoming and friendly place. Her dedication and positive attitude truly make a difference. We’re grateful for the extra mile she walks, always with a smile.”  

When she’s not working, Annie spends much of her free time with Finn, her 100-pound lap dog and constant companion.  

We’re so lucky to have Annie’s warmth, dedication, and genuine care on our team. Please join us in congratulating her as our July Employee of the Month! 

Paxton’s love for animals really shines through in everything he does. “I especially love spending time with the shy guys and helping them come out of their shells,” Paxton says. “There’s nothing quite like seeing a nervous dog start to trust you or a scared cat finally relax.” They also enjoy quiet moments, like taking peaceful walks with reactive dogs on sunny fall days.  

Paxton’s journey started when he moved from a small town in Missouri to Chicago to pursue a BFA in Acting. Looking for work that aligned with his values, PAWS was the perfect fit. One of his most meaningful experiences was watching Cobbler, Tracy, and Sandy—three dogs who were at PAWS when Paxton started—find their homes. “It was life-changing to see them leave for their new families.”  

Paxton’s manager shares, “Paxton brings an amazing personality and positivity to the role that’s contagious. They are a volunteer favorite in Kitty City and Dog Town and work so well with the volunteer team. Paxton’s dedication to our ‘kids’ is an outstanding example of what we strive for here at PAWS.”  

Outside of work, Paxton stays active in Chicago’s theater community. At home, he spoils his partner and their PAWS alum, Scrimmy Bingus (formerly Gordon), while keeping in touch with Sunny, a sweet pittie rescue back in Missouri.  

We’re so grateful for Paxton’s kindness, dedication, and the steady care they provide every day. Please join us in congratulating Paxton on this well-deserved recognition! 

Gingersnap is a perfect example of this commitment. She was just one year old and sick with pneumonia when she came to PAWS in May 2024. After weeks of treatment and supportive care at the Kocourek Medical Center, Gingersnap finally recovered, but her journey was just beginning.  

Full of energy and anxiety, Gingersnap needed to learn new, healthy habits and how to trust. To do that, five different fosters welcomed Gingersnap into their homes over the course of 14 months and worked with her one-on-one. Slowly but surely, Gingersnap relaxed, and her fifth foster, Saydi Ogden, ended up falling in love.  

“This was my first time fostering, and there were definitely challenges to overcome, but the more time I spent with her, the more I understood her. After a few weeks of seeing her open up more and more, and once we knew that she finally trusted us and felt completely at home with us, we felt it was the right time for us to make it official,” says Ogden.  

For a pup like Gingersnap, nothing is more precious than time, and your support gave that to her. “These animals deserve a shot. It takes a while for them to be able to show you their best selves but it’s so wonderful and worth it once they do. They are some of the sweetest animals you will meet, and they deserve the happy ending,” says Ogden. 

But Gingersnap is far from the only type of pet who benefits from extra time. Senior cats Tommy and Axel spent about six months with PAWS after their owner passed away. First and foremost, they needed medical attention.  

Tommy, 14 years old, had an eye infection that could not be cured and had to have his left eye removed at the Kocourek Medical Center in April 2025. And Axel had dermatitis on his ears, face and belly, likely due to allergies. Once their health issues were under control, Tommy and Axel could finally start their search for a new family—but that can be difficult for seniors. Thankfully, they met Kathy Kirn.  

Kirn’s family had recently lost their beloved senior cat, Sarge, and their house didn’t feel the same. Kirn’s daughter, Sophie, insisted that their home needed cats, and she was the one who filled out an online application to meet Axel and Tommy. It turned out that Sophie’s instincts were right.  

“Axel is a hugger, literally hugs you with his arms around your neck. They both must sit on your lap, too. As we were with them in their room at the shelter, they both showed us these traits.  They were and are utterly charming and endearing. We immediately felt they were for us,” says Kirn.  

She went on to say, “Someone came to our house after we had adopted Tommy and Axel and told us that now we had a happy home again. She said it was a very sad place after Sarge died.  Tommy and Axel took away all that sadness and brought joy to us again.”  

Lifeline members ensure PAWS Chicago can be there month after month for our longer-term shelter residents, like Gingersnap, Tommy, and Axel. While these animals may not be scooped up as quickly, they're just as special, and it's our job to give them time and space to shine—you make this possible.

Thanks to the steady support of Lifeline donors, PAWS was able to respond immediately. Fourteen cats were brought into our care. For the first time, they were safe. But their challenges weren’t over yet. 

Not long after intake, our medical team learned that five of the cats were battling panleukopenia, a highly contagious and often deadly virus. Jolanda, Joyce, Joliet, Jace, and Joseph would need urgent medical help. For many shelters, this diagnosis would have meant the end. But because of you, PAWS could give them something much more powerful: a fighting chance. 

With intensive treatment, constant monitoring, and all the love and care our staff could give, these cats began to recover. Joliet has already made a full turnaround and is thriving in her new home, as are Joyce, Jolanda, Joan, and Jace. Still in foster care, Jaylee and her litter of 6-week-old kittens continue to grow big and strong on their road to adoption. 

Stories like theirs are only possible because of our Lifeline supporters. Your monthly gifts ensure PAWS is always ready to act the moment animals are in crisis—whether it’s cats abandoned to fend for themselves, dogs from overcrowded shelters, or kittens battling serious illness. You are the reason Jolanda, Joyce, Joliet, Jace, and Joseph have the chance not just to survive, but to heal, to trust, and to one day curl up safely in the homes they were always meant to have. 

Volunteer Bonnie joked that if they named their pup after her, she expected monthly updates. The family gladly agreed, and for the past three years, pictures and stories of “dog Bonnie” have filled her inbox. Their bond with PAWS, and with volunteer Bonnie, only grew stronger. 

Then last April, fate stepped in again. When Anne and Rob Salt returned to the Adoption Center to adopt a second dog, Blue, they were surprised and delighted to find volunteer Bonnie there in person. The reunion between her and her namesake pup was priceless, and the family finally got to thank the volunteer who had meant so much to them. 

This wasn’t their first PAWS journey. Years earlier, they had adopted Maggie, a Hurricane Katrina survivor, at an outdoor adoption event. From Maggie to Bonnie to Blue, each adoption deepened their admiration for the dedication of PAWS volunteers and staff who ensure every animal gets the chance to thrive. 

Today, Bonnie and Blue are the best of companions. They play happily with the family’s grandchildren, romp with other family dogs, and spend summers in Maine—Bonnie splashing in lakes like a paddleboat while Blue prefers sniffing every trail along the way. “We witness their complete joy,” shares Anne Salt. “And we hope every dog will get this opportunity. Without PAWS, and volunteers like Bonnie, this would be impossible.” 

Because of our Lifeline donors, stories like this happen every day. Your support makes room for survivors like Maggie, bonds as special as Bonnie and Bonnie, and new beginnings like Blue’s. You are the heart of every happy ending. 

Not a Lifeline donor yet? Join the lifesaving and learn more about the Lifeline Monthly Giving Program here. 

From that moment in September 2005, when the first vanload of dogs and cats arrived back in Chicago to cheers, news crews, and the beginnings of a line of potential adopters that stretched down the block, a legacy began. 

“That first rescue brought over 100 animals to safety. It also sparked a tidal wave of support from Chicagoans, who donated supplies, opened their homes to foster, and helped fund further trips,” remembers Paula Fasseas, PAWS Chicago’s Founder and Executive Chair, who was part of that rescue effort. “Within weeks, two more convoys followed,” she said. 
 
Four dogs rescued by the Ohio National Guard—including a puppy named Lucky who had survived alone for nearly two weeks—were among the animals who found a safe haven at PAWS.

In the 20 years since Katrina, PAWS has completed more than two dozen large-scale disaster relief missions. From hurricanes in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida to tornadoes across the Midwest, floods in Tennessee, and even massive abuse cases like the one on the island of Dominica in 2023, PAWS has answered the call—again and again. 

Each mission starts with a need. Often, it’s a call from a shelter in the path of a storm or a partner organization struggling to keep up in a devastated region. Before PAWS vans ever leave Chicago, they are packed with donations—bottled water, pet food, blankets, and essential supplies for families and animals in crisis. 

Once on the ground, the team works closely with local shelters to take in animals already in their care, not the newly displaced. This strategic approach ensures space opens up for pets who have just been separated from their families—and increases the chance they’ll be reunited. 

“The round-trip drives are grueling. Volunteers take shifts behind the wheel, often returning to Chicago less than 36 hours after departure,” Paula marveled at the energy and passion of the PAWS Community.  

The first Hurricane Katrina rescue mission 

Every animal receives full medical care upon arrival, including vaccinations, spay/neuter, and treatment for common illnesses like heartworm and respiratory infections that are often overlooked in overburdened shelters. 

“None of this work would be possible without the people of Chicago. Our fosters, adopters, donors, and volunteers always rise to the occasion. When disaster strikes, our community expands—opening hearts and homes to animals in desperate need,” Paula said. 

Importantly, these rescue efforts never interrupt our lifesaving work here at home. Our commitment to local animals, especially those from Chicago Animal Care and Control, remains unchanged.  
 
“When we take on a disaster mission, we simultaneously expand our foster network and operations to make room. It’s all part of PAWS’ No Kill mission—to save lives, wherever and whenever they are at risk,” Paula clarified. 

What started as a heartfelt response to one of the nation’s most devastating hurricanes has become a defining part of PAWS Chicago’s identity. Twenty years later, the mission remains the same: to show up, to save lives, and to be the voice for animals—especially when the world around them falls apart. 

Today, 20 years later, as we reflect on the devastation and remember all that was lost, we pay tribute to the human spirit, the heroism, resilience, and sustained transformation that emerged in the aftermath of tragedy. From the darkest moments, lasting legacies are born.

Support to the Disaster Relief Fund ensures that PAWS Chicago is there when the next disaster strikes.

Thank you for standing with pets when they need you most.

Originally from Chicago Animal Care and Control, Tracy came to us at just 3 months old. As a high energy puppy and even more exuberant teen, she had difficulties finding a home in the close quarters of urban city living. This led to Tracy getting passed over for calmer, smaller breeds for months.  And once fully grown, Tracy weighed 70 pounds, which significantly limited her adopter pool.  

During her time with us, PAWS trainers, caregivers, and volunteers worked closely with Tracy to develop all the skills she needed to become part of a family. And when she wasn’t at PAWS, she was in PAWS foster homes—109 days total—learning about comfort and companionship.  

Then, finally, Tracy met the people who would change her life forever: Laura Nalley and her family. Tracy chose them without hesitation. And they chose her right back.  

Laura Nalley describes their journey to Tracy, the magic of their meeting, and how everything is going now:  

“We had adopted a dog from PAWS back in 2013—his name was Howard when he was with PAWS, but our son renamed him Tickle. He was a wonderful dog and we loved him very much. He died earlier this summer at 14 years, and as time passed, we wanted to come back to PAWS to see if we might again get as lucky as we did the first time around.  

We made an appointment about 3 weeks in advance to coming in, and during most of that time I wouldn't let myself look online because I was afraid of getting attached to any dog that might then be adopted by the time we got there, but in the week leading up to July 18th, I did let myself start to look, and I shared profile pics with my husband and son.  

We were most interested in dogs that were somewhere between 1 and 3 years old, and Tracy was in that age group, so she was one of the dogs we were hoping to see. There were some great pictures with her profile as well as a short video of her on the rooftop at PAWS, and she looked very loving and friendly.   

In the days leading up to our visit, I said a little prayer and asked that our previous PAWS dog Tickle might help us find the right match that day. As we walked through the hallway of suites, I felt like I knew a fair number of the dogs a little bit, having looked at their pics online, and so two of the amazing team members—Jordan and Buffie—started letting us visit one-on-one with a few dogs. Each one that came in was very sweet, but somehow I just felt like they weren't our dog.  

We mentioned wanting to see Tracy, who was out on a run with volunteer James, and as soon as they got back, they brought her back to see us. It was pretty amazing. She and I locked eyes as she came through the door and she came and put her muzzle in my hand, and I just immediately felt drawn in to her. I just right away wanted to hug her and talk to her, and eventually I let my husband and son have a turn too, and they also felt a strong connection. I feel like it took about 5 minutes to fall completely in love and from there, it was just a matter of sorting out all the details.  

After adoption, we kept the name Tracy. She had, of course, had the name for a very long time, but more than that, it was clear that she had been greatly loved by the team at PAWS who had all called her that, so we thought it made the most sense to keep it. 

Today, she's doing great! She's found lots of favorite spots inside, and she loves taking lots of regular walks through the neighborhood, as well as taking the car to a variety of nearby parks for more fun walks in the evenings.  

She loves the car, she loves playing tug of war with rope toys, and she's learning to play hide and seek with us around the house. She also loves Petco. Most of all, though, she just really loves sitting and being together, being petted and scratched, being talked to, being loved.  

We are so grateful to have Tracy. One thing we all love about her is that way she shakes herself out—it starts at her head, goes through the middle of her body, and then finally the wiggle reaches her rear end. It's pretty fantastic! More than that, though, we love how kind and loving and attentive she is. She follows us all around the house like we're the most interesting people ever, and she gives us her welcomes, her smiles, her full-body lean, and her love.  

I also find myself reflecting on how loved she is by the team at PAWS. She's won so many people over with her love—despite being in the shelter so long, she held onto her spirit and her pride and her joy of life. The love she received from PAWS must have helped her retain her resilience and her hope. Nothing about her is a victim. She's strong and confident, and she knows how to love because she was loved by the people at PAWS. 

We are just so grateful for the team at PAWS—so many people worked with Tracy over the years to help her learn and grow. I know that she received great training from Brian and his behavior team, and that they oversaw her times in foster homes, and those stints seem to have really primed her effectively for a transition into a forever home.  

The PAWS model is inspiring—you stick by animals, you have faith in them, you work with them, you ensure their safety and also their hope—and the fact that you did that for so long with Tracy meant that when we were ready to bring home a dog, Tracy was there and ready for us.  

We are so grateful to have Tracy. An animal who finds their way to PAWS is truly blessed, as are people like us.”  

To watch Tracy’s going away party at PAWS, click here.  

Our intake team rushed them to the state-of-the-art PAWS Kocourek Medical Center, where they received around-the-clock treatment, fluids, medications, and the careful monitoring needed to stabilize their fragile health. Thanks to our skilled staff, Mimosa and Mojito made remarkable recoveries and are now thriving in a loving foster home. They’re growing bigger and stronger every day with the help of Purina kitten food, generously provided by our feeding partner. 

Negroni’s path has been more challenging. After beating panleukopenia, he developed pneumonia, a dangerous condition for such a young kitten. But he remains in our medical center, receiving specialized care from our veterinary team, who are committed to helping him grow stronger. 

This rescue is just one example of how PAWS Chicago’s medical services save lives that might otherwise be lost. From intensive hospitalization to the comfort and nourishment of a foster home, every step of the journey is made possible by our dedicated staff, foster families, and generous partners. 

Because of this community of care, Mimosa, Mojito, and Negroni each are on their way to a healthy, happy future. 

We took in more than 200 pets in the wake of the storm by partnering with local animal advocates who were pulling animals out of the flood waters. Some of the pets we took in survived the hurricane; others were taken from local shelters to make room for hurricane victims. 

For 20 years, PAWS Chicago has mobilized its volunteer force in the wake of natural disasters to help animals in the impact zone and provide hope to people coping with unimaginable tragedy. Most recently, our Disaster Relief program took action when flash flooding in Texas left a trail of destruction across the state.  

PAWS partnered with local organizations to transport pets who were already in shelters before the floods began—making room for newly displaced animals and allowing local resources to focus on reuniting families with their beloved pets.  

On July 14, PAWS volunteers greeted 22 Texas dogs and puppies at Nebraska City Municipal Airport, following their arrival on a Wings of Rescue flight. Volunteers then then began the final leg of their journey—driving over 500 miles to bring them safely to Chicago.  

On July 16, PAWS Chicago volunteers met our second transport at Waukesha County Airport in Wisconsin after a rescue flight provided by Dog Is My CoPilot. This group included 9 puppies, all 5-months-old or younger.  

Many of the dogs who made the journey were underweight, and all were desperate for affection and connection. Once safe at PAWS Chicago Kocourek Medical Center, each Texas pup received the comprehensive medical treatment and care needed to heal and prepare for their new lives in Chicago. Today, 30 of the 31 Texas dogs are happily adopted!  

When disaster strikes, PAWS Chicago doesn’t hesitate. For 20 years, PAWS has rescued animals trapped in shelters during hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and emergencies — giving them a second chance. Our Chicago community always answers the call when there is an emergency: your compassion and commitment make this work possible.  

Make sure PAWS Chicago can be there when the next disaster strikes. Donate today to help provide emergency transports, supplies, medicine, veterinary care, and surgical procedures for pets when they need us most. 

In addition to incredible support from our local media partners, the story has been picked up nationally by CNN, PBS, and the Associated Press. ​Check out some of the stories below!

• ABC 10 - Miami, FL
• KENS 5 - San Antonio, TX
• FOX 8 - New Orleans, LA
• NBC 15 - Madison, WI
• ABC 7 - Chicago, IL
• FOX 32 - Chicago, IL
• WGN Channel 9 - Chicago, IL

The severity of Ella’s condition, including the location of her VSD near a critical heart valve, ruled out surgical intervention. Although she currently shows no clinical signs of heart disease, her future remains uncertain. Still, what she needed most wasn’t a prognosis, it was a chance. 

That chance came in the form of a foster home. 

“I wasn’t ready to adopt after losing my dog of 14 years,” said Courtney Lullman. “But I knew Chloe would have wanted me to share that love with another dog who needed it. When I saw Ella’s photo on the PAWS website, something just clicked. Her eyes were so gentle, so soulful. I wanted to give her a place to feel safe and loved.” 

What began as a temporary foster placement quickly turned into something permanent, as Ella’s gentle spirit and playful charm made it clear she was already home. Courtney made it official and added Ella to her family. 

“She pranced in like she already knew she belonged,” Courtney remembers. “She didn’t need to do anything big to make an impression. Just being herself was more than enough.” 

As a medical student, Courtney understood the complexity of Ella’s diagnosis, but it never felt like a deterrent. “I couldn’t fix her heart, but I could make sure she was loved. Her condition didn’t make her any less deserving of a home.” 

Today, Ella is thriving. She enjoys sunbathing in the grass, playing with (and sometimes destroying) her toys, and always staying close to Courtney. 

“She’s this perfect mix of gentle and goofy. One minute she’s curled up next to me, and the next she’s launching into zoomies. She keeps me entertained and grounded.” 

Ella’s story is one of resilience and love. It's a reminder that animals with medical needs are not defined by their diagnoses. 

“To anyone considering adopting a pet with a condition like Ella’s, I’d say: don’t overlook them,” Courtney said. “Yes, there are extra considerations, but the love they give? It’s extraordinary. Ella has a heart condition, but she lives every day with joy. I’m lucky to call her mine.” 

While the diagnosis brought relief, Tot still needed critical care. At PAWS, he received round-the-clock attention, parasite treatment, and high-quality nutrition. Thanks to our feeding partner, Kismet, who provides food for every dog in our care, Tot was able to steadily regain weight and strength on a diet designed to support recovery and growth. 

Day by day, Tot began to improve. His energy returned. His eyes brightened. Soon, the shy and fragile puppy was playing, exploring, and charming everyone he met. 

After just a few weeks, Tot was healthy enough to be adopted. Today, he’s full of life, thriving in a loving home. 

Tot’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when animals in crisis get the medical care they deserve. At PAWS Chicago, our veterinary team is always ready to step in when no one else can—because every life is worth saving. 

This CACC Spay Day was special because we focused on one of the most vulnerable groups of the homeless pet population: large dogs. Due to their size, these pets are more challenging and expensive to care for, which puts them at risk through no fault of their own.  

After receiving spay/neuter, vaccines, microchips, preventative medicine, ear cleanings, and nail trims, we got to see the impact immediately. A few Spay Day pets already had pending adoptions, but an additional 21 pets were pulled by rescues, another two kept by us, and now all of them can be adopted right away when someone falls in love. 

At PAWS, spay/neuter is our focus day in and day out because we know it’s the most effective way to a No Kill Chicago. Every week, Big Fix provides spay/neuter for 10 CACC dogs who have adopters waiting; we’re always chipping away at overcrowding. But it’s especially satisfying to make a big dent at all at once.  

Spay Day is a great reminder of what we can achieve together. Rescuing animals isn’t something we can do alone; it takes the whole community. When we act together, incredible things are possible—like 128 life-changing surgeries in one day.   

Presented by INABA Churu, the event featured adorable PAWS dogs, puppies, and kittens—all hoping to hit a home run and find loving forever homes before the Cubs faced off against the Kansas City Royals. Attendees had the chance to meet, cuddle, and play with the adoptable pets while learning more about how to support PAWS Chicago’s lifesaving mission.

The fun didn’t stop there. Guests enjoyed complimentary Home Run Inn pizza, refreshing Coca-Cola beverages, and free pet treats from INABA Churu. New adopters received a special care package as a token of appreciation from both PAWS Chicago and the Cubs.

Adding to the excitement, PAWS Chicago was honored on the field before the game—and one lucky adoptable pup even got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch!

A portion of the evening’s ticket sales benefited PAWS Chicago, helping to support the shelter’s ongoing efforts to save homeless pets and connect them with families across Chicagoland.

Photos Courtesy of the Chicago Cubs and PAWS Chicago

“I actually heard about PAWS at my veterinarian’s office,” Ginny recalls. “There was a meeting to discuss the project, so I went, and the rest is history.”  

From helping load rescued dogs and cats into cars to bring them to PAWS’ very first storefront on Clark Street, to supporting the mission from afar after moving out of state, Ginny has remained deeply committed to protecting Chicago’s most vulnerable pets. Today, she’s proud to be part of the PAWS Lifeline community, providing steady monthly support that helps fuel lifesaving programs all year long.  

“Giving monthly is just a way to consistently donate, and it helps PAWS plan, knowing they have a set amount of funds coming in,” Ginny shares. “I fervently believe supporting the No Kill movement is critical to protecting our precious animals.”  

A lifelong animal lover and proud adopter of senior dogs, Ginny’s home today is filled with love—and dog beds. Her two Doxie mix siblings, Carlos and Molly, along with a spirited 13-year-old Whippet named Greg now rule the house, each with their favorite cozy spot.    

Reflecting on how far PAWS Chicago has come, Ginny credits the determination and compassion of founder Paula Fasseas and the entire PAWS community: “If it weren’t for Paula’s dedication to the No Kill mission, PAWS would not exist. It’s unbelievable how far we’ve come—and proof of what can be accomplished when you follow your heart.”  

Thank you, Ginny, for being a Lifeline for homeless pets—and for standing with us from the very beginning. 

Lakesha’s calm, confident nature fit the bill perfectly, and the two were fast friends in their suite at the Adoption Center.   
  
In June, Jessie and Steve came to visit our Adoption Center, and Lakesha and Wishbone caught their eye - both of them, together.  
  
Jessie and Steve took the pair home to foster, and right away the dogs settled in. Jessie told us, “Their sweet and loving nature won us over, and it didn’t take long for them to fall on their backs for belly rubs. It was clear that they were made to be together, and we knew we wanted to adopt them the second we saw them.”  
  
Now named Roxy and Mr. Pickle, we are so happy for these two deserving pups landing in a loving home together! They love playing in the backyard, cuddles, walks neighborhood walks, and cozy nights with the family. Roxy likes to sleep in Jessie and Steve’s son’s room, and Mr. Pickle opts for the recliner or a blanket by his parents’ bed. They are, in every sense of the word, home.  

On April 29, our teams came together for one of our most ambitious initiatives to date: Feral Cat Spay Day. In just one day, we spayed and neutered 214 feral cats at our Lurie Clinic, while also providing vaccines, flea prevention, and compassionate care. This single day of action will prevent thousands of unwanted litters and ease the burden on our city’s shelters. It was an inspiring, lifesaving day... but it was only the beginning. 

We’re now gearing up for our next major effort: a CACC Spay Day on July 1, where we’ll spay and neuter 100 large dogs and cats from Chicago Animal Care and Control. These are animals whose chance at adoption hinges on a critical step: surgery. Without it, they cannot leave the shelter system. With it, they get a shot at a loving home. 

This work is the single most effective strategy we have to combat the overpopulation crisis—the #1 cause of euthanasia in shelters. 

At PAWS Chicago, we’ve performed over 338,450 spay/neuter surgeries since opening the Lurie Clinic. We focus our outreach in neighborhoods where the need is greatest, areas with the highest stray animal intake and the fewest veterinary resources. Each surgery represents a turning point: fewer animals born into uncertainty, fewer pets surrendered, and more lives saved. 

But we can’t do this without you. 

Your donation fuels these lifesaving days. It funds the supplies, transportation, and outreach needed to reach the animals who would otherwise fall through the cracks. When you give, you’re not just helping one pet—you’re helping break the cycle of homelessness.

Make a donation

She was just a few weeks old—far too young to be without her mother—but it was clear she had already been on her own for some time. We named her Edith, and thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, we were able to act quickly. 

Our expert medical team watched her closely, helping her build up strength in the critical first days of her rescue. Once she reached a safe weight, Edith underwent enucleation surgery to remove her damaged eye and relieve her of the constant pain and pressure she had been enduring. 

As she healed, Edith’s playful personality began to shine. With only one eye, she still navigated the world with confidence and curiosity—chasing wand toys, climbing cat trees, and curling up in laps like she’d been doing it all her life. 

Today, Edith is thriving in a loving adoptive home, where she’s cherished not for what she’s been through, but for the sweet and spirited cat she’s become. 

Edith’s story is just one example of how your support saves lives. From emergency medical care and surgery to foster support and adoption, every step of Edith’s journey was made possible by people like you. Thank you for being part of the PAWS Chicago community—and for giving vulnerable animals like Edith the chance to heal, grow, and find the love they deserve.

As the Senior Volunteer Coordinator at the Lincoln Park Adoption Center, Cece plays a vital role in recruiting, training, and scheduling the hundreds of volunteers who keep Dog Town, Kitty City, workshops, and adoption events running smoothly. But for Cece, it’s more than logistics—it’s about building community. 

“I grew up around animal rescue,” Cece shares. Her family regularly fostered pets in the Northwest suburbs, and her aunt founded her own animal rescue organization in Michigan. “The need for no-kill rescue organizations was something I understood from an early age.” 

That lifelong passion, combined with her background in volunteer services and public programs at the Chicago Botanic Garden, made PAWS a natural next step. “It felt like the perfect match to bring those two worlds together,” she says. 

One of Cece’s favorite moments at PAWS is the quiet reflection after a busy Adopt-a-Thon. “We’ve been on our feet for hours, connecting people with adoptable pets, organizing showings, and supporting the team,” Cece says. “But at the end of the day, walking through the halls and seeing the empty suites—it’s the best reminder of why we do this.” 

For Cece, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing the kindness and dedication of the volunteer community firsthand. “Our volunteers accomplish incredible things every day. I feel lucky to support them however I can.” 

Outside of work, Cece enjoys listening to audiobooks, performing improv, and spending time with her 2-year-old former street cat, Poppy—who, of course, found her way home thanks to PAWS. 

Sydney has always been passionate about helping animals, and after adopting a few of his own from PAWS, he jumped at the chance to join the team. “I’ve worked with animals at different jobs over the years,” he explains, “but being part of the place that brought my pets into my life makes it even more meaningful.” 

One day left a lasting mark. Sydney vividly recalls when Leela, a dog surrendered to CACC while in labor, arrived at PAWS. With only a skeleton crew available, the situation became an all-hands-on-deck moment. Surgeons even video-called from vacation to assist with the complicated birth. Meanwhile, Sydney managed the front desk, rescheduling appointments and keeping communication flowing. 

“I remember feeling like I wasn’t doing enough,” Sydney admits. “But then a tech came out mid-crisis, thanked me for holding things down, and told me it gave them the flexibility they needed to save Leela’s life. That’s when I realized—even without medical knowledge, I was part of making that possible.” 

In the end, Leela survived and gave birth to four healthy puppies—a powerful reminder that every role at PAWS is vital to the lifesaving we do. 

For Sydney, even the busiest days come with a built-in stress reliever. “If I ever feel overwhelmed, I just look around—there’s always a cute animal wanting attention. You really can’t beat that.” 

Outside of work, Sydney enjoys arts and crafts under the watchful eye of his cat, Pumpkin, and helps care for his family’s two senior dogs, including a proud PAWS alum. 

Natasha needed a new home. But, first, she needed a temporary home—shelter life simply wasn’t for her. Over the next year and a half, several foster parents stepped up and gave her a safe place to stay.  

PAWS fosters play an essential role in fulfilling our No Kill Mission. In a safe, loving home, animals become comfortable enough to let their true personality shine through—making it easier to find their forever family and freeing up space for PAWS to take in more animals in need.  

For Natasha—shy, but quick-to-warm—it was only a matter of time before someone could let her go. Foster Jenne Gaskin was that someone. 

Here's what Jenee Gaskin had to say about her new best friend, now named Reese’s:  

I met her at the Adoption Center when I came in to foster a small dog. She was the first dog brought out for me to meet. She was curious but suspicious of me but still came home with me. 

On the first night, there was a thunderstorm. She jumped in bed with me, and we instantly became cuddle buddies. That’s when I knew she was my dog. 

I named her Reese’s, like the chocolate candy. She has settled in very well. She follows me everywhere and enjoys exploring different parts of the house with me. She also likes to sunbathe on the deck, but most of all, she enjoys sitting in my lap on the couch.  

She's such a sweet girl when it's just the two of us. She is the best napping companion. And despite being an older dog, she has lots of energy and is full of personality. 

Thankfully, the team at PAWS Chicago sprang into action. The kittens were stabilized, and the PAWS team knew a foster environment would increase their chances of recovery exponentially. That’s where the Assistant Manager of Foster Care, Yara Cruz, stepped in. She brought the three little angels home. 

Angelica, the most fragile, had to be separated from her siblings for intensive treatment. She was weak, sick, and couldn’t regulate her body temperature. But everything changed when she was finally well enough to rejoin her brother and sister. 

“She was so happy to have her cuddle buddies back,” says Yara. “You wouldn’t have even known how sickly they were—they started playing nonstop!” 

Angelica, once fearful and withdrawn, quickly blossomed into a “shoulder kitten” who climbs onto Yara and purrs contentedly. Alma, despite her damaged eye, is a fearless explorer who tumbles around the room with Andre, the biggest lovebug of the group. He’s even befriended Yara’s PAWS alum cat, Ducky, and follows Yara everywhere. 

“Caring for sick kittens can be daunting at first—so many meds, so much uncertainty,” says Yara. “But the PAWS Foster team always has your back. With time, routines form, treatments lessen, and it's so rewarding to witness the transformation into healthy, playful kittens with tubby bellies!” 

Supported by PAWS robust medical care and nutrition from our partners at Purina, these kittens are now thriving. Alma will undergo surgery to remove her eye once she’s big enough—but in the meantime, she’s happy, active, and deeply loved. 

“To anyone thinking about fostering sick or injured kittens,” Yara adds, “keep an open mind. Most illnesses pass, and they heal faster in a loving foster home. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of their journey to adoption.” 

Apply to Foster here 

This sweet two-year-old feline was found hungry and alone, his coat matted with debris, rooting through a dumpster on Chicago’s north side. The young man who found Bosco brought him to PAWS, knowing he’d be safe, loved and cared for.   
   
Thanks to supporters like you, PAWS was able to save Bosco. He got the medical care he needed, including a full exam, neuter surgery, vetting, and lots of love. And after just a few days at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center, an adopter fell for him on sight. Bosco jumped into her arms and, to our knowledge, she hasn’t put him down since. ❤️  

And there’s more good news: Thanks to our generous friends at My Virtuous Quest, every donation made now through June 26 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $35,000!  

Bosco’s story is one of thousands we could share with you today. And your early Giving Day gift now will help write the next happy ending.  

Please don’t wait—your support will immediately help pets in need, providing lifesaving medical care, spay/neuter surgeries, behavioral support, and a second chance at life. 

Donate

Thanks to PAWS Chicago’s expert medical team, Turnip received the care he needed, including enucleation surgery for his injured eye. After that, everything changed, and the once-shutdown pup suddenly sought a warm lap to cuddle in. It was clear Turnip had taken a turn for the better. We knew a foster home would be the perfect environment to help him continue to grow.  

“Turnip was an agreeable fellow from the start,” says his foster, Amanda Geppert.  

With pain-free days and a consistent routine, Turnip began to thrive. “Turnip is a delight! He likes to communicate and will bring you his leash when he would like to take a walk. He will bark when he decides it’s bedtime.” He loves his long walks—ideally 7,500 steps—and settles into a cozy nap while Amanda works from home. 

Despite his medical history, Turnip’s needs are simple. He manages his heart condition with medication that he takes easily with cream cheese, cheddar, or boiled chicken. A man of culinary excellence, Turnip has also proved to be a fan of treats from our partner Stella & Chewy’s, who help provide highly nutritious snacks for our pets in recovery. 

“Turnip loves to be wherever you are and, if possible, cuddled up right next to you,” Amanda says. He’s sociable but calm, enjoying visits to the local bookshop or bakery and watching the world from the front stoop. 

Thanks to Amanda’s support, Turnip quickly became adoption-ready. After just a few short days at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center, Turnip charmed his new family into taking him home!  

The once shut-down and lost Turnip is now ready for his new life of being pampered like a king. We wish you a lifetime of cuddles, lots of Stella & Chewy’s treats, and a whole lot of love, Turnip! 

Hear from Anita Clifford about how she welcomed Tortellini into her home:  

I currently am a PAWS foster, so when I saw Tortellini’s photo on PAWS Chicago’s Instagram, I immediately reached out to the foster team to see if I could be her foster mom. She completely stole my heart from that singular photo, and from the first day of fostering her, I knew she was going to fit right into our family. 

She was in a cast for the first few weeks of fostering, but she never let that stop her. Her energy was infectious, and she is a big cuddle bug!  

Now that we’ve adopted her, she is fitting right in. She quickly became friends with our resident cat, Chilli (also a PAWS alum), and now they’re thick as thieves.  

We decided to keep the name Tortellini because we thought it fit her so well and could not part ways with it. But day-to-day, we call her Torti.  

She loves eating and she can play with a cat wand for hours. She also loves running up and down the cat tree with her sister. And she could lay on your lap for hours. 

She is truly the sweetest girl. I wake up in the morning looking forward to greeting her because it truly makes my entire day.

We decided to keep Teak's name as he was responding to it, plus we have a lot of nicknames for him. "Tiki-Teak", "Teaks", "Tiki-tín", and “Mr. T.” 

My partner and I were reviewing the PAWS website and saw Teak there. We were drawn in by the spotting on his nose that makes it looks like he has nostrils, we both thought it looked funny and cute. 

Once we arrived at the Adoption Center, Teak was the first cat we saw through the door. We looked at other cats but decided to meet him in person first. He was sleeping the entire time and only got up to look at us. He allowed pets and cuddles right away from us. We both loved that he was super calm and a chill little guy. 

At first, he was a calm and anxious little fella. After exploring his new home and getting used to his new routine, it was like a whole new world of Teak was opening up. He gets the zoomies, meows for pets, and does all sorts of silly things. I'd say he is doing excellent! 

Teaks favorite activities are to lounge and nap! Especially in his Hello Kitty bed.  

We love how much he likes to cuddle! He's also so curious to any new game or toy he gets. 

Pretzel originally came to us from Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) as a young puppy with a serious orthopedic issue: a malformed left hind leg that he was born with. Though he instinctively tried to use the leg, it caused significant pain and bleeding. After careful assessment by our expert veterinary team, we determined that amputation would be the best course of action to relieve his discomfort and give him full mobility on three legs. He underwent a successful mid-femoral amputation. During his stay, we also identified that he is hearing impaired, another challenge he would need the right home to help manage. 

Thanks to our Medical Center team, Pretzel recovered smoothly and began to show his sweet, energetic personality. Nutritious, high-quality meals provided by our feeding partner, Kismet, also played a key role in supporting his healing and helping him regain his strength.  

His adopters first saw him on the PAWS website and quickly knew he belonged in their home. “We were drawn to him right away,” says adopter Eric Rylowicz. “We wanted a dog who could keep up with our active lifestyle but also enjoy quiet time indoors.” 

Since going home, Pretzel has been renamed “LouGnar.” His adopters have thoughtfully supported his continued recovery. “We’ve created a padded indoor play area so his remaining limbs don’t take too much impact while he runs around. We’ve also noticed he prefers pavement to grass, so we’re mindful of managing that to avoid strain. His bone helps with teething, and puzzle toys keep him mentally focused and calm.” 

They’re also learning how to communicate in ways that work for him. Despite being hearing impaired, he’s very smart and already picking up on visual cues and routines. 

“LouGnar is such a good boy, I am so grateful for everyone at PAWS doing what they do, I can tell he was loved during his time there, and as he transitions into his forever home he will continue to be loved and nourished physically and spiritually,” says Eric. 

From a painful start to a joyful new life, LouGnar’s journey reflects the full-circle mission of PAWS Chicago—to provide expert medical care, match pets with loving adopters, and offer support every step of the way. His story is a reminder that with the right treatment and compassionate care, any pet can thrive. 

That’s why we’re launching the 2025 Feral Cat Spay Day at our Lurie Clinic.  

On April 29, we’re mobilizing our medical team, operations staff, community cat volunteers, and colony caretakers, to perform 200 spay/neuter surgeries on feral cats in one day, preventing thousands of future litters and giving outdoor cats a safer, healthier life—and we’re inviting our community of animal-lovers to join us in taking this proactive step towards building a No Kill Chicago.

“Be the fix” for a broken system. 

Cats are able to produce 45 times as many offspring as humans. They can get pregnant every 62 days and usually give birth to multiple kittens per litter. Spay/neuter is the single most effective way to address the killing of homeless pets. But we can’t do it without your help. 

Your donation today support our work—funding surgeries, supplies, transportation, and community outreach to reach the cats who need it most. 

PAWS’s work focuses on Chicago ZIP codes with the highest number of stray animal calls and shelter intakes—communities where veterinary resources are scarce but the need is great. Every week, PAWS is in these neighborhoods performing TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), offering transportation, medical care, and support to dozens of outdoor cats and their caretakers. 

Since opening the Lurie Clinic in 2000, PAWS Chicago has provided more than 338,450 spay/neuter surgeries for free and at a reduced cost to make sure it is accessible for all pets. 

Donate today to help us expand our reach and empower more Chicagoans to care for feral cats with compassion. 

Spay one. Save thousands. Donate now.

Special thanks to cats in action 

We want to express gratitude to our friends at Cats in Action — a Chicago nonprofit that provides TNR resources for the community—who are helping us trap 100 of the cats to be spayed or neutered on April 29. Our partnership helps us save more together.  

What is TNR—and why does it matter? 

TNR is a humane method of managing outdoor cat colonies by trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, then returning them to their territory where they can live out their lives without contributing to pet overpopulation. 

PAWS Chicago’s Community Cats program supports residents already feeding and watching over these animals, turning caring individuals into registered colony caretakers with the tools and resources to do more. 

Your support saves lives 

PAWS Chicago is the only large-scale, free and low-cost spay/neuter provider in the region. In 2025, we’re on pace to perform nearly 19,000 spay/neuter surgeries, with every single one helping to reduce the number of homeless animals and save lives. 

Since our founding in 1997, when more than 42,000 pets were killed in Chicago, PAWS has helped reduce the number of animals euthanized in Chicago by 89%. But even with this progress, thousands of dogs and cats still enter Chicago’s city pound every year, and that number continues to climb. The most effective solution is clear: spay and neuter. With your support, we can provide more surgeries, prevent more unwanted litters, and drive euthanasia numbers even lower.  

Let’s make April 29 a turning point for feral cats in Chicago. Please join us. And be the fix. 

Donate to Feral Cat Spay Day

MORE RESOURCES: 

Build your own feral cat shelter 

Learn what to do when you find kittens 

Volunteer to help feral cats 

Jasmine spends her days at the front desk, where she’s the first person adopters see when they walk in. “I love greeting everyone and reviewing their adoption applications,” Jasmine says. “It’s so exciting to help people find their new family member, and I really enjoy educating them on how to care for their new pet while showing them the importance of animal rescue.” Her passion for her work shines through with every interaction, and she’s known for making the adoption process a welcoming and joyful experience. 

Her manager is quick to sing her praises: “Jasmine goes above and beyond each and every day at the Adoption Center. She maintains a positive attitude and an open mind, and she’s always up for a challenge! Jasmine consistently delivers excellent customer service and has done a fantastic job training our new hires.” 

Jasmine’s journey with PAWS started as a volunteer in 2022, when she was working as a dog town and adoption counselor. She quickly realized she loved helping both people and animals, and it wasn’t long before she decided to make PAWS her full-time home. “I loved my time volunteering, and I knew PAWS was where I wanted to be,” she says. 

While there’s no single moment that stands out to Jasmine, she treasures seeing the longer-term animals finally find their families. “It’s so rewarding to see them go home with people who are excited to give them a great life,” she says. “It’s about building relationships and being part of a community.” 

When she’s not at PAWS, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her two cats, Lilo and Presley, whom she rescued while living in Iowa. She’s also a swing dancing enthusiast and volunteers at Chicago Animal Care and Control.  

Congratulations, Jasmine! You bring so much light and positivity to the PAWS team and our adopters. Keep up the amazing work! 

“I love being able to share my passion with the people who have become close friends and family here at PAWS,” Alexis shares. She began her journey with PAWS as a receptionist, and through her dedication and growing interest in clinical work, she transitioned into roles as a veterinary assistant, recovery tech, and finally, as a surgical prep tech. One standout moment for Alexis was placing her first IV catheter—a milestone that she credits to the constant support and encouragement from her teammates, who have helped her grow every step of the way. 

Her manager speaks highly of her: “Alexis exemplifies what it means to be a team player. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everything in the clinic runs smoothly, and her positive attitude under pressure is truly commendable.” Alexis’s commitment to both the animals and the PAWS team is evident in everything she does. 

The most rewarding part of Alexis's role is knowing she’s helping both pets and their owners during critical moments. “I like to believe that the care we provide helps give owners some peace of mind during their pets’ procedures,” she says. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys spending time with her three dogs and trying new restaurants with family and friends. 

Thank you, Alexis, for your dedication, your incredible work ethic, and for always bringing a positive attitude to the team! You are truly an invaluable part of the PAWS Chicago family. 

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Rescue Ready: providing critical medical services so small shelters can rescue pets from CACC

By law, homeless pets must be spayed or neutered before adoption. However, accessing veterinary resources is difficult and costly for rescue groups without their own veterinarians. As a result, they often choose to save animals from out-of-state-shelters that have already performed spay/neuter surgeries.

PAWS established the Rescue Ready program to encourage local shelters to rescue local pets from CACC.

With this initiative, PAWS provides critical medical services, such as spaying, neutering, and vetting – including microchips, vaccines, heartworm tests, and FeLV/FIV testing – enabling these organizations to transfer pets from the city pound. Overall, CACC saw transfers increase a remarkable 18.99% in 2024, totaling 7,242 animals, highlighting the collective impact of this lifesaving program.

Make a donation

The Big Fix: prepping more pets for adoption

Due to city budget cuts, CACC has faced staff reductions and hiring freezes, which have strained their medical team’s capacity to serve incoming pets. Without sufficient medical resources, they simply cannot perform enough spay/neuter surgeries and medical exams on their homeless pet population to keep up with adoption demand.

This is where PAWS Chicago makes a difference.

With our Big Fix program, volunteers transport homeless pets to the PAWS Chicago Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic. The pets are spayed, vetted, and returned to CACC that afternoon, ready for adoption.

In 2024, PAWS spayed/neutered 931 CACC pets through the Big Fix. With this additional PAWS support, CACC performed 3,019 adoptions in 2024, a remarkable 28.6% increase over 2023.

Pet Owner Support: keeping pets in their home, not the city shelter

As part of the 360@CACC initiative, PAWS works to prevent animals from entering CACC through targeted Pet Owner Support programs. These provide basic care and necessities, from food and supplies to vaccinations and medical care, to help keep pets in their homes and out of the shelter system.

In 2024, PAWS successfully kept 123 pets with their families and out of CACC through Pet Owner Support Programs. We diverted another 135 animals from families directly to PAWS Chicago, giving CACC relief from additional overcrowding.

Our approach is working. In 2025, with your help, we’ll do even more.

Make a donation

We accepted Tulip into our shelter program and immediately administered a groundbreaking drug called the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody—the first treatment that directly attacks parvovirus. Aided by the antibody, Tulip’s recovery time was reduced to days instead of weeks, sparing her from untold suffering.  

Once fully recovered, it was time to find Tulip a happy home. Weighing in at just over 40 pounds, this big girl needed someone who could appreciate every ounce of her, and she found it in David Baldwin.  

David first met Tulip at our Adoption Center, and they hit it off immediately: “She had so much love to give and loves people so much. She was also great when she met her new older brother, our resident dog Koga,” says David.  

Now happily adopted, Tulip is blossoming in her new home, filling it with light and life.  

“She has her older brother playing like a puppy for the first time in a long time. She is certainly a teenager, full of drama and energy, but she is learning quickly and loves training,” says David.  

When she’s not tussling with her brother, David says, “Tulip loves walks in her new neighborhood and takes her time smelling everything she can. She's a dedicated chewer and loves bones and enrichment toys. Most of all, she loves curling up into a tiny little potato between me or my partner's legs.” 

Already a part of the family, David couldn't imagine his life without Tulip’s adorable underbite.  

“Tulip is a huge sweetheart and has so much love to give - she has wiggle wormed her way into our hearts!” says David.  

Despite his rough appearance, which bore the marks of street life—scars, tattered ears, and a hoarse meow—Nacho’s spirit remained unbroken. His veterinary exam revealed a number of health issues that shed light on the struggles he had faced. He was missing several teeth, had an upper respiratory infection (URI), had a healing laceration on his upper eyelid, and had a corneal scar on his eye. In addition, he tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), a retrovirus that compromises the immune system, and he was also found to have a tapeworm. However, the most important thing about Nacho’s condition was his resilience. Despite these challenges, he still sought human connection and care. 

His initial days in our care were filled with warmth and peace—something he hadn’t known in a long time. With full meals, gentle attention, and a comfortable space to rest, Nacho began to heal both physically and emotionally. His mild dehydration improved, his URI appeared to have resolved, and his unkempt coat slowly started to regain some shine. While his healing laceration on his upper eyelid needed time, it was already starting to improve. The road ahead was still long, but it was clear that Nacho’s health was on the mend. 

During this time, Nacho’s story touched the hearts of Alexandria and Jon Kennedy. “I saw Nacho’s story on the PAWS Instagram one night, and I couldn’t resist filling out an application right away,” Alexandria shared. After meeting him in person, it was clear that Nacho was meant to be part of their family, “He reminded us so much of our 19-year-old cat, Buddy. We knew our home would be the perfect place for him to heal and thrive.”  

Since joining their home, Nacho has been adjusting wonderfully to his new life. His confidence has grown each day, and he’s started to bond with the family, including their other pets. Despite being initially hesitant to bond with the resident pit bull, Hermie, by Nacho's second morning it was clear Hermie worshipped his new cat sibling. Nacho’s curiosity has blossomed, and he’s quickly learned the joys of being an indoor cat. “He’s discovered napping in our bed, exploring every corner of the house, and letting his opinion be known—especially when it comes to his adorable, vocal meow!” says Alexandria. 

Today, Nacho is no longer the street-hardened cat he once was. He’s on the road to recovery, gaining weight, confidence, and a true sense of belonging in his new home. His journey from a stray surviving in harsh conditions to a cherished family member is a testament to his strength and resilience. We’re thrilled for Nacho and wish him the happiest life with his new family—where the only battles left to fight are for the best spot on the couch and the most attention from his loved ones. 

“My favorite experience was June 9 to July 26, 2019, when I fostered a mom, Courtney, and her five babies: Oliver, Kelly, Nick, Mikayla and Beyonce,” says Christin.  

It was clear Courtney belonged to someone previously because she was socialized, sweet, and gentle from day one.  

“Courtney was so patient and nursed her five babies whenever they wanted. She litter trained them all, and not one kitten ever had an accident outside litter box. She taught them how to play...and when playtime was over. I will never forget how much I learned about how much mom cats do and how much they teach their babies. And those babies loved their mama,” Christin fondly recalls.   

She went on to say, “And I loved to see Courtney do a head count and then sit down and relax when all were accounted for and safe in the little kitty pen I had for them.” 

In addition to fostering, Christin is passionate about PAWS Chicago’s Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts. “I love programs where feral communities are spayed or neutered and vaccinated to keep them healthy and prevent unwanted litters,” says Christin.  

To help support the programs she loves, Christina is a Lifeline donor.  

“I am motivated to give monthly because I have witnessed first-hand the commitment PAWS has towards eliminating pets being put down, the quality care given to animals, the education around reducing the stray pet population, providing reduced-cost vaccination and spay/neuter services, and their sheer dedication to making sure pets get adopted, including those with behavioral issues,” says Christina.  

When she’s not championing homeless and at-risk pets, Christin can be found doting on her three cats at home: Ebony, Marzipan, and Isha.  

“Ebony, ‘Ebby,’ is 14. She is always in formal wear as she is a tuxedo cat. She is THE best cat. We got her while living abroad in Singapore. She is so well behaved at home and at the vet. Folks I know who do not like cats say if they could be guaranteed a cat like my Ebby, they would get one,” says Christin.  

Marzipan, ‘Marzie,’ is a Siamese mix with a grey tabby coat. Christin got Marzie when she was just a 5-day-old kitten without a mom. Christin says, “She is 4 now. I bottle-fed that baby and kept her warm. Ebby showed her how to eventually eat solid food and use litter box. She is a sweet girl but a scared girl. But she eventually warms up to people.”   

Last, but certainly not least, is Christin’s daughter’s cat, Isha (pronounced eye-sha). “She is a confident and sweet 2-year-old tortie. She is an eating machine but in slim shape because there’s no free feeding at my house. And even though she came into a house with two established cats, she holds her own,” says Christin.  

Huge thanks to Christin and our entire Lifeline community for sustaining PAWS Chicago’s lifesaving programs day after day, month after month, and year after year. Homeless and at-risk pets can count on us because we can count on you. Thank you!

Join the Lifeline program

Fuzzy became a PAWS pet that day, and soon after was feeling (and looking) much more herself thanks to a lifechanging haircut. Also suffering from a respiratory infection, Fuzzy had to undergo a round of antibiotics at our Medical Center, where we discovered her immense joy for the simple things in life – a soft bed, a squeaky toy, a lap to curl up in.  

On the same day that Fuzzy hitched a ride on the PAWS van bringing recovered pets from our Medical Center to our Adoption Center, Tamara brought her family in with hopes of finding a pal for her resident dog, Kylie.  

When she saw Fuzzy, it was love at first sight. “We instantly connected when they brought her to meet us,” said Tamara, so much so that they rushed home 20 miles away to pick up Kylie and come back to make sure it was a perfect fit. 

Sure enough, Kylie gained a sister that day. Now named Luna, the two pups have been fast friends ever since. “She loves to cuddle, watch Kylie play fetch, chase Kylie, and take naps. She’s one heck of an addition,” said Tamara. 

Welcome home, Luna! 

One of Harrison’s front legs had broken in multiple places and healed incorrectly, leaving him with a deformed leg that made it difficult for him to get around. Whenever he tried to walk, he would fall after just a few steps.  

Harrison was in need of surgical intervention, and without the medical capabilities necessary to provide his care at the facility he'd been brought to, Harrison waited there for a month. Lucky for him, our intake team made a visit that would change his life. 

Harrison was in need of an amputation surgery, which would help him maneuver on his three legs much easier. Knowing we could provide him with that in just a matter of days, he became a PAWS pet, bringing his month-long wait for care to an end.  

Three days after his arrival to the PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, Harrison got the surgery he needed, and after five days of laser therapy to speed along his healing, he went to a foster home to finish recovery surrounded by love and TLC. 

We all got to know Harrison as one happy cat. Not long after he chirped a hello to you, Harrison would melt into your outstretched hand and purr up a storm. This guy was meant for the indoor life of luxury, so it was no shock to us that the very same day he moved into our Adoption Center, he was scooped up by a loving family in a matter of hours. 

It’s because of your support that a pet like Harrison doesn’t have to wait for treatment once they arrive at PAWS. Your monthly donation allows us to leap into action when we spot a pet in need. Thank you for your support!

Our spay/neuter efforts, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, and outreach to underserved communities are foundational to our No Kill mission. And as we look ahead to 2025, we're ramping up these efforts to do even more.   

At the PAWS Chicago Lurie Clinic—the only high-volume free and low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Chicago—we’re enhancing accessibility for pet owners seeking spay/neuter and vaccination services. We recently rolled out an online self-scheduling option for these appointments, allowing pet owners to book services at their convenience and ensuring that the appointments go to animals in greatest need, easing the process for everyone involved.  

We’re also continuing our efforts to bring vaccine clinics directly to communities that need them most. By hosting more pop-up vaccine events in 2025 throughout underserved neighborhoods, we can ensure that more pets are protected against preventable diseases.  

A major development for 2025 is our soon-to-launch Citizen Cat Care Program, which addresses recent changes at Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impound facility, regarding their intake protocol. Specifically, CACC is no longer accepting friendly, social cats found outdoors, and these cats often face uncertain futures. With this new program, PAWS Chicago is providing a simpler, more accessible path to getting these cats into shelter care, ensuring they get the support they deserve.  

At the same time, we’re expanding our TNR education and caretaker registration efforts. For cats that must return to the environments they were found in, this initiative will equip community members with the knowledge and resources to support outdoor cat populations responsibly, from food to shelter to healthcare.     

2025 promises to be an exciting year of growth and impact, and we couldn’t do it without the unwavering support of our Lifeline community. By choosing to give monthly, each of you plays an integral role in ensuring that every animal receives the care and attention they deserve. Together, we’re not just transforming lives—we’re building a community where every animal has the opportunity to thrive.  

As we continue to grow and expand our services, we are more committed than ever to our mission of improving the lives of animals and strengthening the bond between people and pets. Thank you for everything you do, and here’s to a successful, impactful 2025!

Thankfully, Paleta found a second chance at a better life in Chicago, where she has been thriving in the loving care of her foster mom, Rachel Ruckstuhl. Rachel describes Paleta as a sweet dog with a mix of puppy energy and a heart full of attachment. "She's curious and nervous but very attached to her foster mom. She follows me around like velcro, always wanting pets and snuggles," says Rachel. 

Though Paleta may be a little shy and cautious, she has blossomed into a playful, smart, and affectionate companion. "She loves getting pets on her head, ears, and chest and will ask for snuggles at least five times a day," Rachel shares. Paleta’s favorite activities include chewing on her bone at night, chasing her foster sister Beignet outside, and engaging in playful wrestling. "She's really smart when she’s not scared," Rachel adds. Paleta has already learned commands like "sit," "wait," "shake," and "touch," proving that she’s a fast learner when she feels safe. 

Despite her gentle demeanor, Paleta does have a few quirks that make her all the more endearing. "She loves when you talk to her because she feels part of the conversation.  She may even talk back!  She's so cute in that she can make so many different types of noises - we really do think she's trying to talk!” says Rachel. She sleeps in the cutest positions - upside down, in a ball, sideways, and so many variations it's fun to watch. Paleta also loves to pick up her food and move it to a comfier spot to eat – who can blame her for wanting to find the best spot for mealtime? 

Paleta’s ideal home would be with a woman or a family that’s willing to invest the time to help her build confidence at her own pace. A home with a fenced-in yard would be ideal, as she loves to run around and play outside. "She’ll make a great addition to any home that is patient and dedicated to helping her thrive," Rachel notes. 

As Paleta continues to grow in her foster home, she’s become a loving, loyal companion with so much to give. And, according to Rachel, "She'll greet you like you're the greatest person in the world every time you come home – no matter if it's been 4 minutes or 4 hours." 

If you’re looking for a dog who will shower you with love, loyalty, and endless companionship, Paleta may be the perfect fit for your home. She’s a survivor, a sweetheart, and a beautiful soul who’s ready to share all the love she has. As Rachel says, "She’s going to love you so much." 

Once safe at our Medical Center, Piney received a full exam, IV fluids, and medications to help him feel better. It took a few weeks, but with the help of our dedicated medical team and a loving foster home, Piney made a full recovery.  

The next step was adoption, which can be difficult for a kitty who’s already 13 years old. Thankfully, Denise Richards and her grandkids saw everything Piney had to offer.  

“I lost my senior cat last summer. I wanted to adopt another senior or long-term cat or dog. I had been looking for months then, one day, I saw Piney's photo online. I showed my grandkids, and they said, ‘We have to save him and give him his best life,’” shares Denise.  

With those words, Denise knew Piney was meant to be a part of her family, which includes five happy housecats and a feral colony.  

“We drove one and half hours—mostly traffic—to pick up our boy!” says Denise. But the trip was well worth it because Piney adjusted to his new home immediately. 

Denise went on to say, “He found his spot on the tree house—he loves the hammock due to his arthritis. The other kitties acclimated within a week, and they now play and eat together.” 

While Piney is a senior cat, he’s happy as a kitten to be in his new home.  

“Piney loves his mouse toys! He jumps high, too. He loves to sleep on my granddaughter’s pillow pets. He is such a cuddle bug, and I really enjoy that. I love his unique meow. I love his adorable face and his head bumps and when he makes biscuits on his soft bed, aka my bed,” says Denise.   

Of course, Piney has his moments of mischief as well. He likes to knock over his favorite treats in the middle of the night. But who could be mad at this guy?  

“Piney has been a joy to all of us. Thank you all for your kindness and the joyful experience I have had!” says Denise.

We brought him to the PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, where he underwent enucleation surgery for his injury. As he spent time healing at PAWS, Caramelo’s true nature began to shine through.  

This sweet, loving soul melted the heart of anyone who met his one-eyed gaze. He would nuzzle into any outstretched hand, and his rumbling purr came more quickly each day. While his body healed, so did his spirit. 

Caramelo’s story took another turn when Jessica Rogovin first saw him on the PAWS Instagram. “I just saw his sad little face and couldn't help but get him. I actually teared up a little bit the first time I saw him because he's just been through so much.” Jessica felt an instant connection and knew that she could give Caramelo the love and care he deserved, and adopted him soon after. 

Once in Jessica’s home, Caramelo quickly began adjusting to life indoors. He was introduced to two cat siblings and a dog brother. Despite his rough start, Caramelo surprised everyone with his gentle and loving nature. “He was immediately protective of his cat siblings. He never hissed or growled at them and wanted to be friends right away. For a feral cat, with all he's been through, it's amazing how loving and friendly he is,” says Jessica. 

Caramelo quickly found his favorite spot to relax—a cozy heated blanket where he now spends his days loafing and making biscuits. His love for food has also become one of his trademarks—he once knocked over a container of Greenies and ate a third of it! “He has no desire to go outside even though he was so used to being out there. I think he's ready to leave the outdoor life behind.” 

Despite his past, Caramelo is a loving companion who has found peace in his new life. Jessica shares, “I cannot get over his little face. He gets treats all the time because he looks at me and I melt.”  

Caramelo’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference a little love and care can make. With the support of PAWS Chicago and Jessica’s unwavering patience, Caramelo has overcome his struggles and is now living the peaceful, loving life he deserves. You can follow Caramelo’s ongoing journey of joy on Instagram at @carameloandcompany. 

Many of these pets are from our targeted zip codes—areas most in need of spay/neuter to control pet overpopulation—and their surgeries are highly subsidized.  

The Lurie Clinic is the only remaining high-volume free and low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Chicago, making our work that much more essential to combating the pet population crisis. Every advancement makes a meaningful difference.  

We recently rolled out an online self-scheduling option for Lurie Clinic appointments, allowing pet owners to book spay/neuter at their convenience. New appointments are released every weekday morning to ensure space for those with immediate needs.   

While every owner’s reason for spay/neuter is a little different, PAWS Chicago can now provide even more accessibility to our services.  

For Lurie Clinic client Greg Leslie and his senior pup Creamo Nemo, who was rehomed to him by a neighbor who could no longer care for him, coming to PAWS was simple: “Creamo is already older; the least I can do is make sure he has a good rest of his life with me,” says Greg. “I decided to have him neutered mainly to avoid any unexpected litters. Plus, neutering him will help make him healthier overall.” 

Now, Creamo enjoys a loving home with Greg, who is dedicated to ensuring he has the best possible life. 

Greg went on to say, “You guys [PAWS] are amazing. I couldn't ask for a better friend to help take care of my animals. The service has been fantastic, and I’m truly grateful for the support you’ve provided.” 

We know spay/neuter is the most powerful tool we have in building a No Kill Chicago. In 2024, we completed 17,168 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, and in the first six weeks of 2025, we already completed 2,406 surgeries. But we’re just getting started. 

Thank you for making this important work possible.  

To read more about our spay/neuter efforts in 2024, read the latest Digital Impact Report story here.  

In 2024, we helped 4,382 pets find homes. Every adoption represents the dedication of staff and volunteers across all departments, from intake and medical care to foster coordination and adoption support. Your efforts have truly made a difference in the lives of these animals and the families who welcomed them. 

17,168 Surgeries Performed 

We completed 17,168 spay/neuter surgeries, a critical part of our work to reduce pet overpopulation and improve animal health. In addition, we performed 609 Special Operations, where pets received specialized medical care, ensuring they had the best chance for recovery and a bright future. 

2,254 Pets Fostered 

A total of 2,254 pets were placed in foster homes, where they received the care and attention they needed before adoption. Whether they were recovering from surgery, adjusting to life outside the shelter, or just needing a temporary safe space, our foster network was crucial to their journey. 

1,986 Rescued from CACC 

Through our partnership with the Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, we rescued 1,986 pets. These animals were given a second chance, thanks to the collective efforts of our rescue, medical, and adoption teams. 

Reflecting on Our Impact 

The numbers are a testament to the life-changing work that each of you contributes to every day. Whether you're caring for animals, coordinating adoptions, providing medical treatment, or supporting our operations, you’ve played an integral role in these successes. 

As we move forward into 2025, let’s continue to build on this momentum. There are more lives to save, more pets to heal, and more families to connect with animals in need. Thank you for your tireless dedication and for making 2024 an unforgettable year. Here’s to even greater achievements in the months ahead!

This month’s Employee of the Month is Wylie Mercado, a Lead Animal Caregiver at our Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, whose journey from intern to leader exemplifies hard work, passion, and dedication. 

Wylie’s story with PAWS Chicago began in June of 2021 when he joined us as an animal care intern right out of high school. What was meant to be a short stint quickly turned into a full-time commitment when Wylie returned in June of 2022 as a full-time caregiver. His dedication to animal welfare and the hands-on experience he gained at PAWS made him an ideal candidate for the role of Lead Animal Caregiver. 

Growing up, Wylie always had a deep love for rescue animals. "Every pet I’ve had has been a rescue," he says. This childhood connection has driven his passion for shelter animals and animal welfare. Over time, Wylie became one of our go-to experts for managing larger and stronger dogs. His ability to handle even the most challenging pups with care and professionalism has earned him the respect of both his peers and supervisors. 

When nominating Wylie, colleagues shared "Wylie is an outstanding team player. He consistently goes above and beyond, not just in caring for the animals but also in mentoring and training new caregivers. His knowledge of animal behavior and health is impressive, and he’s always eager to share that knowledge with the team." 

Wylie’s dedication to learning and growing within the animal welfare field is evident in his ongoing commitment to professional development. "I want to continue expanding my knowledge of animal health and behavior," he says, looking toward the future. "The more I learn, the better I can help our animals." 

Thank you, Wylie, for your exceptional work, leadership, and passion for animal care. You are an integral part of the PAWS team, and we can’t wait to see all the great things you’ll continue to accomplish! 

Adoption Center Employee of the Month: Jessica Barton – A Lifelong Passion for Animals 

This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight Jessica Barton, the Lead Animal Caregiver at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center (LPAC). Jessica’s dedication to the well-being of our animals is nothing short of inspiring, and her journey to PAWS Chicago is a testament to her lifelong passion for animals. 

A DePaul University graduate with a degree in biology, Jessica’s deep connection with animals began long before her career at PAWS. "I’ve loved animals my entire life—dogs, cats, gerbils, you name it," Jessica shares. Her own two cats, Marble and Rugen, are just the latest additions to a long history of pet ownership. Jessica’s connection to PAWS dates back to 2013 when she adopted her family dog, Loki, from our shelter. Her volunteer work soon followed, starting with Kitty City family services alongside her mom, and later as a Kitty City Level 1 volunteer as she worked toward her degree. 

After graduating in 2019, Jessica continued her focus on animal welfare, completing ecological research and volunteering at various animal-related organizations. When an opportunity arose at PAWS in October 2021, she didn’t hesitate. "This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had," she says. "Even on tough days, knowing I’ve made a small difference in an animal’s life makes it all worth it." 

Jessica’s colleagues describe her as a truly compassionate and reliable leader. “Jess is a phenomenal lead caregiver who always steps up without hesitation,” says one team member. "Her dedication to the animals is evident in everything she does, and her positive energy makes her a joy to work with." Jess’s ability to manage both the daily routines of animal care and the complex needs of our animals makes her an invaluable part of the team at LPAC. 

Thank you, Jessica, for your unwavering commitment to the animals in our care and for being such an essential part of our PAWS family! 

Kara's love for animals is as deep as it is long-standing. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian or dog trainer and was even convinced for a while that she could talk to her pet cats and the neighbor's dogs. While she eventually outgrew this fantasy, her passion for animals never waned. After a detour into acting and moving to Los Angeles to pursue that career, Kara’s path led her back to animals when she started volunteering at a shelter. She later joined Best Friends Animal Society, where she adopted her first adult cat, Buggy, and met her wife, Wendy. Together, they share their home with their dog, Taco, and two additional “wild and medically challenged” cats, Sassy and Chiquita. The couple’s household was recently expanded by the addition of their human baby, Parker—making their home both lively and chaotic in the best possible way. 

In 2021, looking for a fresh start after the pandemic, Kara and Wendy relocated to Illinois. Not long after, Kara joined PAWS Chicago and returned to her roots in the animal welfare field. Working with our clinic team has brought her full circle to the dreams she had as a child, and she’s thrilled to be contributing to our mission of helping animals every day. And, in case you’re wondering, Kara and Wendy somehow manage to work together harmoniously after all these years—proof that sometimes, the best partnerships are both personal and professional. 

When Kara isn’t managing the clinic, you’ll likely find her wrangling her furry family members at home, trying to keep up with the chaos and finding new ways to balance it all (including teaching her cats a thing or two about acting!). We’re lucky to have Kara on our team—her passion for animals and her ability to juggle it all inspire us every day. 

Erin’s contributions to these events go far beyond logistics. She leads efforts to secure sponsorships and execute strategic marketing initiatives that drive both revenue and community engagement. Her keen attention to detail and organizational expertise ensure every event runs smoothly, delivering exceptional experiences for participants and helping PAWS Chicago meet and exceed its fundraising goals. The 2024 Fur Ball, in particular, saw incredible success, thanks to Erin’s leadership and meticulous planning. Her ability to coordinate all moving parts—from volunteers and event chairs to sponsors—has made her a key driver of our fundraising success. 

Erin’s passion for animals is deeply personal. Growing up, she was terrified of anything with fur, but that all changed when her family adopted their first puppy, Sassy. Erin’s love for animals quickly grew, and her family continued to rescue pets throughout her childhood. She later moved to Washington, D.C. for college and spent much of her career in politics. However, it was her volunteer work in animal rescue that truly captured her heart. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Erin realized that her true passion lay in rescue work, leading her to shift her career focus and join the PAWS events team. 

In her time here, Erin has demonstrated remarkable leadership, growing into a trusted figure in the team. Her colleagues appreciate her ability to manage a wide range of stakeholders, from volunteers and committee members to board members and donors, all while ensuring that every detail is addressed. Erin’s leadership and dedication have not only propelled the success of our events but have also set a high standard for collaboration and excellence. 

In addition to her work at PAWS, Erin recently ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with TEAM PAWS, raising awareness and support for our mission. Her commitment to both her personal goals and the lifesaving work we do at PAWS is truly inspiring. 

Congratulations, Erin, on being named Leader of the Quarter! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for animals are making a lasting impact on our organization and the lives of the pets we serve. We are grateful to have you as part of our team! 

Slowly but surely, Galileo regained his strength. His tiny body filled out, his playful personality emerged, and he became a little bundle of energy. Despite his rough start, it wasn’t long before he was a full-fledged PAWS resident, charming anyone he came into contact with. But it was when he went into foster care that things really began to change. 

“Leo is an adorable little nugget,” says his adopter, Grace Kane, who wasn’t initially planning to keep him. “Once he was recovered enough to be out and about, he wasted no time getting to know his siblings and becoming best friends with his now brother, Chili (another PAWS foster fail). They spend most of the day roughhousing while their older sister, Matsu, supervises. He spends most of the day running around the condo chasing Chili or playing with his favorite fuzzy ball.” 

It didn’t take long for Galileo to win over his foster family. He had a way of melting hearts with his irresistible charm. “We weren’t planning on keeping him, but I think he knew that, so he absolutely turned on the charm. Once he’s played out, he’s the sweetest snuggler,” Grace continues. “He won my cats over, then my fiancé, and finally me. We’re so excited to have him as a part of the family.” 

From a kitten who was barely holding on to one who now brings joy and chaos into a loving home—Galileo’s transformation is a reminder of what tremendous care and compassion from the PAWS Chicago community and just a little bit of feline magic can do. 

“I couldn’t stop thinking about him, so I went back the next day to foster him. There was something about him that intrigued me; I wanted to know his story and felt someone needed to give him another chance after he’d been in and out of PAWS a few times. When I was told he might be difficult, that sealed the deal for me,” says Isaiah.  

Transferred to PAWS from Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, Bodie was struggling with basic manners, including resource guarding — when a dog becomes defensive over a valuable item, like food or a toy, and acts aggressively to keep others away — and overexcitement.  

PAWS Chicago trainers and fosters did an amazing job helping Bodie build good behaviors. But what Bodie really needed was a permanent home and an adopter who saw all he had to offer. He found that in Isaiah.  

“Since bringing him home as a foster, he’s grown and settled in so well,” says Isaiah. 

Now contently adopted, “he rarely, if ever, shows his old behaviors anymore. Bodie still has limitless energy, which honestly energizes me too—when he’s not ‘aggressively’ napping several times a day, of course,” says Isaiah.  

Today, Bodie’s life is full of all his favorite things.  

“He loves playing tug-of-war and catch, often at the same time. He also loves going on runs, playing tag, and just lying around staring at you as if to make sure you don’t leave,” says Isaiah. 

At PAWS, we believe there’s a person for every pet, but Bodie and Isaiah are proof.  

“What I love most about Bodie, now Bulleit, is his dynamic nature. He’s a mix of lazy and athletic, curious and clever, which makes him such a joy to have around,” says Isaiah.  

Ready to find your Bodie? 

Meet Adoptable Pets

Yet, despite everything, Delgado refused to give up. Each time he faltered, he found the strength to rise again, searching for solace and safety with quiet persistence. His determination showed in the way he nudged his soft face into every hand that reached out to him, seeking comfort—his resolve unshaken, even when the odds were stacked against him. 

At PAWS Chicago’s Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, the team worked tirelessly to help him. Delgado’s journey to recovery would be long, but with their expertise, he was given a fighting chance. First, he needed to gain weight before he could undergo the necessary dental surgery. Dental pain can make it hard for cats to eat, but with the generous support of Purina, who sponsors food for all PAWS Chicago cats, Delgado was provided with a variety of nourishing options to stimulate his appetite and get him surgery ready. 

In addition to his jaw, Delgado had other injuries to overcome: a sunken eye, likely caused by trauma to the bone around the socket, and a healed lip injury, another reminder of the pain he had endured. The team at PAWS took great care to address each issue, ensuring that Delgado was comfortable and that every detail was attended to. 

Once he was strong enough, Delgado underwent surgery to realign his jaw, removing the painful tooth and allowing his body to heal properly. The road was long, but with the team’s dedication and the support of compassionate donors, Delgado was given the chance to recover fully. 

His next stop was the Lincoln Park Adoption Center, where he quickly became a favorite among volunteers. Throughout the day, he moved from lap to lap, soaking up the cuddles he had missed during his time as an outdoor cat. It wasn’t long before someone saw beyond his soft fur and bright eyes and was completely charmed by him. 

Now, Delgado has begun to embrace life as an indoor cat. “Delgado is getting used to his new surroundings but settling in well. He’s eating well, which is a huge relief after everything he’s been through,” says his adopter, Francenia Brown. “We’re so happy to have him as part of our family.” 

Delgado’s remarkable recovery would not have been possible without the expertise and care of the PAWS Chicago team and the generosity of donors who make it all possible. Thank you for helping to give cats like Delgado a second chance at life—your support truly changes lives. 

“We know the best way to prevent needless euthanasia is to focus on one powerful solution: targeted spay/neuter for pets in underserved communities that are most likely to breed. This year, we undertook a major effort to optimize our capacity to perform spay/neuter surgeries, the most effective tool we have to prevent overpopulation at its source,” says PAWS Chicago Executive Director, Alexis Fasseas. 

A Year of Transformation 

Throughout the year, the Medical Center was buzzing with a sense of urgency and purpose as we rolled out new initiatives to provide critical services to more pets in need. From adding key staff members to implementing cutting-edge medical practices, our goal was clear: maximize our surgical capacity while ensuring the highest level of care for every animal that walked through our doors. 

In January, Dr. Alycia Eisenstein, expanded her role from high-volume surgeon to Chief Medical Officer. As one of the leading spay/neuter surgeons in the nation, Dr. Eisenstein’s surgical skills as well as her clinical and business expertise were essential to lead the Lurie Clinic’s operational expansion.

We also knew optimizing our existing resources was just as important. McKinsey & Company, a leading global management consulting firm, volunteered an entire engagement team to assess potential enhancements of key processes at the spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. The partnership involved observing and analyzing current workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending improvements aligned with strategic objectives. 

With the support of their insights, PAWS implemented several transformative changes, including refining pricing for low-cost spay/neuter services, introducing digitized appointment booking, and implementing a deposit system to reduce no-shows. These initiatives have enabled PAWS to streamline clinic operations and improve overall efficiency, reflecting the direct impact of McKinsey's analysis.

Training to Increase Expertise and Efficiency 

We kicked off the year with Dr. Eisenstein and Dr. Karen Kerr spearheading a series of training initiatives aimed at elevating the skills of our entire medical team. These monthly training days, held on the last Wednesday of each month, were a combination of didactic lectures and hands-on practical work. The trainings focused on cutting-edge techniques in anesthesia, patient monitoring, and surgical efficiency—critical components of performing safe and effective high-volume surgeries. The goal: to both increase volume and improve efficiencies. 

By the middle of the year, our staff had gained new insights and refined their skills, allowing us to increase the pace and volume of surgeries. In 2024, we surpassed 17,000 spay/neuter surgeries for the first time since the pandemic. We had laid a strong foundation for growth, and then the results started to unfold. 

Strengthening Medical Operations to Drive Lifesaving Growth 

In October, Brian Shears joined PAWS as Head of Medical Operations, bringing a robust background in managing large veterinary hospitals and launching startup specialty hospitals to scale. Brian’s medical operations expertise is exactly what the Medical Center has needed to reach the next level of lifesaving—both for our spay/neuter and shelter medicine teams.  

We were able to perform 17,168 surgeries by the end of 2024—an increase from 16,587 the previous year. Looking ahead, our goal is to continue expanding our reach and efficiency, with an aggressive goal of performing 20,000 surgeries in 2025. 

The Road Ahead: A No Kill Chicago 

With our work at PAWS Chicago, behind every number is a life. Each surgery means a future without litters, a future where fewer pets end up homeless and euthanized. Every surgery is a step towards a No Kill Chicago, where every pet not only survives but thrives. 

Chicago, despite being the third-largest city in the U.S., has the lowest municipal animal control budget among major cities, with CACC operating on an annual budget of just $7.17 million in 2023. In the wake of a post-pandemic surge in pet homelessness, the city is experiencing a fast-rising number of cats and dogs entering its facility at the same time the budget is being frozen in place. 

In 2024, CACC recorded an intake of 15,262 pets — an 18% increase over 2023 — comprising 7,096 cats and 8,166 dogs. 

Unfortunately, CACC's budget and staffing resources have not kept pace with this growing crisis, hindering its ability to address the urgent needs of homeless animals. That’s where PAWS Chicago stepped in with 360@CACC. The program provides a safety net and resources to Chicago’s homeless and at-risk cats and dogs through a robust suite of prevention and lifesaving programs.  

The 360@CACC efforts support pets at CACC and revolves around three key pillars: pet owner support to prevent pets from coming in, supporting rescue groups to transfer animals from CACC to their adoption programs, and supporting CACC with their direct adoptions to the public.  

Prevention Programs Help Reduce the Number of Homeless Pets 

As part of the 360@CACC initiative, PAWS works to prevent animals from entering CACC through targeted Pet Owner Support programs that provide basic care and necessities to keep pets in their homes. “Many pet owners struggle to meet their pets' needs, from food and supplies to vaccinations and medical care. Our programs offer crucial resources to help families overcome these obstacles, ensuring pets remain with their families and out of the shelter system,” added Celene Mielcarek, PAWS Chicago's Head of Program Operations. 

In 2024, PAWS successfully kept 123 pets out of CACC through these vital services. But, despite our best efforts, some people are still unable to keep their pets for a variety of reasons: death, job loss, housing issues and more. In those cases, PAWS Chicago works directly with the public to take in pets and divert them from CACC, ensuring they avoid the risk of disease or euthanasia from shelter overcrowding. In 2024, we successfully diverted 135 animals from families directly to PAWS Chicago, preventing them from entering CACC, and giving CACC relief from additional overcrowding. 

When Tuba and her seven siblings arrived in the world, their owner was quickly overwhelmed by the challenges of caring for an unexpected litter. Recognizing he needed help, he reached out to PAWS Chicago. Our team stepped in to welcome all eight puppies into our adoption program, where they would find loving homes. But our support didn’t stop there—we also provided spay/neuter surgeries for both parent dogs, ensuring they could remain with their family without the risk of future unplanned litters. By working together, we gave these puppies a chance at a bright future while helping their owners create a more stable and manageable environment for their pets. 

PAWS Chicago Reaches Record Transfers and Vital Vet Support for CACC  

Pet transfers at CACC to other Chicago shelters and rescue groups is a lifesaving solution for nearly half of the pets who come into CACC. In 2024, PAWS Chicago provided a safe haven for 1,986 animals from CACC, treating them in our state-of-the-art Medical Center before uniting them with new families at the Lincoln Park Adoption Center. 

However, not all shelters and rescue groups have robust veterinary services on site. Following the pandemic, veterinary resources across Chicago are stretched thin, which has adversely impacted smaller rescues that do not have veterinarians on staff. By law, homeless pets must be spayed or neutered before adoption. This, in turn, has resulted in 12.8% fewer animals being transferred by other rescues from CACC in 2023.

In fact, many small rescues transferred from out-of-state shelters that could spay/neuter and vaccinate the animals. To remove this barrier that prevented local rescues from saving pets from CACC, PAWS established the Rescue Ready program to encourage CACC transfers. This initiative provides critical medical services, such as spaying, neutering, and vetting – including microchips, vaccines and heartworm tests and FeLV/FIV testing – enabling these organizations to transfer pets from the city pound. In 2024 alone, PAWS spayed/neutered and medically treated 405 animals for rescues that were originally from CACC. Overall, CACC saw transfers increase a remarkable 18.99% in 2024, totaling 7,242 animals, highlighting the collective impact of these lifesaving efforts.  

We thank the Rachael Ray Foundation for generously funding the spay/neuter surgeries and vetting for the Big Fix and Rescue Ready programs.

Partnership Brings Hope: PAWS Chicago Boosts CACC Adoptions by 29% 

CACC continues to facilitate public adoptions as a volunteer-only program without any budgeted staff position. “CACC is under-resourced, so PAWS Chicago brought a staff member on site to help manage adoption efforts,” explained Mielcarek. In addition, PAWS Chicago adoption counselor volunteers supported CACC adoption events, helping them to send more animals home the day of each event. 

One caveat for adoption is that pets need to be medically cleared to go home. Due to city budget cuts affecting all departments, CACC has faced staff reductions and hiring freezes, which have strained their medical team’s capacity to serve incoming pets. This has especially impacted their ability to meet Illinois law, which requires all cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered before adoption. People are trying to adopt but had been waiting weeks for the pet to be spayed or neutered so they could go home.  

To address this, PAWS Chicago launched the Big Fix program, where PAWS volunteers transport homeless pets to the PAWS Chicago Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic. The pets are spayed, vetted, and returned to CACC that afternoon, ready for adoption. “Spaying and neutering pets through the Big Fix is one of the most impactful ways we support CACC adoptions and transfers. Removing the barrier for a rescue or adopter to take an animal that day is significant and helps more animals go home sooner,” added Mielcarek.  

In 2024, PAWS spayed/neutered 931 CACC pets through the Big Fix. With this additional PAWS support, CACC performed 3,019 adoptions in 2024, a remarkable 28.6% increase over 2023. 

In 2024, PAWS Chicago’s 360@CACC program and partnership with Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) made significant progress in saving animals, even as the number of pets coming into the city pound increased. CACC took in 2,205 more cats and dogs than the previous year—an 18% rise in intake. Despite this surge, 1,875 more animals had a live outcome and were saved when compared with 2023. Unfortunately, the increase in intake also led to 416 more animals being euthanized compared to 2023. Overall, CACC’s save rate improved slightly, rising from 76% in 2023 to 76.79% in 2024, meaning a greater proportion of animals were saved despite these challenges.

As these programs continue to make a 360-degree impact on Chicago’s shelter pets, our goal is for lifesaving to continue to improve in 2025. Together, we are building a stronger community where pets and families stay united, where fewer animals endure the uncertainty of shelter life and where homeless pets in Chicago not only survive but thrive.

That’s where PACE comes in! Say hello to our new virtual pet tracking system, PACE (PAWS Animal Care and Enrichment), a custom-developed Salesforce platform. 

PACE allows our PAWS-force to spend less time searching for pertinent information and more time snuggling, playing, and walking. PACE puts each animal's likes and dislikes, behavior management plans, walks, visits, and medical requirements in one easy-to-use, digital tool so teams can prioritize pets who need attention the most. 

The launch of PACE provides a snapshot of our entire Medical Center and Adoption Center population and moves PAWS away from paper and whiteboards to digital tablets and computers. 

The evolution of PACE will allow PAWS to optimize staffing and volunteer schedules, introduce enrichment and behavior opportunities and ensure tailored care for every animal at PAWS. 

All of this and more was made possible by your lifesaving support. Thank you for being part of our PAWS community and making such a difference for homeless pets. 

On the final day, 137 animals found their new families just in time for the holidays. Each adoption felt like a gift, not just for the pets but for the families who welcomed them. The sense of community and joy was palpable, as every adoption brought a new story of love and second chances. The event was more than just a success—it was a reminder of the power of compassion, and a perfect way to end the year by giving the greatest gift of all: a home. 

Since joining PAWS Chicago six months ago, Ashley has made an incredible impact. Her passion for animals and her desire to make a difference are evident in everything she does. "Growing up, I always knew I wanted to work with animals or help people in some way," Ashley shares. "At PAWS, I feel like I’m able to do both, and each day brings something new and exciting. I’m grateful for the versatile role, the endless possibilities, and, most importantly, the amazing team I get to work with."  

Her enthusiasm, combined with her dedication to PAWS’ mission, has made her an indispensable part of our team. 

Ashley’s colleagues have been equally impressed with her professionalism and positive attitude. When the PR department was undergoing a transition, Ashley immediately stepped up, taking on additional responsibilities without hesitation. One of her colleagues notes, "Ashley handled the transition with grace, organizing our media segments, building relationships with spokespeople, and staying ahead of upcoming needs. She took on such a big responsibility with such a positive attitude, and her help has been a huge asset to our team." Whether it’s managing multiple tasks or offering support to her teammates, Ashley is always ready to pitch in and lend a hand. 

Her infectious positivity, hardworking nature, and deep passion for the work we do at PAWS make Ashley a standout team member. Whether she’s meeting tight deadlines, brainstorming new strategies, or helping her colleagues in any way she can, she always does so with a smile and a can-do attitude. We’re incredibly grateful to have Ashley on our team and are excited to see all the amazing things she will continue to accomplish here at PAWS Chicago. Congratulations, Ashley—thank you for everything you do! Your contributions are truly appreciated. 

As an Adoption Service Associate, Jasmine facilitates the adoption process from start to finish. She’s responsible for welcoming guests, answering questions, processing applications, and assisting with adoptions and returns, all while promoting PAWS Chicago’s No Kill mission. She works closely with volunteers and interns to make sure every adoption goes smoothly, and her passion for animal welfare shines through with every interaction. 

Jasmine’s journey into animal welfare started long before she joined our team. "My passion for animal welfare and rescue started in high school when my family began taking care of a colony of cats outside," Jasmine shares. "We then started fostering dogs for a local rescue, and our first foster was an abandoned dog. I helped my mom with potential adopters, and there was nothing that felt better than finding this dog his perfect home." 

After transitioning from a career as a daycare teacher, Jasmine realized her true calling was animal rescue. She began volunteering at PAWS Chicago, becoming a Dog Town Level 2 volunteer and a First Shift Mentor, before ultimately joining our team as an Adoption Service Associate. "I love that I now get to work with animals and the people that make it all possible every day," she says. 

Outside of work, Jasmine shares her home with two rescue cats, Lilo and Presley, who add even more love and joy to her life. Jasmine’s dedication to animals and the people who support them makes her an invaluable member of the PAWS Chicago family. 

Thank you, Jasmine, for all that you do to help find loving homes for our animals and for making a difference in our community every day! 

Thanks to the dedicated care from our veterinary team and the love of a wonderful foster home, Fable and Legend began to thrive. Over time, the kittens regained their strength, their playful personalities emerged, and their eyes slowly opened to the world around them. By the time of our Adopt-A-Thon, they were completely ready for adoption, and the best part? They found their family the same day they arrived at our Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center! 

 "We saw Fable and Legend and knew they needed to be a part of our family. My two kids are loving the kitten fun, and we’re so happy these little fighters will get to grow up together," says adopter Jackie Payne. It’s a perfect ending to their story, and a reminder of how, with the right care and a little love, we can help animals overcome the toughest of beginnings. 

Fable and Legend's journey from sickly kittens to healthy, happy pets is a testament to the power of PAWS Chicago’s lifesaving work, and to the power of a community that believes every animal deserves a second chance. We couldn't be more thrilled for Fable and Legend as they start their new chapter—together, in a loving home! 

"He came in looking pretty rough," says Dr. Alicia Eisenstein, the Chief Medical Officer at PAWS Chicago. "His main issue was his eye—it was severely damaged. We knew immediately that we needed to remove it to get him out of pain." The surgery, known as enucleation, was essential to give Guinness relief from the excruciating inflammation caused by the ruptured eye. 

The trauma to his eye was severe. Dr. Eisenstein explains, "There are different reasons why a dog might need an enucleation—sometimes it's due to uncontrolled glaucoma, sometimes it’s trauma. In Guinness's case, we believe the rupture was caused by some kind of puncture trauma, which led to the eye filling with fluid and becoming extremely painful. Removing it was the only way to stop the pain." 

After the enucleation, Guinness began his recovery. "He was definitely more comfortable after the surgery. A lot of dogs are a little more friendly, a little less head-shy once they're out of pain," Dr. Eisenstein recalls.  

A week after the eye removal, Guinness underwent a thorough dental cleaning, addressing his serious dental disease. "Once we got his eye taken care of, we groomed him, cleaned his teeth, and gave him a fresh start. He really transformed," says Dr. Eisenstein.  

Guinness’s transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. His coat is now soft and shiny, and he loves to cuddle up with a plush squeaky toy or enjoy a walk through the neighborhood. Although Guinness had a rough beginning, he’s ready for a brighter future.  

"Guinness really is a second-chance dog," says Dr. Eisenstein. "He was passed by for a while, but once we got his health back on track, he really started to show his true potential. His story is a reminder that every dog deserves a chance, no matter what they’ve been through." 

And, luckily for Guinness, his new life is just beginning! His foster fell in love with his sweet demeanor and resilient attitude, so they decided to take the jump and adopt him into their family. 

Zane's new family first saw him on our website and immediately fell for his sweet face and big green eyes. Though Lisa Schoblasky wasn’t ready to adopt at the time, she kept him in mind. Months later, Zane was still available and, after meeting him at the October Meow Mixer, Lisa knew he was the right cat for her. 

“He was exactly what I was looking for—shy but playful, and good with other cats,” Lisa shares. And, of course, his adorable face and expressive eyes made it impossible not to fall in love. Lisa quickly decided his fresh start would begin with a new name—Ellis Bell. “His new name suits him,” Lisa says. “It's both serious and cute, just like him,” 

The first few weeks were a bit of an adjustment for Ellis. He was nervous and unsure about his new family but, in just five weeks, he’s made huge progress. He’s explored his new home and is slowly becoming more comfortable with his two new sisters. While he’s not quite ready for cuddles, Lisa is hopeful they’re not far off. “Every day he does something new that tells me he's getting more comfortable and confident,” she says. 

Ellis loves to play—whether it’s chasing his springs and catnip toys or playing with his sisters using the laser pointer. His playful spirit shines through, especially when he’s bonding with his new family. 

“I love everything about him,” says Lisa. “He’s a little marshmallow— I love how sweet, patient, and playful he is.” She also credits the PAWS team and Ellis’s previous foster mom for their support during his transition. “Ellis was really scared when he first came to me, and the support and encouragement from the PAWS staff and Ellis's previous foster mom were invaluable during this transition.” 

With each passing day, Ellis is settling in more comfortably, growing in confidence, and enjoying the love and care of his new family.  

For Zahir, that meant returning to PAWS when her adopter of six years could no longer care for her.  

Because Zahir was used to living in a home, she wasn’t a fan of our lively shelter environment, so we got to work finding her foster homes. Thanks to our incredible caretaker network, Zahir spent about six of the next seven months with five different, loving foster families.  

Then, something wonderful happened—Holly Van Deursen saw Zahir’s photo online and fate tugged at her heartstrings.  

“We found her on Petfinder, then on the PAWS website. We kept checking in on her profile for a few months until we closed on our new condo, then immediately requested to meet her,” says Holly. 

Their chemistry was immediate.  

“We were looking for an athletic dog who could walk outdoors with us in Chicago and Colorado, who was older, and who likes cats. She is all of that and more—sweet, well-trained, and funny,” says Holly.  

Today, Zahir’s adopted name is Zara and she’s head-over-heels in love with her new life.  

“Zara is doing great. She loves to jog, sleep, and play fetch with her ball. She also loves people. She has been to doggy daycare a few times and tries to hog all the staff hugs,” says Holly. 

Holly is especially grateful to Zara’s foster parents who took such good care of her prior to adoption.  

“Jasmine, one of Zara’s foster moms, is so cool. We met Jasmine at a park a few weeks after we adopted Zara, and Zara was thrilled! We hope to see Jasmine again in the New Year,” says Holly. 

Zara is now experiencing her first holiday season with her new family, and we’re so happy she’s with people who see all she has to offer.  

“Zara is special!” cheers Holly.  

Ready to find your own Zara?  

Meet Adoptable Pets

When a member of our team reached for Ziggy, she nuzzled into her palm as though it was the safest place on earth. 

Once back at the PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, we found a large open wound and multiple broken bones in Ziggy’s foot underneath that bandage, but we’re uniquely suited for a pet like Ziggy – with in-house medical capabilities to handle it all.  

Due to the extent of her injuries, Ziggy would need amputation surgery, which she received the very next day, and the day after, was picked up by a foster family to finish recovery with. 

But what Ziggy found there was far more than just some temporary comfort.   

The Miranda family initially signed up to be a short-term foster, not expecting to officially add to the family—but that’s exactly what happened. “We weren’t looking for the perfect pet, we just wanted to help,” her adopter, Susana Miranda explains. “But [Ziggy] found us, and our family feels more complete.” 

From the moment Ziggy, now known as Princess, arrived in the Miranda’s home, it was clear she was meant to be a part of their family. Although she was still healing, she was incredibly sweet, trusting, and gentle. “The amount of trust she shows toward us is amazing. She made herself at home right away and won the hearts of everyone,” Susana shares.    

Princess’ new family is looking forward to many happy years with her. “My children and I are very happy and grateful,” Susana says. Princess has truly found her happily-ever-after.

Meet Adoptable Pets

PAWS Chicago has proudly earned the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator, since 2003.

Additionally, GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information, has awarded us its Platinum Seal of Transparency—its highest level of recognition. The Platinum Seal recognizes our continued commitment to full public accountability for our work. By sharing mission-focused metrics, we give our supporters meaningful data to independently evaluate our performance and results.

Your trust means everything to us, and we’re grateful for your continued support in making a difference for Chicago’s homeless animals.

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Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune

Hawthorne’s thrived in clicker training class where his intelligence was put to use. However, he was still struggling to find a person who appreciated all he had to offer. This is, until he met Kathy Kiser.  

“When I got to PAWS, I met several cats first, but nothing clicked until I met Hawthorne. I feel like we are kindred spirits, and I liked the idea of adopting a cat that was having trouble finding their person,” recalls Kathy. 

So far, Hawthorne is doing a great job settling into his home. 

“We are still getting to know each other, but I am already seeing so much progress. I really want people to know that with patience, love, and respect even the tough cases can make amazing pets,” says Kathy.  

During their first week together, Hawthorne eagerly claimed Kathy as his person and wanted to be underfoot constantly.  

“As he got more confident, he started doing his own thing and finding the places and things that he likes. Now when he's close to me, it feels more like he wants to be there and not so much that he needs to be,” says Kathy.  

Kathy makes sure Hawthorne has lots of enrichment to keep his active mind occupied.  

“We have 2 or 3 play sessions each day when he starts getting restless, and I have continued his clicker training. He is starting to learn to interact in a more appropriate way and he is so much fun to interact with,” says Kathy.  

Hawthorne especially enjoys playing with wand toys, scratching his scratch pad, and trotting on his running wheel (when plied with treats). But that’s not all. 

“I now have a large box as a permanent fixture in my living room. He also loves watching TV. I started by turning on a nature channel, which he loved. I then noticed him watching intently when I was watching the news and other shows. Weirdly, he seems to like the morning news the best,” says Kathy.  

Every day, Kathy and Hawthorne’s bond blossoms a little more.  

“He is a really cool cat, and we just have such a strong connection. He is quirky and a little misunderstood but has a great heart and is extremely smart. I love how he likes to explore and sometimes, even when he doesn't want to be touched, he will lay next to me and scoot until he is as close as he can get so he is touching me,” says Kathy. 

In the end, Kathy and Hawthorne’s relationship is proof that love conquers all.  

“I really just want people to know that if they have time, love, patience, and a willingness to learn along with their animal, any problem can be overcome,” says Kathy. 

Ready to find your Hawthorne? 

Meet Adoptable Pets

Before the hurricane made landfall, many shelters were already at capacity with dogs and puppies waiting for homes. The storm only worsened the situation, displacing families and pets and leaving shelters with even less space to care for them. To help alleviate the strain, PAWS Chicago coordinated a life-saving transport effort, bringing in 16 dogs and puppies from Asheville, North Carolina, and another 21 from Tennessee.  

By rescuing these animals, we’ve freed up crucial space in shelters, allowing them to focus on reuniting families with their lost pets in the aftermath of the storm. Of the 37 dogs rescued, 15 have already found families here in Chicago. The rest are either waiting eagerly at our adoption center or getting essential care in foster homes or at our PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center.  

This rescue is just one part of our broader mission to provide timely and compassionate care for animals in need, no matter the circumstances. We’re so grateful for your support, which makes efforts like this possible. Stay tuned for updates on these sweet pups as they prepare for their new beginnings—thanks to your generosity, they’re one step closer to a happy, healthy life. 

Want to help? You can support our disaster relief efforts by donating today, or by adopting one of the wonderful dogs who made the journey to Chicago. Together, we can make a world of difference for animals in need! 

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Meet Adoptable Pets

When Topaz first came to PAWS Chicago, he was diagnosed with panleukopenia, a severe and often fatal viral infection. As a young kitten, his chances were uncertain, but Topaz wasn’t ready to give up. With aggressive treatment and a lot of tender love and care from our medical team, he made an incredible recovery. His will to live was unstoppable and, soon, we were able to celebrate his victory over the virus. 

But Topaz’s journey didn’t end there. Not long after, he was diagnosed with ringworm, a contagious fungal infection that requires patience and consistent care to treat. Though it’s another setback, Topaz is as strong as ever, and we’re confident he will come through this with flying colors, just like he did with panleukopenia. His foster says he hasn’t let any of his health issues slow him down. 

“Topaz is growing fast and is super playful!” says foster Rick Ree. “We’ve loved having him around.” 

Through it all, Topaz’s spirit has remained unshaken. He’s a friendly, playful little guy who loves to chase toys, climb cat trees, and snuggle with anyone who’s willing to give him a belly rub. With all of the safety precautions and PPE used by the PAWS medical team, we are able to ensure illneses like ringworm don't spread in our facilities. Despite the medical challenges Topza faced, his sweet nature shines through every day.  

Topaz’s story is one of hope and perseverance, a reminder that even the smallest of creatures can overcome enormous obstacles. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to give him the care he needed to get this far, and we’re excited to watch him continue to grow stronger. He’s not quite ready to be adopted, but if you’re interested in adding this tiny but mighty kitten to your family, keep an eye on our website for when he’s ready to go home! 

Meet Adoptable Pets

Last week, Chicago Animal Care & Control’s (CACC) new intake policy for healthy, free-roaming cats went into effect. The city impoundment facility will no longer take in healthy outdoor cats from the public. Instead, they are urging people to leave them where they are.  

We serve as a partner to CACC and understand that, between January and October 2024, intake at CACC has surged by 17% compared to last year due to post-COVID and economic issues, and that healthy cats are vulnerable to contagious disease at CACC. However, this policy can lead to unchecked growth of outdoor cat populations if all cats are not spayed/neutered. We have grave concerns about cats outdoors in Chicago’s urban, high-traffic environment, especially with harsh winter weather. We recommend that cats be kept indoors for their safety and well-being.  

As a community, we can all support the solution to pet overpopulation: spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR) services like those offered at PAWS Chicago. These programs are needed now more than ever.  

In response to these changes, PAWS Chicago will: 

• Prioritize and increase spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats and owned pets in under-resourced communities. Last year, PAWS performed 11,278 free and low-cost feral and domestic cat surgeries and we are increasing our capacity to do more.

• Continue to grow our Rescue Ready program, which provides free and subsidized spay/neuter surgeries for pets at CACC to encourage adoption and transfer by other rescue groups. In the last 14 months, PAWS has provided spay/neuter surgeries and veterinary care for nearly 1,000 CACC cats and dogs to make them ready for adoption by the public or transfer by other rescues. PAWS provided 747 of these surgeries at no cost to CACC cats and dogs, and 243 were at the highly subsidized rate of $65 for local rescues that received PAWS veterinary services when they transferred CACC cats and dogs into their adoption programs. 

• Host virtual workshops to teach caring community members how to help when you find outdoor cats in the winter months, including constructing winter shelters and how to integrate outdoor cats into your home. These workshops will begin on November 19.  

• Increase our focus on helping Chicago citizens who partner with us to save community cats. The PAWS “Chicago Citizen Cat Care” program will prioritize taking in outdoor cats from people who are fostering stray cats in their communities and add them to our intake list.  

• Continue to build innovative programs at Chicago Animal Care & Control – we will have more announcements soon. 

We need to come together as a community to help cats. PAWS and animal welfare shelters cannot do this in isolation – we need you! Here's how you can help:   

• Join our Citizen Cat Care Program and care for cats in your community.  

• When we find friendly cats among the feral population, we make every effort to bring them into our adoption program – please consider adopting.

• To learn how to participate in our TNR program.

• Open your home to a foster pet. 

• Build an outdoor cat shelter that will help during the cold winter months.

• Make a donation to support our free and low-cost spay/neuter and TNR for cats. 

  Together, we will make a brighter future for Chicago’s animals.

Save Homeless Cats Today!

Take a look at the Feral Feline Project map for more information regarding other animal shelters that are part of this mission and which Chicago areas they serve. 

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During her initial wellness exam, our medical team discovered that Tiki was suffering from severe dental disease. She would need multiple tooth extractions to relieve her suffering. 

Our dedicated medical staff sprang into action and, after surgery, Tiki was ready to start her healing journey. She moved into foster care, taking her first step toward the happy ending she had always dreamed of. 

In her foster home and finally feeling back to her old self, Tiki began to blossom. Her playful spirit emerged as she delighted her foster parents, Abby and Bailey, with her antics. She loved chasing string and feather toys, batting balls around, and soaking up the sun. Tiki also made sure to snuggle with her fosters, showing her gratitude for their love and care. 

One day, while Bailey’s parents were visiting, they met Tiki and instantly fell for her sweet demeanor. Having followed her progress through text and photo updates from their daughter, they knew she was special, and decided Tiki should permanently join the family. 

Now named Frosty, she quickly settled into her new home. “Frosty is an excellent cat and seems happy with us,” says adopter Caroline Pittman. “Her favorite activities include being brushed, getting her chin scratched, and exploring the house. She has especially taken a shine to my husband!” 

Tiki’s journey is just one of many heartwarming examples of how crucial fostering can be in helping animals find their perfect homes. If you’re interested in making a difference and being part of these life-changing milestones, apply to join our foster team today! 

Become a Foster

A blood test revealed that Ryder’s extreme muscle weakness and fatigue was due to a rare condition for us to see here at PAWS: myasthenia gravis. This disease interrupts the communication between nerves and muscles, which was why Ryder was struggling to walk and even swallow, as the muscles in his throat were also affected. Difficulty eating had caused him to aspirate food into his lungs, which led to aspirate pneumonia, but once we had his diagnosis in hand, it was time to get Ryder on the road to recovery. 

IV fluids and medications helped get essential fluids and nutrients into his body, and slowly but surely, Ryder improved. He got stronger and steadier on his feet and worked his way up to full meals. As he started to feel more like himself, Ryder would howl “happy roos” to his PAWS friends when he got excited to see them. He was always an affectionate pup, resting his head in any outstretched hand or pawing at you for more love, but his playful side really started to emerge once he moved to a foster home. 

Ryder spent lots of time recovering, cuddling, and playing with his foster family and their resident dog. He would follow their resident pup around the house, eventually asking her to prance and play. 

 “He was seriously the most loving, trusting dog from the moment we got him” said foster Mary Kate Callaghan, “We truly loved having him, and to watch him grow stronger and come out of his shell each day was the best.” 

During his foster stay, Frank Rogers, a family friend, came to visit and became smitten with Ryder. They took him on as a Help Me Heal pet, our foster-to-adopt program for injured pets.  

Rogers said, “From the first day we brought him home it was like he had always been here! He immediately fell in love with our large fenced in backyard where he can freely roam and chase squirrels and birds! We just love him! It’s like he belonged to us from Day 1. We can’t imagine being without him.” 

Ryder is now fully recovered and so strong that he goes on long walks every morning. Rather than starving on the streets, Ryder now sleeps in bed between his two parents, sunbathes in a big yard with his nose up to sniff the breeze, and naps his days away on his pick of comfy chairs throughout the house. Congratulations, Ryder!  

Watch Sylvia Perez on FOX Chicago's segment about Ryder. 

Watch Ryder's Story

Meet Adoptable Pets

“We noticed she looked just like my previous dog, Samson, who I had for almost 16 years before he passed away last October,” says Luis.  

They scheduled an adoption appointment and when they met Belle in person, it was instant love.  

“She was so sweet, and we loved how she would occasionally roll over onto her back so we could pet her stomach. She seemed to gravitate toward us naturally. She truly is a beautiful dog,” says Luis.  

Once home with Luis and Jennifer, Belle settled right in.  

“She loves being around us and already recognizes that ‘bye’ doesn’t really mean ‘bye,’ but in fact, means ‘see you later.’ We love seeing how fast her tail wags when we walk through the door,” says Luis.  

Today, Belle never has to worry about being overlooked—she's the darling of her household.  

“Belle loves chewing her favorite toys, getting plenty of cuddles from Jessica and me, and she really loves going to the dog park to run around. We also noticed that she loves to learn and is very food motivated, so we make sure to stock up on plenty of her favorite treats,” says Luis.  

To love and be loved in return is the greatest gift of all.  

“What I love most about Belle is how loyal she is. She loves following us around and laying down next to us as if she is constantly trying to comfort us and protect us. We make sure that the feeling is reciprocated,” says Luis.  

Ready to meet your own Belle?  

Meet Adoptable Pets

The sudden transition shocked Love. Heartbroken and scared, she stopped eating and developed anorexia. Her condition only worsened as her body lacked the nutrients to sustain itself. She developed a high fever and upper respiratory infection. Our team knew they had to act fast, putting her on oxygen treatments and installing a feeding tube to stabilize her.  

Once she was stable, it was clear she needed to be moved to a more comfortable environment. Our foster team quickly found someone to take her in and continue her road to recovery. 

Love was wary at first. The lack of stability in such a short amount of time had made Love lose her trust in humans. However, one of our incredible fosters was determined to get Love to... well... love again. Patience and perseverance allowed Love to open up at her own pace.  

“I was told she wasn’t eating at the Medical Center,” says foster Claire Gordon, “but when I opened the food bag, she came running and scarfed it all down–quite the appetite for such a small cat!” 

With just a change of scenery and a more comfortable environment, little by little, Love started to trust and return to her normal, cuddly self.  

“No matter where I was sitting or in what position, Love would immediately come right over and make herself comfortable on my lap,” says Gordon. “I spent a lot more time watching television than I normally would, just because when Love got comfortable, I couldn’t bear to move her!”  

After a few weeks in foster care, Love’s recovery was moving along. Not only was her health improving, but the shut-down cat had completely transformed into a lively feline full of love to give. 

It didn’t take long for the now confident, cuddly Love to find a new home. Thanks to the care from PAWS, Love learned not all change was bad and her new owner says she adapted quickly and is living up to her namesake as a bundle of love.      

Love is now safe and happy in a home, but each of the pets we take in are given our PAWS lifetime guarantee. As we say, “Once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet,” so no matter what happens in Love’s future, she always has a safe place with us. 

Become a Foster

Years later, Orion was found abandoned on the street. He was underweight and hurt. He was identified as a PAWS pet when his microchip revealed he started his journey here. PAWS took Orion back in and has been working diligently at making him healthy and strong again. He has spent a lot of time in foster homes, and, despite that abandonment, Orion has proven to be one of the sweetest, most affectionate dogs at PAWS.  

Despite his size – Orion is over 100 pounds -- he is very calm and is waiting for a best friend. He loves all humans and makes some adorable snorting sounds when he gets excited. He doesn’t mind chilling at home all day and does great when left alone. Ideally, his future home would have a yard he could soak up some sunshine in. If you’re looking for a big boy with an even bigger heart, Orion could be for you! 

Make an appointment or stop by the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center to meet Orion or dozens of other dogs and cats. 

Wanda is a ball of energy who is looking for someone to spend her days with, preferably in a quiet environment. As a small girl weighing in at less than 20 pounds, she can be a bit excitable and sensitive. She loves attention from people but would thrive in an otherwise pet-free household. A basic routine and some virtual training would do wonders for this lovable little girl! If you think Wanda would thrive in your home, please visit pawschicago.org to make an appointment to meet them at the PAWS Lincoln Park Adoption Center.

On Saturday, August 31st, PAWS is rolling out the red carpet by hosting a “Pup Premiere” Event! All pets at this event typically spend their time in foster homes rather than the adoption center because they prefer a home environment. This is a great opportunity to come meet and cuddle with a few new faces! For more information about this event, please visit pawschicago.org/puppremiere.

The PAWS Chicago team rushed him back to The PAWS Chicago Nan and Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, where he was in critical care for a week. The Medical Center was already stocked and ready for him so that he was guaranteed any care he needed. Over that week, that would end up being an IV, a feeding tube, nebulizer treatment, a plasma transfusion, and a blood transfusion.

Today, he’s a completely different dog! To see him beg for belly rubs and wag that tail now is the whole reason PAWS does this work. Freddy recently moved into a foster home to continue healing until he’s adoption ready.

You can check the PAWS Chicago website daily to see when Freddy arrives at the adoption center at 1997 N. Clybourn. PAWS recommends you make an appointment and take their ComPETibility quiz beforehand. That will help PAWS know if Freddy – or one of the dozens of other dogs are a good fit for your family.

Jordy loves to be in on the action, and already knows lots of commands like “sit, stay, and down”. If you are a runner or are a high energy person who can match Jordy's intensity, he will reward you with his forever love. Forty-pound Jordy is a snuggler once he’s spent his energy, so you and your family will reap the benefits.

If you have a yard, Jordy will show off for you – he loves to play fetch, particularly if you have treats at the ready. He’s particularly fond of a daily KONG toy, if you want a quick way to his heart.

Come visit Jordy at the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center at 1997 N. Clybourn. PAWS recommends you make an appointment and take our ComPETibility quiz beforehand. That will help PAWS know if Jordy – or one of the dozens of other dogs are a good fit for your family.

Just hours after they brought Wrigley home, he jumped off the couch and broke the other front leg. They rushed him to their veterinarian, and after learning his leg was broken, decided to surrender him to PAWS.  

The same day he arrived, we were able to get Wrigley into surgery to fix his fractured leg. PAWS Chicago Verterinary Surgeon Dr. Jackie Zdziarski-West performed the surgery, placing a plate across his radius and ulna to strengthen his bones while he healed.  

Then it was time for weeks of very important rest and relaxation! Wrigley went to a foster home with two other dogs who took very good care of him, always ready to be his cuddle buddies or gently play with him. After so much change in so little time, little Wrigley was understandably nervous, but his foster home gave him comfort and new friends. 

Now, Wrigley is finishing recovery in a Help Me Heal home, our foster-to-adopt program for healing pets who still have check-ups with our veterinarians before clearing for adoption. During this time, PAWS covers all medical care, but pets like Wrigley get a head start on settling into their future home! 

Help Me Heal pets like Wrigley can be found on our website with the rest of their adoptable friends! Eligible pets will have their profile flagged “Help Me Heal” on our Adopt page.  

Meet Adoptable Pets

Silk is a special cat. She has been diagnosed with pica, an eating disorder that causes a desire to eat non-food items with no nutritional value. PAWS knows that having a buddy living with a pica cat helps them stay relaxed in their environment, leading to a decrease in pica related behaviors.

If you think Silk would thrive in your home, please visit pawschicago.org to make an appointment to meet them at the PAWS Lincoln Park Adoption Center. A fun way to help pets like Silk is to participate in the upcoming PAWS Chicago 5K. Taking place on September 7th at Montrose Harbor, thousands of people will be walking and running to raise awareness and fundraise for the homeless pet population of Chicago. It’s an end of summer party with a festival feel that is perfect for families and friends to send summer off with one last hurrah!

Learn more and register for the event at pawschicago.org/5k

Takeshi was also a bit shy at first, possibly because he did not feel great. The PAWS teams wasted no time and went to work. The veterinary team treated his pneumonia and gave him a full medical exam and treatment while other team members worked on his shyness and confidence.

He’s a different animal now. He’s energetic, loving and looking for his person. If that is you, make an appointment to meet him at the PAWS Lincoln Park Adoption Center.

Mandy likes to play hard to get. She's a bit shy at first, but after just a few minutes --- and if you come with treats and toys especially – she will warm right up to you and be by your side all day.

Mandy is part of the PAWS "Big Love" Adoption Event on Saturday (July 20). PAWS is waiving adoption fees on all dogs 40 pounds and above. These pups need some love and attention and you might just be the one they need.

If you have room in your home and your heart for the big guys, come down to PAWS and spend your money instead on toys and treats for Mandy and her big buddies.

Chaired by PAWS Board of Directors member Ed Carey, 144 golfers enjoyed a beautiful day on the links. After golfing, Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren served as the event’s keynote speaker at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL. Warren, a passionate animal lover and the owner of a mixed breed dog named Luna, didn’t take long to prove his affection for animals, nuzzling several adoptable PAWS pups on the way to his seat.

Warren spoke about the importance of community, coalition building, and how the Bears could be an important partner in the post-pandemic economic development of Chicago. During the event’s live auction, Warren also raised his paddle to make a personal donation to PAWS. 

Barstool Sports also attended the Golf Open and made a meaningful impact. PAWS already enjoys a relationship with Dan “Big Cat” Katz of Barstool Sports and his Stella Blue Coffee brand, named after Katz’s dog, Stella, whom he adopted from PAWS in 2013. Stella Blue donates a portion of its proceeds to PAWS. While at the golf course, Barstool’s Jersey Jerry fell in love with an 8-month-old, brown-and-white dog named Ruffles. He adopted her the very next day and, that night, hosted his streaming show “Jerry After Dark,” turning the program into a fundraiser for PAWS. The show, including a match from Big Cat, raised over $13,000 for PAWS, in honor of alums Ruffles and Stella. 

Warren, Jersey Jerry, and other PAWS supporters were greeted by CBS anchor/reporter Suzanne LeMignot, a long-time friend of the organization who once again welcomed golfers and guests as the dinner’s emcee. LeMignot, a member of the PAWS board, launched the CBS2 PAWS Pet of the Week more than 20 years ago to spotlight adoptable PAWS dogs and cats. The golf outing was featured on the CBS2 evening news to discuss the importance of raising funds during the current national shelter overcrowding crisis impacting Chicago. 

The golf open is proving to be not just an important fundraiser for PAWS, but also a key factor in building and expanding engagement throughout our animal-loving community. 

Pictured below: Jersey Jerry and Ruffles, his new best friend. 

Each week, scores of them end up each week at Chicago Animal Care & Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, where they can be transferred for rescue and given a safe place to get their kittens big and strong. PAWS Chicago got to be the knight in shining armor for Rapunzel and her seven babies: Aladdin, Jasmine, Phillip, Charming, Erica, Tiana, and Aurora. After making sure everyone was healthy, they moved into one of our amazing foster homes for a quiet, private environment to focus on the very important task of gaining weight.  

During the first two months of kittens’ lives, it’s incredibly important that they continuously put on a lot of weight. Foster families help track this progress each week to make sure no one is falling behind in getting the crucial nutrients they need to thrive. Mom can also get too caught up in caring for her little ones that her own health starts to suffer, so it’s equally important that she keeps her belly full.  

Food can truly be lifesaving care in these instances, and these families go through a lot of it during these two months. That's why we’re incredibly thankful for our feeding partner, Purina, for providing all the food for every cat in our care!  

All that hard work has paid off for Rapunzel and the kittens, who have since found loving families!  

Foster homes are a crucial part of saving cats like Rapunzel, especially during kitten season. If you’re interested in the endless entertainment that is kitty families, we need you now! 

Become a Foster

Kasia had been left tied up outside Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, and she was too scared to eat or play at first. But, as you can see, that’s not the real Kasia at all. The love and patience of the amazing CACC staff and volunteers soon got Kasia out of her shell, rolling in the grass and giving kisses like she was getting paid for it. 

PAWS Chicago then met Kasia through our Rescue Ready Program. With limited medical staffing at CACC, we’re providing spay/neuter surgeries and vetting for CACC’s large-breed pups so they can be adopted straight from CACC. In many cases, like Kasia’s, we even go one step further and bring them into our program to find a home.  

After just two weeks at our Adoption Center, Kasia found an adoring family, and, today, she’s living her best life because of you! 

Ruffles is one of our proud parvo survivors. When a pup finally beats parvo, they get a post-parvo bath to say “see ya” to our ICU. It’s a huge celebratory moment here at PAWS, and it sure was adorable celebrating this little lady! 

With our new Parvo Puppy Program, PAWS has committed to taking all CACC parvo puppies, like Ruffles, so they have access to every resource at our Medical Center—including the new Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody, which cuts ICU time down from weeks to days.  

After clearing for adoption, Ruffles attended our 2024 Peter Fasses Golf Open where she met her new family. We’re so happy for this little potato chip. Because of your support, there’s a long, happy life to be had after parvo. 

Madison and her 1-week-old babies were dropped off at CACC in a box while our intake team was there transferring pets. Moments later, they were in the PAWS van heading back with us! 

As part of our Diversion Program, PAWS Chicago is now accepting pets directly from the public, sparing them from entering CACC and preventing them from being exposed to contagious illnesses. 

Our foster team immediately moved Madison and her babies into a cozy foster home. After two months, they were perfectly plump and ready for adoption. Today, thanks to your support, Madison and all four of her babies (Kinzie, North, Lasalle, and Hubbard) have found loving homes. 

When Helena first came to PAWS a few weeks ago, the team quickly realized Helena enjoys treats, playing outside, and basking in the sunlight. A confident girl, Helena gets along with other dogs and will be happy to play with your resident pup.

She is ready to move right in and she’s asking you to give her that second chance at a happy life. So if you are looking to expand your family by four paws, come to PAWS Chicago to meet Helena.

If you are in Roscoe Village Sunday afternoon, come see more than 40 adoptable dogs and cats along the sidewalks of 34 storefronts on W. Roscoe Street. It's PAWS Chicago's Angels With Tails in Roscoe Village. Noon to 4 p.m. For more information, go to PAWSChicago.org/AngelsWithTails.

Atlanta has spent time in a foster home, so we know she gets along with other dogs, and she's a smart girl who learns quickly. When she sleeps, she kicks her legs and sounds out some muffled "woofs." Atlanta loves the company of people, particularly snuggles and nuzzles. She loves fuzzy dog toys. Pardon her if she is shy at first but once you are her person, there is no looking back for Atlanta. Make an appointment today to see her – maybe you're the match she needs!

PAWS Chicago would like to remind you that the July 4 weekend can be stressful for your pets. Loud noises, such as fireworks, often scare pets, so make a safe, soothing space for them in the interior of your home. Consider playing classical music or white noise to drown out noise and soothe them while outside noises persist. Make sure your doors all remain closed – a scared pet often scurries away. Be safe and protect your 4-legged friends!

Rico is a year and a half old, Rico learns new tricks and games constantly. Personally, he is a fan of playing fetch and having a tug of war.

Like so many PAWS Chicago pets, Rico spent some time in foster care, so the PAWS teams know a lot about him. While in foster care, Rico did lots of training and learned "sit" "stay" "down" and "wait." His next trick will be to steal your heart, when you come to the PAWS Chicago Adoption Center.

If you can’t adopt, consider a donation. The annual PAWS Chicago Giving Day was Thursday, but was extended. A generous donor wanted to keep the great momentum and is offering $10,000 in matching funds. So your gift right now counts twice as much and will do two times the lifesaving work. Go to the PAWS Chicago Giving Day webpage and give what you can to the homeless pets of Chicago.

Now, Jersey wasn’t meant to be a…..tab-by cat……so the PAWS veterinary team removed the soda can tab. Unfortunately, the tab injured his toe to badly that it needed to be amputated. But don’t shed any tears for Jersey – he is at the PAWS Adoption Center as maybe the happiest cat there – like nothing ever happened to him.

Jersey is available for adoption, and you can come meet him at the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center. 

PAWS Chicago helps thousands of homeless pets like Jersey every year and because of the post-pandemic surge in homeless pets, PAWS is doing more than ever for them. June 20 is PAWS Chicago's annual Giving Day. PAWS is 100 percent funded by private donations and every dollar goes to saving the lives of homeless pets. Please give if you can. Go to pawschicago.org/givingday for details.

Hawk is a bit of an all-or-nothing guy - he will spend most of the day lounging around and enjoying much slumber, but if he knows you are going out, he gets very excited to go on a long walk with you.

This 50-pound boy loves to play, is housebroken and has learned some tricks. He has done some clicker training, about 10 minutes a day in his foster home. He picked up “sit” and “down” right away, and if you are armed with a bagful of treats, he will show off for you and want to learn more tricks.

He loves his toys, including a daily frozen KONG, and does well in a crate overnight. So Hawk has all the tools to make a great addition to your family.  Come meet him today at the PAWS Adoption Center!

To get them back on track, we found a foster home where they could start recouping together. After a couple weeks of fattening up, this adorable duo was finally ready for a home which is when they met David Elliot.  

In their initial meeting, Levi and Lyndon sparked David's attention, showing cautious curiosity and affection. It didn't take long before David was smitten and decided to adopt.  

Now safe in their new home, Levi and Lyndon are still adjusting, but they're also making great progress.  

I'm still working through the bumps. Lyndon lets me pet him he has really soft fur. And Levi, just yesterday, let me pet him without having to bribe him with food, says David.  

While Levi, Lyndon, and David are still finding their groove together, it's important to remember that becoming a family takes time. Little bumps in the road are part of the journey, and we are so grateful David decided to give these cats a second chance.  

It's still a work in process, but they're sleeping under my bed, and I'm making a little bit of progress every day, says David. That's the power of love.  

Ready to find your own Levi and Lyndon?

Meet Adoptable Pets

Antibiotics, oxygen treatment, and a nebulizer twice a day for a week helped Lambert get that all cleared up, but it\u2019s been difficult for this 1-year-old pup to breathe his whole life due to his flat-faced features. Lambert is brachycephalic, meaning he was born with obstructed airways that make it harder to breathe, cool down, and make him more sensitive to overheating. 

We then provided Lambert with a Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) surgery to resect those obstructing nares and expand his airways, drastically improving his quality of life. The surgery went incredibly well, and he was ready to get started on his new life after just a few days post-operation! With his contagious smile and affectionate nature, Lambert quickly found a home and a family to stop and smell all the flowers with him.  

At PAWS, we\u2019re not just focused on the lifesaving treatments, but the ways we can help make the rest of these pets' lives the happiest and healthiest they can be as we send them off with loving families.  

Happy trails, Lambert! 

Meet Adoptable Pets

The next wave of reporting—looking at potential solutions—has begun. Recently, NBC Palm Springs spoke to PAWS Chicago Founder and Executive Chair Paula Fasseas to discuss the 27-year-history of PAWS and the importance of community outreach in containing shelter populations. The story noted the PAWS’s 98 percent save rate and called the organization “a national model for the No Kill movement.” 

Fasseas stressed the importance of high-volume spay and neuter surgery programs for underserved neighborhoods, noting that PAWS performs more than 15,000 free and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries each year to control pet overpopulation. But the secret to our lifesaving work is you: Community engagement is key.  

“The community...they want to help. We just have to give them a vehicle and that vehicle is an agency that is proactive, that believes in No Kill, and, when the public trusts you and partners with you, that are there to help you,” said Paula. 

She added that if a region has a robust and affordable spay/neuter program for the community, that every other issue is “solvable.” 

Watch the Story

The PAWS team fixed up an injury in her Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL), in her knee, that otherwise would have resulted in early arthritis, but she is all healed now and ready to play. At another shelter, her injury may not have been treated, meaning she might have lived in chronic pain.

Nutella is a playful, happy girl who wants to increase your family by one heartbeat and four paws. Come meet her today. Make an appointment and take the PAWS ComPETibility quiz at pawschicago.org/adopt to make sure you are matched up with a pet that meets your needs and fills your heart.

Kuzko has a suppressed immune system. He has feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), so it’s important that he has regular visits to the vet so he can get his necessary checkups. You would never know anything was wrong with him, because Kuzko is the sweetest cat who loves to give affection. 

The PAWS training staff has spent a lot of time with Kuzko. Among the tricks he has learned is to give you a high five.  He also knows how to spin around – if there’s a treat for him post-spin. 

You can learn more about Kuzko and make an appointment to meet him here. 

Brave Darwin never seemed in pain,but his eye was at risk for major complications such as cancer, glaucoma and other conditions. The PAWS vet staff originally thought his eye needed to be removed, but prior to his surgery, Dr. Jennifer Nevis determined he had vision and decided to attempt saving the eye instead.

So Darwin underwent a different surgery, after which his ey ewas closed for about a week of healing before his sutures were removed. Eventually his eye opened up and his corneal scar will diminish with time, but may never fully disappear. Darwin, of course doesn’t seem to be bothered by any of this. He’s just as playful and cuddly, if not more, than any other kitten. He is currently up for adoption. He loves toys of any kind and sleeping belly up in his person’s arms. He really took to his canine foster brother, and loves everyone he meets, no matter the species. Come meet him at the PAWS Adoption Center, and learn more about him at pawschicago.org.

PAWS Chicago took Cardi in. Once safe at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center & Lurie Clinic, we discovered that her blindness was due to an untreated thyroid disease. On top of that, she was diagnosed with kidney disease.  

It took careful medication, the surgical removal of her thyroid gland, and lots of snuggles but we finally got Cardi feeling better and ready for a new home. That's when she met Meg and Scott Radliff.  

\u201cWhen we came to PAWS, we specifically said we were interested in senior cats. Cardi's foster mom, Brandy, overheard us and excitedly started telling us about Cardi. Brandy was so informative and passionate, and clearly so in love with Cardi, that we were able to look past the blindness and kidney disease and thyroid removal to see how rewarding it would be to care for and love Cardi,\u201d says Scott Radliff.

When Scott, Meg, and Cardi finally met, it was magic.  

Cardi, she had no hesitation in crawling all over us and just letting us know that she approved of us. We are big believers in the cats choosing us just as much as us choosing the cats, and it was clear that Cardi was choosing us, says Scott.  

For a blind cat, settling into a new space has its challenges, but Scott and Meg did a great job helping Cardi adjust, gradually opening up new spaces for her to explore.  

We wanted her to be fully comfortable in the available space before introducing more. We are overjoyed at each new milestone that might be ordinary for a sighted cat, such as climbing up and down from the couch or using the stairs next to the radiator to find a warm place for a nap, says Scott.  

Today, Cardi couldn\u2019t be comfier in her adopted home.  

She loves to cuddle and loves getting her tummy rubbed. She is happiest being cuddled on your left shoulder with her nose in your ear, says Scott.  

Ready to find your Cardi?

See Adoptable Pets

Her condition suggested months of neglect. She didn't need a complicated surgery or intensive care; Bria needed the basic love and care that every pet deserves, and it broke our hearts to see her missing out on that for so long.

To help her heal, we piled on the TLC, paired with medicated baths every few days to help with her itchy, inflamed skin. She soon moved into a foster home for a month of recovery in a comfortable home, and it was there that she finally got a chance to be a dog.

Bria's foster reported that she didn't understand toys at first, but soon learned her favorites were the tough toys that made for great tug of war and rounds of fetch. Instead of sleeping in a cage, she naps in laps, and her fosters joked that \u201cshe\u2019s not just a lap dog, she\u2019s more like a chest dog, because she loves to be as close to your face as possible.

Today, her dry, painful skin has been replaced with a beautiful coat, her spirit is renewed, and her very bright future has just begun. 
 
Ready to make a homeless pet\u2019s biggest dream come true, just like Bria? Meet our pets looking for loving homes!

See Adoptable Pets

During the initial physical exam we are looking for signs of infection, parasites, skin and coat abnormalities, pain, abnormal heart and lung sounds, and congenital defects (something they are born with) such as a cleft palate or hernia. We also check any surgeries done at the shelter (i.e. spay, neuter) are healing properly and ensure the proper dentition (teeth) is present. This is why it is important to schedule your first visit as soon as possible after adoption so that any abnormalities or illnesses can be caught and addressed early. At VCA with the Healthy Start Certificate we will cover treatments and testing up to $500 for newly adopted pets from PAWS that become sick or injured in the first two weeks. So the sooner you bring them to us, the sooner we can find and address these issues and get your new friend feeling 100% again.

We will then spend time discussing with you the recommended annual vaccines for your pet and make any recommendations for vaccine boosters needed now if indicated. This is not only important to ward off any potentially deadly diseases for your new pet, but also to protect you and your family as there are some illnesses that our pets can get that can be spread to us, which is called a zoonotic disease. For instance, Rabies, Leptospirosis, and various parasites, including mites and intestinal worms, are all potentially zoonotic diseases. Keeping up with annual vaccinations is especially important for your pets to keep them healthy long term from these preventable diseases. This way they can live a long, happy, and healthy life without any chronic conditions from a preventable disease.

This brings us to a discussion about bugs! The annual fecal analysis tests for intestinal parasites. Even if your pet is not showing symptoms (asymptomatic), they can still carry and spread these parasites around to others or cause more subtle symptoms such as weight loss and chronic, recurring diarrhea. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and found across the USA. At my clinic we even diagnosed a dog with Heartworm disease this April in Chicago! It is a very difficult and costly disease to treat and takes about a year to fully eliminate. This is why annual heartworm testing is recommended. Heartworms are literally worms that grow in the pet’s heart so these worms can leave a lot of lasting damage to the heart and lungs in their wake. In severe cases, heartworm disease can even lead to death. While most people don’t want fleas and ticks in their homes, these bugs can also spread diseases

to humans and animals, plus flea and ticks bites can be itchy and leave behind skin lesions. Fleas can spread tapeworms to animals and ticks can spread Lyme disease, Anaplasma, or Ehrlichia to people and animals, which can cause various illnesses. Luckily, there are numerous products available to prevent intestinal parasites, heartworm disease, fleas, and ticks. This all might seem overwhelming that there are so many possible illnesses, but with following your veterinarian’s recommendations, these infections, diseases, and parasites are all easily avoided.

There are many diet options available these days and your veterinarian can talk you through these based on your pet’s health, lifestyle, and age. Pet insurance, or at least an emergency pet health fund, is highly recommended for all new puppy and kitten owners to obtain while your pets are young and otherwise healthy. This way if your curious kitten or puppy eats something they shouldn’t or trips and hurts their leg or injures themselves or gets sick in another way, you have peace of mind while you access emergency care. There are many insurance companies available now that offer pet coverage. You should do your own research to find a company and plan that works best for your family. Keep in mind for most plans you must pay your veterinarian up front and the insurance company will reimburse you directly after you submit a claim, unlike in human medicine. Your veterinarian’s office can help guide you and make recommendations on specific pet insurance companies. There are also plans available for wellness coverage. At VCA we offer Care Club wellness plans to cover preventative medicine such as vaccines, routine exams, lab work, and heartworm and fecal testing. For young pets, training and socialization is key because when they are young they are highly impressionable and therefore, highly trainable. But this must be done carefully to ensure they are not exposed to diseases they are not yet immune to. Your veterinarian can guide you through how to do this safely. Puppy training classes and trainings offered at PAWS and other shelters or pet stores are a great place to start.

To summarize, it is important to have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian right away after adoption to catch, treat, or prevent diseases early. It’s also important to allow for learning about how to keep your new pet healthy. And also to make sure you get your questions answered and form a patient-client-veterinarian relationship in case you have any questions down the line. We want to ensure your pet is safe and healthy from the start so they can live a happy and quality life with you and accompany you for years to come

Caesar also enjoys laying claim to his realm of toys and for all his pomp, just wants a companion who respects his status and then, after that….cuddles.

Caesar came to PAWS as a stray – he's housebroken and loves getting attention. We don’t yet know if he loves salad or not. Time will tell.

He is available now and is part of the PAWS Spring Adopt-a-Thon, which ends Saturday, May 11. PAWS has extra staff and volunteers, longer hours and of course more lovable dogs and cats who would love nothing more than to add four legs to your family today! Visit pawschicago.org to see available pets and make your adoption appointment.

Olina gets along with all people. She loves cheese. Her favorite activity – well it’s a tie between long walks outside and warm snuggles inside with herperson at night. She is housebroken and isn’t too fond of the vacuum or fireworks, but who can blame her?

Olina is a great listener who has learned some basic commands. She will follow you everywhere in your home and loves to rest her head on your shoulder when you’re on the couch. You can visit her at the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center, 1997 N. Clybourn.

PAWS recently announced the Chicago Animal Crisis Fund to allow Chicagoland pet lovers to support the expanded programs that PAWS has introduced. To help save the lives of Chicago's homeless pets, or for more information go to pawschicago.org/crisisfund. Also consider adopting, fostering or volunteering at PAWS Chicago, but please donate if you can.

Sally came to PAWS Chicago late last year with multiple leg fractures and has become very familiar to the PAWS veterinary staff. Fortunately, Sally has spent a lot of her recovery time in foster homes so we know she is a city girl through and through. Loud noises and crowded city streets do not bother her.

When you do get home from your walk with Sally, she will gladly cuddle with you on the couch or play with her dog toys.

Sally is looking for a home through the PAWS Help Me Heal program, a foster-to-adopt program that ensures that Sally will get everything she needs to heal properly – all at PAWS Chicago’s expense – until she is officially cleared for adoption. That is a win-win-win situation for everyone. Visit pawschicago.org to learn more about Sally and the Help Me Heal program.

PAWS recently announced the Chicago Animal Crisis Fund to allow Chicagoland pet lovers to support the expanded programs that PAWS has introduced. To help save the lives of Chicago's homeless pets, or for more information go to pawschicago.org/crisisfund. Also consider adopting, fostering or volunteering at PAWS Chicago, but please donate if you can.

Last year, CACC took in almost 1,200 more pets than the year before. PAWS Chicago, the largest transfer partner of CACC transferred about 40 percent more pets from the pound, or around 600 more dogs and cats, to help offset the increases, but euthanasia still rose by 22 percent. So far in 2024, the number of dogs and cats – like Tyson – entering the Chicago city pound continues to surge, so PAWS Chicago has to do more to save the lives of homeless pets.

PAWS recently announced the Chicago Animal Crisis Fund to allow Chicagoland pet lovers to support the expanded programs that PAWS has introduced. To help save the lives of Chicago's homeless pets, or for more information go to pawschicago.org/crisisfund. Also consider adopting, fostering or volunteering at PAWS Chicago, but please donate if you can.

Over the next year, Leah stayed in four different foster homes while she searched for the right person. Like many dogs, Leah was not a fan of shelter life. She couldn’t help being anxious at our Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center, which deterred some adopters. But not Angela Boomsma. 

“I saw her on the website and read how well she was house trained and how she was good at being home alone, even liked it! I work in healthcare, so this was great,” says Angela, “Then, I met her in person at PAWS Chicago and started off fostering.” 

Leah was in our “Foster First” program, which meant Angela could take her home with the full support of PAWS resources while they got to know each other.  

“I was able to talk with several staff members at PAWS to learn more about her personality. It was great to get feedback from those who cared for her and even fostered her,” explains Angela.  

Setting boundaries and consistent schedules helped Leah feel safe and cared for. And after a couple of weeks getting their routine down, Angela happily made the adoption official. 

“It has always been on my heart to rescue and help those, humans and dogs, that need it most. After hearing about her past, I couldn't get it out of my head or heart to not have her as part of my family,” says Angela.  

Along with her adoption, Leah now has a new, adopted name.  

“I changed her name, well extended her name, to Deliah. Pronounced ‘Deel-Leah.’ It comes from the Greek name, Delia, meaning ‘often overlooked and forgotten about.’ It also means ‘dark.’ I thought this was a perfect way to adapt her name and honor not only her dark coloring but also her past,” says Angela.  

Now settled in, Leah is getting the chance to be the best version of herself.  

“She is a snuggle bug who loves her beds and blankets. She loves visits from her extended family and is getting known around the neighborhood. We've even started running together. And she enjoys the large squirrel population outside her front windows,” says Angela 

All in all, Angela can’t say enough good things about her new best friend.  

“She is very comfy and cozy, literally. I love how smart she is. She has picked up on new directions and commands very quickly. She remembers things and people well. And she shows more and more of her sweet personality every day!” says Angela.  

Ready to find your Leah?  

See Adoptable Pets

A recently featured pet was a puppy named Gus, whom we met when a Good Samaritan came to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), the city impoundment facility, rushing in with Gus in their arms after finding him on the side of the road. It seemed Gus suffered some trauma; he may have been hit by a car or attacked by another animal. He was crying in pain, his pulse was racing, and his heartbeat was faint—­­­all while suffering from a fever, cuts on his back, extensive bruising, and swelling to his leg. 

The PAWS intake team was at CACC when Gus arrived and rushed him back to the Medical Center for treatment, where an X-ray showed he also suffered from a broken pelvis. The PAWS veterinary team placed an IV catheter, a challenging task due to his low blood pressure, and was able to get fluids into his system, which improved his blood flow, pulse, and temperature. After two rounds of IV fluids, pain medication, antibiotics, and lots of rest, Gus was finally stable and his frail body started to heal.   

Day by day, he was able to put more weight on his leg and his cuts healed, and we could easily track his broken bones’ progress with the imaging equipment at our Medical Center. Puppies are healing machines, and Gus is no exception—he healed wonderfully! The best news of all is that a healthy Gus showed off his personality and puppy energy and found a loving family he now calls his own. 

Like so many other medical success stories at PAWS Chicago, Gus’s story and profile on Fox 32 helped engage the viewing audience on the plight of homeless pets, bringing more people into our mission, and helping us save more lives.

The saddest of those circumstances is when a pet becomes homeless due to their owner passing away, and that’s what happened for PAWS alum Tahiti, who had been adopted back in 2016 as a kitten. We were notified by Lexington Animal Control in Kentucky that Tahiti had arrived with another cat, 12-year-old Zoey, whose health was declining. Although we didn’t know Zoey, we arranged for a volunteer to go pick them both up and bring them back to PAWS for care. 

Once they arrived, we had an urgent care room ready for Zoey. She was extremely weak, dehydrated and experiencing anorexia, but a few days of fluids and medications helped get her stable enough to be reunited with Tahiti.  

Any time two pets come in together, they are evaluated by our behavior team to determine if they’re bonded. Tahiti and Zoey were indeed a bonded pair, and although healthy Tahiti wasn’t the one who needed our help the most, our care for his companion also provides care for him because he wouldn’t be the same without Zoey by his side.  

It has been about 2 months since Tahiti and Zoey made the trip here from Kentucky, and they are guaranteed any care they both need now until their adoption day. In addition, we’ll always be here if they need us again in the future – if something happens and their new owner can no longer care for them, we will always take them back. Our new feeding partner, Purina, helps us make that possible by feeding all our cats no matter where they are in their PAWS journey: recovering at our Medical Center, relaxing in foster care, awaiting homes at our Adoption Center, and even sending new adopters home with food to get them started! 

Tahiti and Zoey both need dental surgery, which they’ll receive at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center. In the meantime, they’ve been snuggling up in the comfort of a foster home. When they’re ready, we’ll help them find a home together to live out their golden years! 

See Adoptable Pets

PAWS Chicago is uniquely positioned to treat parvo in the shelter environment, with 9 full-time veterinarians and a medical staff of about 40 people, as well as 90 isolation units for animals with contagious diseases and viruses. 

In mid-February, PAWS took in 11 dogs, each of whom tested positive for parvovirus and entered our intensive care unit. Ranging in age from 2 months to 5 years old, parovirus was affecting each dog differently. Most of the dogs were depressed and lethargic, a common sign of parvovirus. 

Among the most critical patients were 2-year-olds Pinky and Pancetta. Pancetta spent six days in critical care, hooked up to IV fluids and medication, a feeding tube, and received three plasma transfusions during that time. The PAWS Medical team knew Pancetta was turning the corner when he finally took his first bite of food on his own, earning himself cheers from his team of veterinarians and technicians. 

At only 7 pounds, Pinky fought alongside Pancetta for those six days, also receiving IV fluids, two plasma transfusions, and was syringe fed.  

One of the celebratory events at the PAWS Medical Center in Little Village is the "Parvo Bath." Upon receiving a clean bill of health for parvo and clearance to leave the isolation wards, each dog receives a cleansing parvo bath, along with some pampering, to continue on their journey torwards adoption. When the dogs receive these baths, the hard-working PAWS teams celebrate their hard work and the pets' fighting spirit. 

After two weeks of care, all 11 dogs officially became parvovirus survivors, and and got to move on to the next step of their journey: additional medical exams and attention on their way to finding a home. As of today, nine of them have found loving families, one is in foster care with a potential adopter and brave boy Perry recently became adoption eligible after undergoing other minor medical issues. 

Hercules spent a few weeks at PAWS Chicago's Little Village Medical Center while the medical team got Hercules back to his happy, healthy self! Now, he's living it up in foster care while he looks for a home. 

His foster reports that Hercules loves to share your bed, enjoys being brushed and he uses the cutest little meows to charm everyone he meets. 

Hercules is excited to live the life of an indoor cat now! Because of his compromised immune system, he needs regular visits to the vet, but he will reward you with snuggles, purrs and plenty of love. 

Read more about Hercules on his adoption page and with a couple of clicks, you can start the process of expanding your family by four paws. 

Minnie was very shy and frightened at first, but PAWS Chicago emphasizes two things – behavior training and allowing pets to first live in foster homes if necessary to become more comfortable and confident. The PAWS team worked with Minnie to build her confidence and she spent time with a loving foster family. She is still a bit shy at first, but she quickly bonds with people who give her the attention she deserves. 

Minnie is a sponge when it comes to training and learning so you will get back a lot more than you give to her. Meet her today at the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center. You can start the process by filling out the PAWS Chicago ComPETibility Quiz. 

At the PAWS Chicago Medical Center & Lurie Clinic, we discovered Edgar had untreated diabetes so advanced that his back legs weren’t fully functional. We slowly administered insulin and outfitted Edgar with a glucose monitoring device that allowed our team to track his progress 24/7. 

Out of danger, Edgar moved into a foster home to recover and continue figuring out the correct timing and dosage of insulin for his body. It took a few months, but once Edgar’s diabetes was under control, it was finally time for him to find a permanent home. 

Edgar moved on to our Adoption Center and, within a week, he met Emily Fenton.  

“I was looking for a young-at-heart senior cat who would be a good playmate for my other cat, Nova. I lost my previous cat a year ago, and I could tell Nova was lonely without her old friend. Both Nova and Edgar are 11 years old, so it felt like a perfect match,” says Emily.  

And it was a perfect match—Edgar settled right in.  

“Edgar is warm and affectionate. After an introductory period, Nova and Edgar are now chasing each other around the house all day and are clearly very entertained with each other. Edgar also wants to spend lots of time with me and both kitties are always nearby wherever I am in the house,” says Emily.  

While Emily kept Edgar’s name, he did end up with a new nickname.  

“I call him Pup! He absolutely adores playing fetch with his fuzzy mouse toy—he will run after it, bring it back, and drop it at my feet for more! Also, after getting the appropriate vaccinations for outdoor cats, he has been really enjoying leashed walks outside. You can see why I call him Pup,” says Emily.  

Today, it’s clear that Edgar is exactly where he belongs.  

“Edgar is an exceptional cat and very smart. I love how friendly and energetic he is. He is a joy and has quickly become part of the family. I feel so lucky to have found him!” says Emily. 

Ready to find your Edgar?

See Adoptable Pets

**When surrendering a pet, always make an appointment. Abandoned pets can escape or go unseen for hours, putting them at risk of heat stroke, frostbite, dehydration, or worse. Please put their safety first.

Learn More

We brought her to the PAWS Chicago Medical Center & Lurie Clinic for testing, and while, thankfully, she didn’t have parvo, what she was facing was just as life-threatening. Through advanced medical testing, our veterinarians diagnosed Narvana with a congenital heart defect blocking food from moving through her esophagus.  

This heart defect is known as a Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA), where a piece of tissue forms a tight band around the esophagus. The great news was that Narvana’s condition could be surgically repaired, and she was already in the right place to get that surgery! 

First, Narvana needed to gain crucial weight to prepare for surgery. We hand-fed her a liquid food slurry and used a Bailey chair, which kept her upright during feeding, to help the food pass through to her stomach. She then had to sit upright for 15 minutes afterward to make sure the food wouldn’t come back up. Since she wasn’t a huge fan of the Bailey chair, our caregivers and veterinary technicians would hold her upright in their laps and give her lots of cuddles or bring her to a window to people watch for her 15-minute wait. This, she was very much a fan of.  

On January 18, PAWS Chicago surgeon Dr. Jennifer Nevis and volunteer surgeon Dr. Paula West scrubbed in for the operation, called a thoracotomy, that would allow Narvana to live a normal life! Dr. Nevis and Dr. West opened Narvana’s chest, then located and removed the tissue that was around her esophagus. This was a very delicate procedure due to the number of important nerves in the surrounding area.  

After a successful surgery, Dr. Nevis was right by Narvana’s side to help her start post-operative recovery. Over the following weeks, Narvana was gradually introduced to solid food and eating in a normal position. We’re delighted to say her surgery was effective and she’s just like any other happy, healthy pup now! 

Meet Narvana

See All Adoptable Pets

The most important thing to know about Ophelia is that she has an endless amount of love to give. She’s one of the sweetest and most affectionate cats the PAWS Team has met. If you sit down for even a minute, you’ll find Ophelia in your lap, purring, making biscuits, and slow blinking a thousand “I love you’s” with dazzling green eyes. Ophelia doesn’t need help going to the bathroom, but she does wear a diaper that is changed every few hours. If you have room in your home and your heart to welcome and care for Ophelia, the PAWS Chicago adoption team can walk you through what her care looks like. But come on in to our Lincoln Park Adoption Center and see for yourself how amazing Ophelia is.

Four-year-old Pilaf had a urinary tract infection when he arrived, so he has spent time at the PAWS Medical Center in Little Village recovering. While he was there, PAWS behavioral staff also worked with him on his fear of doors, stairs and walking outside. The shy boy is gaining confidence and he loves to learn new tricks that make him more comfortable.

He's a loving pup who adores cuddling with people and he is now available for adoption at the PAWS Lincoln Park Adoption Center. Make an appointment today to meet him.

With more than 371,000 votes tallied, this recognition highlights PAWS Chicago’s hard work and will enable us to continue our lifesaving mission. Last year, PAWS facilitated 4,561 adoptions and surpassed 82,000 since our founding in 1997. We were the largest transfer partner of Chicago Animal Care and Control, accounting for 38 percent of all cats and dogs transferred from the city pound. PAWS also performed 16,587 low- and no-cost spay and neuter surgeries.

Our work would not be possible without your support as we come together to save the lives of homeless pets. We are grateful for the support of our wonderful community. Thank you, PAWS Community!

View the full list of winners here: chicagoreader.com/best

Still, no one seemed to be a match—until one Instagram post changed everything.  

“Kevin and I saw Juniper’s Birthday post on Instagram, and we both decided that she had spent way too much time at the shelter, so we went in to meet her. The moment she got home with us, she instantly fit in and started making huge improvements. So, we knew we were the right home for her,” says Andrea Hanson. 

Now fondly nicknamed Juni, June, and June bug, Juniper is living her best life as an adopted pup. 

“She’s definitely made herself at home, and every day we are seeing more and more of her personality and seeing her become more confident. She loves getting snuggled up in her favorite blanket or with us on the couch and taking a nap. And she loves tug of war with her stuffy toys.” 

It may have taken a while for Juniper to find the right family, but there’s no doubt she’s finally where she belongs.  

 “Juniper has been a great addition to the house. She is goofy, playful, stubborn, but most of all the most loving dog ever. We couldn't be happier with her. We love how sweet she is. She just wants to cuddle up and love on everyone she meets, and everyone who meets her loves her!”

Meet Pets Like Juniper

He was crying in pain, his gums were pale, his pulse racing but heartbeat faint, he was suffering from a fever, had wounds on his back and extensive bruising and swelling to his leg. Our intake team was so glad to be there in the exact place and time that Gus needed such urgent help, and he was rushed back to our Medical Center for treatment.   

Gus’s X-rays indicated he was also suffering from a fractured pelvis. PAWS veterinarian Dr. Emily Yacker placed an IV catheter, a difficult task due to his low blood pressure, and was able to get fluids into his system, which improved his blood flow, pulse, and temperature.  

After two rounds of IV fluids, pain medication, antibiotics, and lots of rest, Gus was finally stable, and his body started to heal.  

Day by day, he was able to put more weight on his leg and his cuts healed over. Pelvic fractures are best healed through limited activity and monitoring via X-ray, and we could easily track his progress with the imaging equipment at our Medical Center. Puppies are healing machines, and Gus is no exception – he healed wonderfully!  

Today, he is like any other fun-loving, adventurous puppy! We’re so grateful that Gus was found by that Good Samaritan in time, and crossed paths with our team at the perfect moment. Even better, Gus is ready to meet a loving family of his own now and is available to meet at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center!  

Meet Pets Like Gus

Just two days before the flight to Chicago, someone broke into the shelter and caused damage to the cages and doors, but they also broke Milan’s femur in the process.

Once at PAWS, Milan received all care she needed, including surgery for her leg so that she can walk again! Even when she was in pain, she was bursting with personality. Her tail is always wagging, and she adorably grabs the hands team members at PAWS to show them the itchy spots she couldn’t reach when her leg was broken.

Milan is currently healing from her femur surgery. You can welcome her into your home today through PAWS’s “Help Me Heal,” a foster-to-adopt program for pets like Milan. By choosing to foster and then adopt, you’d be helping Milan transition into a forever family more quickly and with less anxiety. During the Help Me Heal foster period, PAWS Chicago will cover all medical care and medical costs until Milan is officially cleared for adoption.  

Click here for more information on potentially becoming Milan's loving family. 

CACC and PAWS Chicago, one of the largest No Kill animal welfare organizations in the nation, recently joined forces to develop a comprehensive public-private program—called PAWS 360@CACC—providing lifesaving resources to Chicago’s homeless and at-risk cats and dogs. 

 These new programs at CACC will offer 360-degree support for animals at every stage in their shelter journeys—from intake diversion to on-site adoption support, and from volunteer training to lifesaving medical treatment for parvo-positive puppies. Like Bonbon. 

At just 8 weeks old, Bonbon was stricken with parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that preys on puppies and often ends their lives. Dogs who are symptomatic for parvo can’t be quarantined at CACC and due to the risk of outbreak, need to be transferred or euthanized. 

As part of the new partnership, PAWS Chicago now transfers and treats all parvovirus+ puppies, and as many parvovirus+ adults as their Medical Center capacity permits. 

At PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center, dogs will be able to receive a revolutionary new drug called Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA). CPMA can completely transform a parvovirus patient in a matter of days – from barely able to lift their heads to running around as if nothing happened. 

Bonbon turned out to be a great reminder of why even with a miracle drug, parvo patients still need a place like PAWS to survive this horrible virus. 

He was already in a very fragile state when he got to PAWS and received the CPMA injection, but at least his uphill battle started with a boost. He spent the next 12 days on IV fluids and medication, seven days in an incubator, nine days on a feeding tube, received three blood transfusions, one red blood cell transfusion, and one whole blood transfusion. And through it all, he battled like a champion. 

As soon as Bonbon was cleared from parvo, he was placed in a foster home, and best news of all, the foster officially foster-failed and welcomed Bonbon into her family! 

PAWS Chicago saves pets like Bonbon every day. From parvo to broken bones to disease, Bonbon was just one of more than 20,000 animals that were treated at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center in the Little Village neighborhood. And many of them need foster homes to rest, heal, and sometimes trust people once again before they can be adopted. 

Despite her name, this gentle, 13-year-old kitty is shy of new people and places, but once she warms up, she shows a hugely inquisitive, loving side. Thunder always wants to be nearby and in the know. And while she has arthritis in her front paws, she loves chilling on your lap or looking out the window at the sights and birds.

Thunder is ready to share her snuggles and her heart with the perfect person or family who will appreciate the benefits of a senior cat. Maybe it's you.

When we first met Wilka, she also had dermoid growths on her eyes and a genetic deformity that made it hard to breathe through her nose. After being treated for an upper respiratory infection, Wilka had an operation to help her live her most comfortable life.  

Wilka had her dermoid growths and two retained baby teeth that never descended removed. When she woke up from surgery, Wilka had expanded airways to help her breathe more easily. Able to see, breathe, and eat without discomfort, it was finally time for Wilka to find a home. 

“PAWS posted a photo and described her on their Instagram. I've been wanting to add another kitty to the family for a while now. When I saw the photo, I immediately knew she was the one!” says adopter David Bacso.  

Today, Wilka’s newly adopted name is Lilith (Lily for short) and she’s thriving.  

“She's all healed up and as healthy as can be. She loves playing and cuddling with her big brother Miz. She's so curious and affectionate. And I love her big purrs in the morning.” 

But David doesn't take all the credit for Wilka’s happiness. 

“She has a loving home thanks to PAWS, their fostering program, and to the person who brought her in. Thank you!” 

Find Your Wilka

That’s how we met 8-week-old, 3-pound Bonbon, fighting parvovirus with all his might.  

We’ve seen firsthand how CPMA can completely transform a parvovirus patient in a matter of days – from barely able to lift their heads to running around as if nothing happened.  

Bonbon turned out to be a great reminder of why even with a miracle drug, parvo patients still need a place like PAWS to survive this horrible virus.  

Bonbon was already in a very fragile state when he got to us and received the CPMA injection, but at least his uphill battle started with a boost. He spent the next 12 days on IV fluids and medication, seven days in an incubator, nine days on a feeding tube, received three blood transfusions, one red blood cell transfusion, and one whole blood transfusion.  

He also got some help from our friends at Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), who provided overnight care for us on three especially crucial nights. That’s where he met Annika, a VEG staff member who fell in love with his tiny but mighty spirit! 

As soon as Bonbon was cleared from parvo, Annika decided to foster him and their bond only grew stronger. Annika officially foster-failed and welcomed Bonbon into her family! 

Find Your Bonbon

When Danielle, an 8-year-old black-and-tan mixed breed dog arrived, she was skinny, dehydrated, had two tick-borne diseases and entropic eyelids, which meant her eyelids were turned inwards, and her eyelashes were rubbing against her eye.

She has received amazing care and medical treatment at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center. Danielle had surgery to repair her eyes, and had 4 fractured teeth removed. She’s happier, healthier, and has even put on 7 pounds already. PAWS is still treating her for the tick-borne disease, but she will get whatever she needs at PAWS and is available to go to a loving home right now.

You can help PAWS care for Danielle and so many other pets. They have received a generous $5,000 match grant from Cathy Bissell and Bissell Pets. That means your donations are matched right now! We’d love your help unlocking the full $5,000 for these pets as they get ready for adoption. 

Sure, Brandy might be eight years old and mostly blind, but she more than makes up for it by being exceptional in every other way.

She's a great sleeping companion doesn't hog the bed, quickly gets comfortable, loves being next to you and cuddling, and she sleeps through the night until you're ready to get up. She loves being pet (especially belly rubs!) and snoozes much of the day on any soft surface. She rolls around on the carpet or grass a few times a day which always makes us laugh. And she\u2019s a member of the clean plate club, said foster Becky.

Brandy would love to find an adopter who is home a lot and can give her all the cuddles and companionship she deserves. Is it you?

See Adoptable Pets

“I was doing a showing of the kitten room to this woman who was looking for a male cat initially," says Victoria Anna, PAWS volunteer. "But Chocolate, a female, immediately took to her, started meowing at her and climbed up on her. After a couple minutes of bonding, she decided Chocolate was the right one for her."

Victoria moved onto her next adoption appointment, and the lady—Anastacia adopter—Anastacia Lora— left the room to do her adoption counseling. But Victoria continued to watch this special connection from afar. 

“Anastacia came back to check in on Chocolate through the window while she waited for the adoption counselor, and Chocolate noticed her and ran up to the window and started mowing loudly again. The person who I was in the midst of doing the showing for started tearing up, and I did, too!” says Victoria.  

Today, Anastacia and Chocolate are best pals, and Chocolate is thrilled to have a loving, adopted home.  

“She is so great...and very spoiled by me. She waits for me by the door when I come home, and she talks to me in the morning when she wants her food. I love her! Thank you, PAWS, for trusting me with her,” says Anastacia.  

Ready to meet your own Chocolate?

See Adoptable Pets

See Foster Pets Available

These pets have been through a lot. The worst abuse we’ve ever seen. Puppies Sage and Sabrina were found severely underweight and searching for food; they were seen being kicked and beaten. Grover, a senior dog, was left in the city center where he was tortured and burned simply because of his age.  

Now safe at PAWS Chicago, each of these furry refugees is guaranteed the life they deserve. BUT YOU CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Please consider a donation to help animals in crisis today. 

Donate Now

They called us in hopes we could take this emergency medical case—otherwise, she would be humanely euthanized. Shortly after, Dumpling was on her way to PAWS.  

Dumpling was extremely dehydrated with dangerously high sodium levels, and stabilizing her vitals would have to be done very slowly and carefully to avoid shocking her fragile system. And, although she was starving, food would have to be re-introduced gradually as well so that her digestive system could handle it. 

Through slow, steady work coupled with lots of love, our veterinary team was able to stabilize Dumpling. By Day Two she had the strength to stand, Day Three took her first shaky steps, and each day after she continued to get stronger. 

Once she was out of critical care, Dumpling went to foster care to gain weight, which she very much enjoyed! In a month, Dumpling went from 10lbs to 20lbs, and didn’t spend a single day without chasing her new toys and snuggling up with her foster mom, Niki. 

From unable to move to being the bounciest, happiest, playful pup, Dumpling’s recovery and enthusiasm to love everyone she met had us in awe. We weren’t surprised at all when Niki decided to officially welcome her to the family!  

Dumpling was a victim of unimaginable cruelty, but you would never know that if you met her today. She is full of life, full of love, and enjoying every single moment of her new life.   

See Adoptable Pets

See Foster Pets Available

To start, Joshua needed help building confidence. He was scared of new people and any sudden movement or noise. Trainers, volunteers, and fosters worked with him on a daily basis to overcome these fears, and Joshua progressed steadily.  

One of his fosters even said, “Joshua is this big cuddle monster who just wants all your undivided attention. What I'll miss the most about him is trying to fit on the sofa because I just get crushed by this giant dog.” 

However, Joshua encountered another setback. He started to limp and favor his right back leg—he needed surgery. At other shelter hospitals, amputation would have been the only option, but not at our state-of-the-art Medical Center. PAWS called in volunteer orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paula West who performed a specialized surgery to remove and replace a diseased ligament around Joshua’s knee, realigning his leg bones. 

The surgery went well, but recovery took time. Joshua needed physical therapy and the comfort of a foster home before getting back to 100%. Finally, it was time for him to find a family.  

Joshua qualified for our Foster First program, which gives potential adopters the opportunity to foster a pet with the full support of our Medical and Behavioral teams as well as our exclusive feeding partner, Merrick, before finalizing the adoption. Which worked out perfectly for Aaron Stevison. 

Aaron fostered Joshua for two months. During that time, they grew closer and closer. And once they were sure they were a perfect match for each other, Aaron made it official and adopted Joshua.  

“He's an affectionate pup who likes to run a lot and eat. And he loves belly rubs!” says Aaron. 

Today, Joshua is living his best life because Aaron gave him a chance. You can do the same! Take a look at all the pets flagged “Foster First” on our adoption page and consider giving one of these special animals a chance to show you all they have to offer.  

Interested in adopting or fostering? 

See Adoptable Pets

See Foster Pets Available

Muffin’s excess weight has led to early arthritis in her legs, but she’s making great progress on her weight loss journey while staying with her foster mom, Katie Tingle.  

“I can tell her movement is getting smoother and faster. Jumping up onto the couch isn't as much of an effort. She doesn’t really play with toys, but I'll let her go up and down my apartment's stairs and she's getting much more agile.” 

Muffin is also an excellent companion. “Whenever I move rooms in my house, she'll saunter in like she just happened to be going there anyway. When I work at my desk, she'll hop up on the stool next to me and place her paw or face right on my leg to sleep while I work. It's adorable.” 

While Muffin is not a fan of surprises or having her tummy touched, she loves scratches and napping in patches of sunlight. “I'll find her in the weirdest sleeping positions. The most common is upside down with legs in the air.” 

Muffin is looking for a home without small kids. “I would love for her to test out a house with another cat. I think that might give her some companionship and increase her snuggles. I also think another cat will encourage Muffin to play physically.” 

Looking for a cat who will chill beside you all day? Muffin might be your girl!  

Meet Muffin

This medication is expensive and in high demand, but with how it has changed our patient’s experience, it’s well worth it. You can support our work administering parvo treatments to puppies that would otherwise have no chance at survival by donating at pawschicago.org/donate.  
 
Mono is now enjoying life as a foster-fail with the family that helped him finish recovery. Now named Tank, we wish him all the happiness in his long, healthy life ahead! 

Help Save Lives!

Both arrived at PAWS as tiny kittens, and within just two weeks of each other. Davey came from Chicago Animal Care and Control along with two healthy siblings. And Glenda was found as a stray by Yesenia Luna, our Senior Community Outreach Coordinator, along with six siblings. Both were underweight, but a few weeks in foster care changed all that. 

The kittens had surgical consultations at our state-of-the-art Medical Center, and it was determined the neither would benefit from any kind of operation—they were, otherwise, healthy cats. And they were about to find a home.  

PAWS veterinary surgeon Dr. Jennifer Nevis first fell in love with Glenda. And since she was planning on making her home disabled-kitten friendly, she couldn’t help but scoop up Davey as well. On October 13, their adoption was finalized and, today, Glenda and Davey are happier than ever with their adopter, Dr. Nevis.

“Davey’s name stayed the same—I love it and it suits him. He’s full of energy and curiosity. But I did change Glenda's name to Lilliputian Lighteningfoot because she is diminutive and likely to stay that way, and while she's slow in the walking department, she is super-fast with those little front feet. Her friends call her Lily,” says Dr. Nevis.  

To make her home easier to navigate, Dr. Nevis has made a few adjustments.  

“Davey does better with non-slip surfaces, so I have yoga mats in his typical areas. And Lily can't jump, so I have soft foam stairs she can climb to get on the bed and also near the couch. Playtime is on the bed or couch, so they have the best footing and soft landings when leaping after the string toys.”  

Dr. Nevis has also made litterboxes from totes with low-cut entryways and little ramps so it’s easy for the kitties to get in and out. And she makes sure to “set them down on their ‘good’ legs after snuggle sessions.”  

But no matter how many similarities they have, Davey and Glenda are still very different cats.  

“Davey is a total wild man. He loves to play anytime, anywhere. He loves to jump on the counter and listen to the water run when the dishwasher is on. He loves cell phone images and will sit on my shoulder and watch intently. He loves YouTube bird shows and Antiques Roadshow.” 

On the other hand, Glenda (Lily) is a total snuggle-bug. 

“She would love to be held and carried around all day. She especially loves sleeping in a basket I keep the dog's stuffed animals in and also on my craft fabrics.” 

In the end, it’s clear Glenda and Davey ended up right where they belong.  

“I'm so blessed to have these two and that they get along so well. They are bonded just like siblings. They are day and night in personality and activity, but that makes them such a complementary, perfect pair.” 

See Adoptable Pets

Concerned this highly contagious virus would spread throughout its pet population, Chicago Animal Care and Control called us to see if we could take Stephen. If we couldn’t, they would have to euthanize him right away to prevent the spread of the disease. With only minutes to decide, Stephen’s life depended on a yes or no. We said yes.  

It’s thanks to donation support that we can operate a state-of-the-art Medical Center staffed daily and stocked with the equipment and medications to support a parvo patient on short notice. It’s thanks to you that we were able to leap into action for Stephen and get him to PAWS for a second chance at life.  

Even with endless time and resources, parvo can still be a death sentence. This highly contagious virus attacks the body’s intestinal tract, destroying healthy bacteria and making the dog unable to retain fluids or food. In the most painful way, it causes death by starvation. 

Our staff worked tirelessly to save Stephen and give him the life he deserved. He was in our dedicated ICU for 8 days, receiving IV fluids and medication, multiple blood transfusions, a feeding tube, and round the clock monitoring to keep his vitals stable and his body temperature up. 

Finally, Stephen turned the corner. One of the most critical parvo patients we’ve ever had, his playful puppy energy started to come through and the well-earned title of parvo survivor was his.  A short stint in foster care later, Stephen attended our Angels with Tails Winnetka event and found his family, who are completely obsessed with him, and excited to spoil him with love! 

Please consider joining our Lifeline Monthly Giving program, for the next parvo patient that needs us.  

Become a Lifeline Donor

The kitten’s owner brought “Casper” to PAWS Chicago for his first vet exam and will return soon for his neuter surgery. Casper was the subject of more than 350 media stories in more than a dozen languages.

People Magazine story. 

“The foster program paves the way for successful adoptions. Fosters pour so much love into the animals as they work to socialize them; PAWS provides full support to the fosters. It’s a winning combo!” Veena said. 

In addition to being a Lifeline donor, Veena is also a PAWS volunteer who enjoys helping out at offsite adoption events.  

“It is very gratifying to help raise awareness of rescue animals and to see them find caring homes.” 

Veena loves spending time with her grand dog, Emma (pictured), who stays with her from time to time. But her monthly Lifeline donation is motivated by a dog named Gali.  

“Gali was a PAWS alum whose family gave her to the San Diego Humane Society when she was three years old. The Humane Society contacted PAWS as her microchip identified her as a PAWS dog. Volunteers flew to San Diego and drove Gali back to Chicago.” 

Once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet. Veena’s family fostered Gali until she found her new forever home.  

“In my mind, I dedicate my monthly donation to Gali and her lifesaving microchip.” 

Become a Lifeline Donor

Margot is a French Bulldog, and dogs that belong to the bulldog breed are more susceptible to allergies due to their very narrow air canals. Those allergies often result in frequent ear infections. In Margot’s case, this one had become so severe it caused total deafness in both ears.

Once she arrived at PAWS, we cleaned her up, removed those ticks, and started her on treatment for her infected skin and antibiotics for her very painful ears. Unfortunately, the infection had already reached the stage where it was now resistant to medication. It had spread all the way from her outer ear to so far down the ear canal that it reached her skull and caused mineralization.

To relieve the severe pain she was in, Margot went into surgery for both of her ears. Two PAWS surgeons scrubbed in for an operation called a Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-BO).

This is a very delicate and intricate surgery due to the number of arteries and important facial nerves in that area. Our surgeons worked diligently to remove the infected ear canal, clean the bone, and close the canal so that Margot can never get infections like this in the future.

Margot may have been deaf for quite some time before we met her, but she doesn’t let that slow her down or keep her from getting all the cuddles she wants! This special gal is finally feeling back to her healthy, strong self, and will be looking for her loving home soon!

See Adoptable Pets

Once cleared for adoption, Bamby moved onto our Adoption Center to find a home. And he didn’t even have to spend the night. That same day, Sarina Julca and her daughter scooped Bamby up and welcomed him into their family.  

“I'm really grateful to have found Bamby. I feel like he has changed our lives," says Sarina Julca.  

Today, it’s clear that Bamby is right where he belongs.  

“For me, adopting a pet from PAWS means the responsibility to integrate them as another member of the family—to take care of them and give them a good quality of life.” 

But adopting is also tons of fun.  

"What I like the most about Bamby is he is so sweet. He comes up, he has a lot of energy and it's contagious. I like to see him play with his toys and be part of his games. My daughter and I are happy to have him at home as we have fun, and he makes us laugh.” 

Ready to find your own Bamby?  

See Adoptable Pets

In total, over 2,700 people and 960 pups registered for this year’s 5K Walk/Run for their Lives. And thanks to the incredible efforts of these movers and shakers, the dollars raised are already hard at work saving lives.

Congratulations to all who attended this 3.1-mile party. And for all who couldn’t, please peruse our fun-filled gallery of photos and make sure to be there next year!

After close examination, our medical team found that Mazzy was suffering from luxating patella—meaning, her knees would sporadically and painfully pop out of place. The only solution was surgery, but that was just the beginning.  

After operations to repair both legs, Mazzy needed months of rehab, follow-up visits, and supportive foster families to recover. But, in the end, it was all worth it because Mazzy not only gained full mobility, but she also gained a family—Iris and Chris Strupp.  

“Chris saw her on the PAWS website and was instantly drawn to her sweet face. Her history definitely tugged at our heartstrings, and something just felt ‘right’ about her, so we applied to foster,” said Iris.  

Chris and Iris first met Mazzy via Zoom when she was with her previous foster family.  

“She was super cuddly with their cats and felt like a good fit for our family. We began fostering the following week while Mazzy continued her physical therapy until she was medically cleared for adoption. But the foster was just a technicality for us—we knew she was part of our ‘Furever Family’ the moment we got her home.”  

After making the adoption official, Chris and Iris played “Fade Into You” in the car while driving Mazzy home from PAWS the first time. 

“We kept her first name and added Star as her middle name in homage to the band: Mazzy Star Strupp. Her nicknames include Mazzle Dazzle, Lady Mazzington, Razz-ma-tazz!”  

While Mazzy has only lived with Chris and Iris since April, she’s already right at home.  

“It feels like she’s always been here. She’s good with our cats, who are still unsure of her, and is quite popular with the neighborhood kids. She’s happy to be with us and do whatever we’re doing, especially if it's outdoors.” 

Today, Mazzy is putting her pain-free legs to good use doing all her favorite things, like dismantling squeaky toys and going on walks in the woods.  

“Mazzy is the sweetest dog; she wants to be friends with everyone she meets! She has a lot of personality and keeps the whole family laughing. She’s brought so much love and joy to our home with her snuggles and pittie smiles.” 

Chris and Iris are overjoyed they were able to give Mazzy a second chance.  

“We’re so thankful to PAWS for providing the medical care for Mazzy to gain full mobility so she could live an active and happy life. We encourage everyone to give dogs with additional support needs a chance. Mazzy has so much love to give, and our lives are better for adding her to our family.”  

Find your Mazzy

In 1999, Mr. Barker provided PAWS a generous donation to help launch our Lurie Spay and Neuter Clinic, which opened in 2000. His gift helped us purchase all the veterinary equipment needed for the procedures; in the years since, we have performed more than 310,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries. 

He continued to give his time to Chicago’s pets, including coming to Chicago in 2008 to speak to the city council about spay/neuter and PAWS Chicago’s efforts.  

“Bob Barker changed our city for the better and his legacy will continue to benefit the pets of Chicago,” said Paula Fasseas. “He was the kindest and most charming man.” 

Thank you, Bob! 

Frisco likely got stuck under something and badly cut up his skin trying to get out. That day, he became a PAWS pet so that he could have the full support of our medical team to heal his wounds and find him a loving home. 

The PAWS veterinarians debrided Frisco’s wound to remove damaged tissue and used a special stitching technique to help his skin heal. After weeks of continuous bandage changes and close monitoring, Frisco’s back was totally transformed, and he was feeling so much better.  

His transformation continued on the inside too—after eating what he could to survive on the streets, his appetite greatly improved, and he started gobbling up the nutritious Merrick Pet Food all our shelter pets enjoy!  

Now this sweet boy is ready for adoption! He is already loving the spoiled life of an indoor cat while he hangs out in foster care, and he will surely make a special companion! 

Frisco is FeLV+, which means he’s looking for a home with fellow FeLV+ cat friends, or a cat-free home but he can live with dogs.  

Meet Frisco

The clinic will regularly provide exams, preventive care and treatment for various illnesses and ailments of pets in the Englewood, West Englewood, Woodlawn and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. These pets may not otherwise see a veterinarian because in Chicago’s pet care deserts, basic, affordable pet care is not readily available.  

Our Outreach team also provides free pet food and other pet care items through our monthly Pet Food Pantry in Englewood. 

Aside from important care for pets, community outreach efforts have a direct effect on spay and neuter numbers in the areas where it is most needed. The Mobile Vet Clinic will allow PAWS teams to have direct communication with community members about our low- and no-cost services and spay and neuter program. 

To get a virtual tour of the Mobile Vet Clinic get information about services that will be regularly provided on the vehicle, click below. 

Learn More

Here are some tips to allow us to take advantage of the best months of the year!

Avoid prolonged times in extreme heat: Dogs can cool themselves down. This can be accomplished in three different ways. They can sweat through their paw pads, exchange heat through their mouth by evaporation of moisture, and dilate blood vessels to cool down their blood. These cooling mechanisms are compromised on hot, humid days since their paws are touching hot ground and warm air does not allow for good heat exchange in the airway or along blood vessels in the skin. Temperatures tend to be lower in the early parts of the morning and later in the evening. Utilize these times of the day to take longer walks or allow your dog to run around. The strong, middle of the day sun creates higher temperatures. Bring a travel bowl and cold water to give when your dog is thirsty and offer at intervals to keep your pet well hydrated. 

Know your dog: French bulldogs, English bulldogs, pugs, and the like are ever so cute. These breeds and many others, however, have an even more difficult time cooling down because of their anatomy. A more compromised airway and increased soft tissue in their mouth provide more sensitivity to heat effects. Overweight and obese dogs overheat easier and have a more difficult time cooling themselves. Remembering the unique traits of your dog will help tailor your time outside.  

Keep your pets out of unattended cars: Our cars heat up to extreme temperatures very quickly. This can happen even with the windows cracked. The greenhouse effect of a car, even when parked in a shaded area, can lead to dangerously high body temperatures in as little as 15 minutes.

Take precautions with swimming: Cold water is an excellent way to keep yourself and your dog cool. Dogs are usually also excellent swimmers. Aspirating water can lead to pneumonia, there is a risk for drowning, and drinking dirty or contaminated water can lead to disease. Have fun in the water but stay alert to potential hazards. 

How to tell if your dog may be in trouble: Some signs of overheating, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke are lethargy, difficulty breathing, abnormal color in the mouth, uncoordinated movements, and collapse. If you are concerned for development of overheating, you can provide active cooling with cool water, fan, air conditioning, shade and then seek medical care at your regular veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic. 

Additional tips for the summer months: 

Be careful of toxins: Picnics, barbecues, and outdoor eating may be distracting or lead to dropped food such as grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Contact your veterinarian, a local emergency clinic or animal poison control if you are worried your pet ingested something toxic. 

Fear of noises: Thunderstorms and fireworks stir up the summer sky. Loud noises are a common cause of stress and fear in pets. Providing background white noise, a safe, and a comfortable home environment help ease stress. Ask your veterinarian for advice on calming supplements or pharmaceuticals to limit the fear from the loud summer noises, 

Limit the spread of disease: Use parasite prevention to limit spread of disease from fleas, ticks, and internal parasites. Ask your veterinarian for recommended prevention products. 

His toes were severely broken and bent backwards on his hind leg. Although we’ll never know what caused it, we knew we could turn Spot’s life back around.  

Spot immediately came to the PAWS Medical Center for surgery. Despite how much pain he was in, we could tell a sweet cat was just below the surface, ready to be loved. X-rays showed Spot’s bones were too damaged to repair, and after an amputation, Spot was feeling brand new! 

With long-awaited relief from what was likely weeks of pain, Spot was now a bundle of love. Purring through laser therapy to help speed up recovery, schmoozing the medical staff into extra cuddles, Spot is what we call a “model patient” and future perfect companion.  

That wasn’t the extent of Spot’s needs, but it's smooth sailing from here on out! After relaxing in foster care for a while, we’ll give Spot a much-needed dental operation and find him a loving home to settle down in. 

Meet Cats Like Spot

“We visited PAWS several times when we were looking to adopt a new pet. We were incredibly impressed with your No Kill focus—we can’t tell you how much that means to us. And we were inspired by how well the wonderful furry residents were treated.” 

While Sidney and Jeanne ended up adopting pets elsewhere, the memory of PAWS Chicago stayed with them and motivated them to start contributing monthly. Since then, they’ve never looked back.  

“We love animals, and we want every single dog and cat to enjoy the same wonderful lives that our furry family members enjoy. If our small contribution can help with that, we are very happy to give each and every month.” 

Thank you, Sidney and Jeanne, for your continued support and dedication to saving the lives of homeless pets. 

9-year-old senior sweetheart Keno is the lucky pup helping us celebrate this milestone, officially going home with the foster he’s loved on for the last month! 

Keno came to us when his previous owner could no longer care for him, and as an older gent, had some dental disease that we happily helped him out with. He’s a dog that appreciates the simple things: smelling the flowers, watching the clouds go by, and feeling the breeze through his fur during his highly anticipated neighborhood strolls. 

An adoption this special calls for an equally special PAWS volunteer to do the counseling appointment. The lovely Louis, PAWS volunteer of over a decade, stepped up to the plate to make this family official, and helped us send Keno and Halle off with the best of wishes and lots of love. 

Adopting right now is a lifesaving act. Every pet adopted means we get to go save another at Chicago Animal Care and Control that needs us. Pets there are facing euthanasia due to overcrowding, so if you’ve been thinking about adopting, now is the perfect time!  

Meet all the pets waiting for homes at pawschicago.org/adopt. 

The vehicle will regularly conduct more exhaustive veterinary exams, provide preventive care and treat sick and injured animals in the Englewood, West Englewood, Woodlawn and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. Appointments will be necessary for these appointments, which will begin in August. 

The community vaccination days will be held: 

• Friday July 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave. No appointment necessary.
• Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St. No appointment necessary.

The Mobile Vet Clinic was generously donated by the Banfield Foundation.

• Lethargy or lack of energy 
• Greatly reduced appetite
• Coughing or wheezing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Increased panting or inability to stop panting after regular activity

To help protect your pet while air quality warnings are in effect:

• Keep pets indoors as much as possible
• Avoid exertion outside such as running or fetch, moving activities as appropriate indoors
• Keep windows shut and fans on to circulate air
• Only let your dogs outside for brief bathroom breaks
• Make sure pets have adequate water supply
• Check your pet’s activity levels throughout the day and note any changes

PAWS featured Bonnie on our website as well as on Facebook and Instagram. She also appeared on flyers on Piece Pizza boxes across Chicago and was highlighted as the PAWS Pet of the Week on CBS local news.  

In preparation for adoption, Bonnie spent lots of time with our training team, learning how to walk on a leash and obey simple commands, like sit and stay. She blossomed with guidance, encouragement, and yummy treats. 

Once Bonnie was ready and the word was out, all we needed was patience and the right person—enter Augustus Rushford.   

“I saw Bonnie on PAWS' website in a video and watched it over and over until we decided it was time to go meet her the same day,” said Augustus.  

Bonnie and Augustus’ connection was immediate.  

“When we met her, she just wanted to be petted and loved, and that's all we wanted to give her.” 

Once adopted, it didn’t take long for Bonnie to find her groove.  

“My girlfriend, Hanah, works from home, so Bonnie loves to relax next to her all day. Bonnie gets at least three to four walks per day, which I know she's enjoying. She also likes sitting on our porch, people-watching, and playing at the dog beach.”  

Today, thanks to your support, Bonnie has the most beautiful life, and it’s clear she’s exactly where she belongs.  

“She's so sweet and loves to bully her way into our bed where she lays on her back and snores all night.” 

Ready to find your own Bonnie?  

Adopt a Friend

That was how we met two-week old brothers Beanie and Olive, huddled together, but otherwise alone.  

Kittens this young are extremely susceptible to hot and cold temperatures, and this could have been a life-threatening situation had we not found them and rushed them indoors to a heating pad to slowly bring their body temperature back to safe levels.  

Barely bigger than their namesakes, Beanie and Olive fall into the category of neonate orphan kittens. Without a mother around, they would need round-the-clock care to feed them, keep them warm, and keep them healthy.  

They were first fostered by a member of our staff, who bottle fed them for weeks to gain healthy weight. Without the expertise of a mother cat, Beanie and Olive needed human help to continuously monitor their nutrition intake, growth, body temperature, and more. We placed them into an experienced foster home to continue growing big and strong until they’re ready for their vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries. And after that, a loving home!  

Since their arrival, they’ve already doubled in size and are world explorers in the making! This playful duo has been having the most fun growing up together and can’t wait for many adventures ahead. 

They’re still weeks away from that glorious red bandana moment, but with kitten season in full swing, there are so many little ones looking for a family right now! 

Meet Adoptable Kittens

JoJo desperately needed a special adopter to help her build confidence, and Julie Merrell turned out to be that person.  

“We originally visited PAWS to see if we were ready to find a new dog after losing our old dog in December. We thought we were looking for a small, low-energy dog. A volunteer asked if we might be open to a slightly bigger, slightly livelier dog.”  

As it so happened, they were.  

“She was pretty crazy when she came back to meet us. But in between barking and running in circles, she also smushed up against us, licked our faces, and looked up with her big brown eyes, and we knew she was the dog for us. We were hooked.”  

Once officially adopted, JoJo got a brand-new name to go with her brand-new life.  

“JoJo is now Goose! When we were trying to find a name that fit her, we kept calling her a silly goose and eventually realized that Goose was right.” 

Adjusting to a new home took a while for Goose and for good reason.  

“This is her first time living in a house with people. Her trainer has said that she ‘knows nothing’ and is ‘a totally blank slate.’” 

But with time, training, and a lot of love, Goose is finally getting into her groove.  

“She was a ball of constant energy the first few weeks, and we were a little worried that she would never calm down, but she's finally chilling out now. With training to help build her impulse control, she's well on her way.”  

Today, Goose is living the good life.  

“Goose is happiest when she is running in a circle in the park with a stick in her mouth. We're working on fetch, but she really just wants to run in circles with a stick. She also likes playing with my sister's dog, attempting to climb trees to chase squirrels, staring out the window, and cuddling with us.”  

It’s undeniable—Goose is right where she belongs.  

“We love how open and trusting Goose is. After living on the streets, it's amazing to us that she trusts us so quickly to help and take care of her. She's a consistent source of joy and comfort, even when she's zooming around the house.” 

Ready to find your own Goose?  

Adopt

That’s how we met Panini (2 years old), Cheerio (2 years old), and Captain (4 years old): dehydrated, severely underweight, covered in dirt, with lesions and patches of hair gone. And yet, so incredibly sweet. That would be the first day of a month-long recovery journey to help them return to a healthy state.  

Over the course of that month, we also found that Captain needed dental surgery, which our Medical Center veterinary team provided. But what these three needed more than anything was nutritious food (generously provided by Merrick) and bucketloads of TLC. Once we got them to a healthy weight and a clean bill of health, the good news started rolling in. 

Panini is now happy and healthy in her new home, Cheerio is set to be adopted by his foster, and Captain is eager to find his people once his dental care is complete.  

Want to adopt Captain or a cat in need like him? 

Meet adoptable cats

Just three weeks later, with America now laser-focused on the issue, PAWS Chicago was featured on her show, and Oprah toured the newly opened PAWS Chicago Adoption Center spotlighting PAWS as a model No Kill animal welfare organization. Oprah cited our No Kill mission and our humane treatment of animals, including placing them in suites rather than cages, as important attributes.

Oprah sponsored a suite at the PAWS Adoption Center in honor of her Cocker Spaniel Sophie, who died about a month before Oprah’s puppy mill episode. In 2009, Oprah adopted a Cocker Spaniel, Sadie, from PAWS; Sadie appeared with Oprah on the June 2009 cover of O Magazine, posing in Sophie’s Suite at PAWS Chicago.

The following year, Oprah returned to PAWS to adopt a pair of Springer Spaniels, Sunny and Lauren.

PAWS Chicago, and animal welfare organizations nationwide, continue to feel the impact of those shows. Since her puppy mills program, the world of animal welfare has changed dramatically for the better. Euthanasia rates nationwide and in Chicago have dropped by 75 percent since 2008 (a total of 92.5 percent since PAWS was founded in 1997). The percentage of people who adopt from shelters when getting a pet has more than doubled, to more than 40 percent, while the rate of those who purchase from a breeder has plummeted.

Even though her PAWS shows aired in 2008 and 2010, when people are asked why they choose to adopt from PAWS Chicago, so many still tell us: “Oprah.”

One hour can change the conversation and, 15 years later, continue to save countless lives of homeless animals. On behalf of all the people and pets at PAWS over the last 15 years, thank you, Oprah Winfrey!

Photo by George Burns/Harpo Studios

“I actually used to be super allergic to cats and dogs, and I’ve been going through immunotherapy treatment to subside those allergies. Pretty much the second I knew I could be around animals I knew I wanted to help as many animals as I could,” said Rose. 

Rose didn’t waste any time and signed up to be a PAWS Chicago foster right way.  

“When I went to PAWS to pick up a foster, I didn’t know who I was going to get. But the day before, I was talking to a friend about how much I love tripods—three-legged animals. When I got to meet with the ladies at the front desk, they said they had a three-legged black cat, and I said, ‘I’ll take him,’ instantly.”   

Sometimes, you just know. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. “The first night I had him, I opened the crate, and he walked out, looked at me, and darted for under the couch.” 

However, that didn’t last long.  

“About four hours later, he decided he was ready to say hi, and he jumped up onto the couch and instantly went for my lap. I almost started crying at how much he just wanted to be loved.” 

Soon, Lobo learned the lay of the land. 

“As he settled in, he would rotate between three spots—next to my pillow, with my Squishmallows, or in my gym bag under my bed. He was so good at asking for attention when he wanted it and staying away when he wanted to be alone.” 

Though he was recovering from surgery, having three legs didn’t slow Lobo down a bit.  

"Some of his favorite activities were biting my toes and playing with a toy with bells and feathers that he LOVED. He also loved climbing on things. One night at 2 a.m., I woke up to him meowing incessantly. I turned on a light and looked up and he had made his way up on my IKEA shelves and couldn’t get down. It was hilarious.” 

Rose learned a lot from this first foster experience.  

“I learned to give him time and let him tell me what he wants. It’s all about paying attention the first few days super carefully to figure out the routine that will make them the happiest and get ready to go to their forever home!” 

Thanks to Rose’s help, today Lobo is enjoying life as a happily adopted cat. Interested in becoming a foster like Rose?  

Become a Foster

With advanced surgical suites fully equipped for specialized orthopedic surgeries, and in-house diagnostic capabilities like x-ray and ultrasound, PAWS Chicago is uniquely suited for cats like Momo. After bringing her to our Medical Center, we were able to provide her with the surgery she needed, a Femoral Head Ostectomy. Up until that point, Momo’s recovery was moving along right on schedule. Then things got a little more complicated. 

During the week following her surgery, our vets noticed a lump slowly growing in Momo’s abdomen. If it weren’t for daily checks by our medical staff, it probably wouldn’t have been found for quite some time. But Momo was in the perfect place for immediate care.  

Momo went back into surgery where our veterinarians found a section of damaged, infected tissue that was the source of the swelling. Likely a result of the initial impact of her injury, the affected tissue was becoming a slow-growing mass that could have caused big issues in the future. 

Our team not only removed the mass but tested it in-house to make sure something more serious wasn’t at play, like cancer. With all her tests coming back clean, all Momo had to worry about was resting and recuperating from her surgeries. 

After a total of two months of recovery, Momo went to our Adoption Center with a clean bill of health...only to find a loving family the very same day! 

Lifeline donors who give small monthly gifts are a huge reason we can provide immediate medical care for cats like Momo. See how you can save a pet’s life for the same price as a Netflix subscription! 

Become a Lifeline Donor

Illinois House Bill 1049 prohibits insurance companies from refusing to issue renter’s or homeowner’s insurance coverage based on ownership of certain breeds of dogs, or breed mixes. Companies would no longer be allowed to increase rates, cancel or change terms of your insurance policy if you took in or owned a dog of a certain breed.

No longer would insurers be allowed to, for example, cancel your renter’s insurance if you decide to adopt a Rotweiller puppy. Instead a company could cancel or amend an insurance policy if an individual dog is deemed a dangerous or vicious dog under the Illinois Animal Control Act.

A dog’s behavior is dictated by its breed only 9 percent of the time, according to a 2022 study in Science Magazine. No breed of dog is inherently mean, dangerous or vicious.

The Bill passed the Illinois state House of Representatives by an 81-31 vote on March 23, and is now with the state Senate for consideration. We urge you to contact your legislators to voice your support for this bill and to ask for final passage of the bill. You can find your state representative and senator here.

Senate Bill 1230 essentially excludes those who sell dogs at retail to the public from the definitions of “dog dealer” and “animal shelter.” This would close the loophole in which pet shop operators are using to avoid receiving dogs from animal shelters, but instead are getting from pet breeders.

The measure passed the state Senate in late March and is currently with the House of Representatives for consideration. The main sponsor of the legislation is state Sen. Linda Holmes of Aurora.

We urge you to contact your legislators to voice your support for this bill and to ask for final passage of the legislation. You can find your state representative and senator here.

Incredibly sweet despite the cruelty she’d experienced, Albany spent two months in foster care healing before moving onto the Adoption Center. Once there, a single social post ended up changing her life (again).  

“We knew Kaia (Albany’s adopted name) was meant to be ours from the moment we saw her on PAWS' social media! After reading her story and seeing the news segment about her, I started crying and knew this sweet dog needed a safe & loving home,” said Adriana Romani.  

Adriana submitted an adoption application ASAP. Having volunteered with PAWS for over five years, she knew how quickly puppies can get adopted.  

“I called PAWS to see if she was still available and they let me know she was in a meet & greet with another family. We rushed over to PAWS, met Kaia and fell in love,” said Adriana.  

However, there was one problem.  

“We live on the opposite side of Chicago, and it was rush-hour and PAWS was about to close and we needed to go get our other dog, Loki, to meet Kaia before taking her home.”  

Luckily, the stars aligned.  

“In some form of a miracle there was NO TRAFFIC at 5 p.m. and we got home in a breeze. We brought Loki into PAWS and the pups immediately loved each other. Getting Kaia was nothing short of a miracle. So many moments had to align perfectly for this to work out.” 

It took a little time for Kaia to adjust to her new home, but now she’s now completely settled in.  

“With time and patience Kaia really opened up, got accustomed to her new environment and routine, and she’s now the perfect addition to our family.” 

It’s clear Kaia is exactly where she belongs.  

“She loves playing with her big brother, Loki. Despite being half his weight, Kaia always beats him at tug-of-war. She loves to lay on the grass in the middle of our walks. And she loves to cuddle and is convinced she’s a lap dog.”  

Kaia is proof positive that every pet, no matter their circumstances, deserves a second chance.  

“Kaia is such a resilient girl. She is so sweet towards everyone she meets despite the cruelties she went through. She follows us lovingly around the house and loves to cuddle. Having Kaia in our family has been such a rewarding learning experience and we can't wait to watch her grow.” 

Interested in adopting a pet from PAWS Chicago? 

Find Your Kaia

“I saw these puppies when they arrived and reached out right away asking if I could foster them. My family hadn't had puppies in a while, so we really wanted to foster some cute, snuggly puppies,” said Ellie.  

Colby, Feta, and Mozzarella are Ellie’s 144–146th foster dogs, and by now, she’s got her puppy routine down pat. It starts by setting up an x-pen (a foldable, adjustable play pen) and laying down a tarp, followed by blankets and dog beds.  

“This gives the puppies space and play area but keeps their ‘messes’ contained. There was lots of laundry for sure. Throughout the day and evening, I would join them in the play pen for puppy play and snuggles.” 

Ellie also has three resident dogs who are kind and patient mentors for every pup she fosters.  

“My favorite memory of these potatoes was their time outside running around, they were just the cutest things trying to keep up with the ‘big dogs’ (my biggest is 30 pounds).” 

With puppies, Ellie is always especially excited to see each of their distinct personalities emerge.  

“Colby was the world’s biggest snuggler, and I would hold him for some of my Zoom meetings. Feta was my feisty one who had something to say. And Mozzarella was the curious one—he was always wondering what you were doing and would look at you until you just had to stop work and give him some love.” 

While fostering more than one puppy at a time might seem overwhelming, Ellie says it’s actually easier.  

“They play with each other, teach each other dog manners and sleep MUCH better at night. There was definitely a sense of controlled chaos, but it is always so much fun.”  

Colby, Feta and Mozzarella spent 10 days with Ellie before moving on to our Adoption Center. Today, all three are enjoying the love of permanent homes.  

“Once they are gone, there is a period of calm in the house but also missing the cuteness and the cuddles. There are still tears on drop-off days but that is okay. You know you did something amazing for a dog in need to set them up for success with their forever home.” 

For anyone considering becoming a foster like Ellie, she has one big piece of advice.  

“Don't keep your first foster. It is always so tempting because you cannot imagine giving them back after putting so much love into them. By letting the first one go, you learn how to say goodbye.” 

That’s not to say you can’t “foster fail.” In fact, all three of Ellie’s resident dogs are foster fails. But returning that first foster is an important experience.  

"It is extremely difficult the first time you do it, but it does get easier, and you learn that each puppy/dog is different, and even though you love each and every one that comes into your house, you can't keep them all.” 

All in all, Ellie wouldn’t have it any other way.  

“I cannot imagine a day when I don't foster. It is so rewarding to see the dogs grow in your care. I love and remember every dog that comes into my home. I am blessed to be part of the PAWS family and to be part of many dogs' journeys,” said Ellie.  

Foster a Friend in Need

When matted hair goes unaddressed for as long as Tolliver’s had, it can cause serious medical problems. In this pup’s case, impacted hair and debris had made its way down his ear canal, rupturing his tympanic membrane and giving him a painful ear infection. 

As unlucky as his recent days had been, Tolliver's fortune started to turn when he became a PAWS pet. Here at our Medical Center, we not only shaved away all those painful tangles of hair, but we had a team of medical staff at the ready to treat his ear infection, provide necessary dental care, and make sure Tolliver wasn’t feeling any other discomforts hiding beneath the surface. 

Now, sweet Tolliver is fully recovered, sporting a fresh new look, and ready for a loving home! He's leaving that look behind, but more importantly, we’re going to help him leave that life behind, with nothing but warm cuddles and unconditional love ahead. 

Meet Tolliver

Lauren is also PAWS Chicago’s Assistant Director of Intake and during our Zoom call, the whole gang was hanging out in her office prior to being cleared for spay/neuter surgery and adoption.  

At one point, Lauren turned the camera toward the kittens, and five shining faces instantly whipped around, their heads tilting back and forth with curiosity. It was 13 out of 10 on the adorableness charts. 

“Some people were surprised I was taking all five kittens, but I actually like taking a larger group so they’re never lonely and always have each other,” said Lauren. 

This was the end of the kittens’ 14-day quarantine period after being indirectly exposed to panleuk—an extremely contagious, potentially deadly virus. Thankfully, not a single cutie ended up contracting the virus and all are healthy.  

While Lauren is an experienced foster parent and there are always pets in need of a cozy place to stay during quarantine, her home isn’t filled with an endless stream of foster pets. And that’s okay.  

“I wait until I recover from my previous foster. And my schedule is pretty hectic, and I like to travel. So, it’s just a matter of when I have time and feel ready. I want to make sure I can give my all to the animals and do right by them,” said Lauren.  

Lauren has a spare bedroom in her home where the kittens were able to stay quarantined and separate from Lauren’s resident cat and dog.  

“I played with them every day, especially because they needed help with socializing. And that takes a little more time. It took a few days for them to warm up. And one of them didn’t come up to me for scritches for the first time until a couple days ago.” 

Lauren’s favorite part of fostering is getting to know each animal’s unique personality.  

“Some are shyer, and some are more playful. And, after their quarantine period was over, I really loved seeing them interact with and get to know my resident pets. My dog is always cool, but my cat can be a little grumpy. Watching him warm up to the kittens was so cute.” 

At one point, Lauren’s resident cat got comfortable enough with a kitten that they even gingerly touched noses.  

“It was...oh my gosh.”  

Every foster experience is filled with emotion. And returning the kittens was bittersweet for Lauren, but she wouldn’t change a thing.  

“Fostering makes me feel...all the feelings. Excited, anxious, happy, sad. But it’s worth it. Every time, it’s worth it. And that’s why I keep coming back.”   

Today, all five of Lauren’s foster kittens are happily adopted and enjoying their new homes. And that’s in no small part thanks to Lauren, whose care and attention helped prepare them for their new lives. Thank you, Lauren!  

Also, a special shoutout to our partner Merrick Pet Care for providing healthy meals for all PAWS pets, including those staying in foster homes.  

Interested in becoming a foster parent like Lauren?  

Become a Foster

When his caretaker passed away, her daughter sought out help for sweet Doug when it seemed his health was declining— and it’s a good thing she did! 

Doug was miserable when we met him. He was in significant pain from a very infected, swollen eye, and had several wounds that needed cleaning. He was barely moving, and generally down in the dumps from his condition. 

The PAWS Medical Center is the perfect place for a cat like Doug to end up, because our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, surgical suites, and shelter medicine veterinary experts are right there and ready to help get him on the path to recovery. 

After an emergency enucleation, Doug was a different cat! Happy, playful, snuggly, it was so clear he was relieved to finally be pain free. Once he had fully recovered, Doug only spent one afternoon at our Adoption Center before he was scooped up by a loving adopter! 

See more adoptable pets

Through the program, Sheriff’s Office employees will walk dogs and participate in cat enrichment activities at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center, the largest homeless pet hospital in the United States. The program will help PAWS Chicago meet a rising need for volunteers,because while adoptions and other animal welfare programs have now returned to prepandemic levels, volunteer hours have not.

“We care for hundreds of pets each day, ranging from the homeless pets that receive medical care on their path to adoption to the many more that receive free and low-cost services we offer to the public,” said PAWS Chicago CEO Susanna Wickham. “A robust volunteer program is an essential part of us meeting the community’s needs, and we are still working to regain the volunteer hours we lost during the pandemic.”

With over 2,000 Sheriff’s Office employees located just a mile away from the nation’s premier homeless pet hospital, the new program will support a growing need at PAWS Chicago: more volunteers to help with socialization of healing pets. It will also help animal-loving staff at the Sheriff’s Office reduce stress and decompress while giving back to the community.

“We reached out to PAWS after hearing about their recent disaster relief rescue effort, because we wanted to help those pets on their path to finding homes,” said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. “We quickly realized there was an opportunity to provide a much larger program and benefit to our staff and PAWS Chicago.”

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office’s first-of-its-kind customized volunteer partnership with PAWS Chicago trims the volunteer training time and focuses efforts on dog walking and cat enrichment, which are in great need at the Medical Center due to the high volume of pets served.

Several employees of the Sheriff’s Office have already undergone training and begun the volunteer program, with many more expressing interest in attending orientation in the coming weeks.

The PAWS Chicago Medical Center examines every animal brought to the organization and provides all necessary treatments. The facility performed over 15,000 spay and neuter operations last year and PAWS Chicago recently passed a milestone of 300,000 such procedures in its 25-year history. The 30,000-square-foot hospital can house more than 200 pets, which allows PAWS Chicago to rescue pets from high-kill shelters in 13 different states, such as the rescue of 33 puppies and dogs from Houston area following a tornado that closed one Texas shelter.

Don’t miss our NBC 5 segment about this effort.

For information on volunteering with PAWS Chicago, email volunteers@pawschicago.org
 

Volunteer

To make an even bigger impact, Piece has chosen PAWS to receive proceeds for a special collaboration with some of Chicago’s favorite chefs including Doug Sohn (Hot Doug’s), Barry Sorkin (Smoque BBQ), Matthias Merges (Billy Sunday), and Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo) where $5 of each specialty pizza sold goes to PAWS.

The campaign was recently featured on NBC 5, Chicago Tribune, WGN, FOX 32 Chicago, Steve Cochran Show, and Block Club Chicago.

Order your specialty pizza today and learn more about the adoptable pups at pawschicago.org/piece-pizza.

Dogs try hard to conceal pain because being injured is dangerous in the wild. But pain shouldn’t be ignored. It’s nature’s way of telling us something’s wrong.  

Limping and picking up a paw are obvious signs of pain, but many others are more subtle and can go on for years without us noticing. By learning to catch these less obvious pain signs, we can provide relief sooner, save our furry friends from suffering and even address illness or injury before it becomes life threatening. 

So, what should we look for?  

Being in pain is exhausting and many dogs will sleep more during the day because moving hurts. You may notice your dog isn’t playing with their favorite toys like they used to. They stop going up the stairs and jumping on and off the couch. They stop stretching and avoid slippery tile or hardwood floors. We may just chalk it up to old age and brush it off, but maybe they are in pain.  

They may be restless at night because they have trouble getting comfortable. It may be difficult to lie down, sit or get up. They may not sit as often, sit crooked or with their legs out. You may observe them circling more when trying to lie down. When getting up, they may pull themselves up with their front legs rather than pushing off with their hind legs. All of these are signs of decreased flexibility in the spine and hips.  

Are they having accidents in the house? Increased stiffness and discomfort can lead to a decreased ability to get up and get outside to go potty. In addition, hind leg weakness can lead to incontinence because their anal muscles have also gotten weaker.  

Are they showing increased aggression to humans or other pets? A dog in pain may growl or show their teeth when being touched or moved.  

Do they look off balance? Is their head down? Is their back curved or hunched? When lifting their paws, are they light on their back legs and heavy on their front legs? Are they light on just one leg? They may not be putting weight on that leg because it hurts.  

Are they losing muscle? If they are favoring a limb, it will get weak and lose muscle mass. To find out, gently place your hands around your dogs right and left hind thighs. Is one significantly thicker than the other? Are they both very thin? Are the front legs more muscular than their back legs? These are all indicators of them shifting weight to avoid pain. Are their nails worn down or uneven? This could indicate they are dragging their feet.  

What Can We Do at Home? 

There are a few things we can do if our pet is showing any of these signs.  A heating pad is great for muscle and joint discomfort.  Imagine how good it feels for us.  Place a heating pad on their low back or another area of discomfort.  It can be set on high if you can tolerate it, so can they.  Do it for 15 minutes 2-3 times per day to provide relief.  Gentle massage to the irritated area is also helpful.  Cover any hardwood or tile floors with rugs or yoga mats to avoid slipping which can lead to chronic muscle strains.  Booties or toe treads are also great for giving your pet a grip on slippery floors.  Make sure your stairs are also carpeted or have a non slip grip.  If your pet appears overweight, touch their ribs.  You should be able to feel the ribs easily.  Exercise is also a great solution to improve muscle tone and weight loss.  Be sure to increase activity gradually so they do not get sore.   

We love our furry family members and we will do anything for them. If you have noticed one or more of these signs, your baby may be quietly suffering with muscle or joint pain. A consultation with your local Canine Rehab Provider or veterinarian may help identify drug free, non-surgical solutions for your pet’s pain.  

About the author: Tod Miner, PT CCRP is the owner of Arfit Dog Rehab and Fitness. He has been treating dogs and cats for muscle and joint injuries since 2007. Arfit provides free rehabilitation services to PAWS and other rescue organizations. Arfit Dog Rehab and Fitness 2112 N. Clybourn ave A1 Chicago, il 60614 www.arfit.biz 312-620-4606 

“We wanted to give back and bring my partner joy after working shifts in the hospital to help people survive. We started with one foster dog, then a mom cat and her ten kittens, then two puppies, and then Honeycomb and her ten puppies,” said Molly. 

While it was a lot of work, it was also totally worth it. 

 “Every moment brought hope, warmth, and laughter! I fell in love with every single animal we fostered—we would have all of them right now if there hadn't been such special forever families for each one.”  

To date, Molly has fostered 25 PAWS animals, and she adopted the 25th—a puppy named Herbert (now Buddy) from Honeycomb’s litter.  

“My partner was smitten with Herbert's silly, ornery, affectionate, and tender personality.” 

Today, the whole Honeycomb family still keeps in touch.  

“We are so joyful that all of the siblings were adopted by friends of ours who happened to live in the Chicagoland area, so we decided to host a COVID-safe reunion when all the puppies turned one.” 

The first reunion was a wild success. 

“The dogs were absolutely thrilled. They immediately started running, playing, and kissing each other. Every pup left with a goodie bag with their favorite things, and ‘paw’rents had to find the bag based on each pup's first picture at a week old.” 

This year, Molly is finishing her last year of law school in Cambridge and couldn’t bring everyone together physically, but that didn’t stop the celebration. Adopters shared photos and videos of the puppies on their second birthday and even made a humorous discovery.  

“All the dogs enjoy howling!” 

Molly feels extremely honored to be a part of the PAWS foster community as a whole.  

“When Honeycomb and her babies came to our home, PAWS fosters who had extra blankets, toys, and even potty pads jumped at the chance to help—and rejoiced along the way from week one to now, two years later.” 

Interested in becoming a foster like Molly?  

“The PAWS foster community is incredibly strong, and is there to support you with tips, emotional solidarity, and even supplies. Every animal is so deserving of the love you have to give, and PAWS will be with you every step of the way.” 

But the animals aren’t the only ones who benefit.  

“Being a PAWS foster is a way to give, but the animals also bring immeasurable love into your lives as well. We are forever grateful to PAWS for bringing these marvelous creatures into our lives,” said Molly.  

Become a Foster

This shy Siamese wasn’t eating at all, and she needed our help to find out why. Once we got her here to PAWS Chicago, dental x-rays revealed the truth: 11 missing teeth, and 17 more severely rotted. Only 1 tooth was still in good condition. 

It’s no wonder she couldn’t bear to take a bite! We regularly perform dental surgeries here at our Medical Center, but Sniffles was one of the more advanced cases we’ve ever seen. Even more good news, Sniffles was a completely different cat post-surgery! 

Once she wasn’t weighed down with such immense pain, the shy, scared cat we once knew had all but vanished! Enjoying a wet food diet and no longer hiding in cubbies and crates, the new and improved Sniffles would bound over to you whenever you entered the room, begging for pets and even belly rubs! 

With all her charisma now on full display, it was no surprise when Sniffles got her red bandana before she could say, “achoo,” and now she’s enjoying life to the fullest with a new family! 

Adopt a pet like Sniffles

Join PAWS Chicago in honoring Betty White’s legacy as an animal lover and advocate. Can’t adopt? We’re asking the community to support Chicagoland’s homeless pets by contributing $5 or more to the #BettyWhiteChallenge by visiting pawschicago.org/bettywhite. Every donation provides food, shelter, and medicine for Chicago’s neediest animals. With your help, we can build a future where every dog, cat, puppy and kitten gets the life they deserve.

Learn more and make a difference today at pawschicago.org/bettywhite.

Don’t miss our ABC 7, NBC 5, WBBM NewsRadio, and FOX 32 segments about this effort!

Once he gained about 40 pounds and a whole fan club of PAWS Chicago staff, he was ready for two big, lifechanging ACL repair surgeries. 
 

This procedure requires special training and tools that wouldn’t be available to him at most shelters. But Orion wasn’t at just any shelter, he was at PAWS Chicago! And our state-of-the-art Medical Center was more than prepped to take care of him. 
 

Two of our veterinarians scrubbed in to work simultaneously on our beloved Orion, so that he could look forward to many pain-free days ahead. Today, he’s doing so well and getting ready to look for a Help Me Heal home!  
 

Have a pet-free home and interested in bringing Orion into the family? Help Me Heal is a PAWS program where you get to bring Orion home while PAWS takes care of the remainder of his medical costs and recovery. Once he’s fully recovered, you get to make things official with an adoption. 

Meet Orion

Very particular about her friends, not everyone understood Sweater. But for the PAWS volunteers and staff who took the time, she showed just how much love she had to give.  

Finally, an adopter named Sophie Phillips came across Sweater’s profile on the PAWS Chicago website and saw her potential.  

“She caught my eye right away. I was drawn to her because of how smart, emotional, and misunderstood she is. I could tell I had a lot to learn from her. “  

As part of our Foster First program (For select long-term animals who need extra support from our behavior team to adjust), Sophie was able take Sweater home prior to adoption so they could get to know each other.  

“I didn’t know if it would be a good fit, but I wanted to give it a chance because I thought we could both benefit from being in each other’s lives.” 

As it turned out, Sophie was right.  

“We were very nervous the first few days because of Sweater’s history, but she was so excited about everything. I wanted her to feel safe, so it was very hands off at first. Now, she’s the queen of the house.”  

A gracious ruler, Sweater shares her kingdom with her bunny sister Buttercup. They even play together! Life is full of fun. 

“Sweater loves eating treats out of her puzzle ball and climbing on anything, especially to get to out-of-reach house plants.”  

Sweater and Sophie prove there’s a lock for every key. It just takes patience. And some perusing of the PAWS website.  

“I love her complex and always-changing personality. She brings so much joy, love, and excitement into my life. I am so happy we found each other.” 

Ready to find your new best friend?  

ADOPT  

A wiggly, two-month-old puppy at an overcrowded shelter in Oklahoma, Chester was on track to be euthanized. He had roundworm, a curable but contagious infection many shelters can’t handle. But PAWS Chicago can. Animals like Chester are exactly why we work with shelters in 13 high-kill states to rescue treatable pets from certain death. Thanks to your support and dedicated volunteers who regularly drive 10+ hours to transport pets, PAWS Chicago is making an impact across the Midwest. Chester is now happily adopted, and his only worries are regular, puppy things, like house training and choosing which toy to play with next. Together, we’re building a future where every "Chester" gets the life they deserve.  

WILLA  

When we first met Willa, she was at animal control and had just been diagnosed with FIV. For many homeless cats, this is a death sentence—treatment is simply out of reach. And for Willa, the outlook was even worse because she was so fragile, weighing less than two pounds. Her life had just started, and it was already on the precipice of being over. But there was still a place for her at PAWS Chicago. Once safely at our world-class Medical Center, Willa received the 24-hour care needed to help her tiny body fight the virus. Because of your support, Willa won her battle with FIV and quickly found a loving family. Independent, mischievous, and an expert climber, Willa now has a full life ahead of her thanks to you.   

Spay and neuter tackles the #1 cause of pet euthanasia—overpopulation. It’s a huge part of how we’ve helped reduce citywide euthanasia rates by 91% since our founding in 1997.  

This was all possible thanks to the amazing taskforce of spay/neuter surgeons, veterinarians, medical staff, and volunteers who dedicated their time to ensuring the expert care and comfort to every pet that came through our doors. 

Many of the families who attended Spay Day received their pet’s care for free or low cost, as part of our ongoing Community Outreach efforts. Neighborhoods like Englewood and Back of the Yards exist in pet resource deserts, which means there is no access to essential pet care services like veterinarians or pet stores. PAWS Chicago continually offers these families an affordable way to receive care for their beloved pets! 

Spay Day was a record-breaking day for PAWS Chicago, but spay/neuter is a service we provide year-round. Your donation helps us provide this essential service for free or low-cost to families in need.  

Be the reason a pet in need receives the next spay/neuter surgery! 

Donate a surgery 

She had to receive surgery to clear her impacted bowel. She faced months of recovery to get her digestion back on track and keep her nutrition levels up.  

However, our Medical Center volunteers know that just as important as monitoring a pet’s physical health is caretaking for their emotional needs. They always found a way to give her a little extra cuddle time here, some extra play time there. As fun as this sounds (and it is), all that love was crucial to her successful recovery.  

We’re looking for volunteers who can offer the best medicine of all to our ailing and recovering pets at our Medical Center. If loving and caring for pets in need sounds delightful, then sign up to volunteer with PAWS today! 

Become a Volunteer 

Eli’s mom had Feline Panleukopenia (FP), a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for kittens. The next few weeks were crucial.  

Once stable, Eli went into foster care with Jenna Friebel where he received 24-hour care, including near-constant feedings. He was so tiny and needed to gain weight to survive.  

“We've fostered around 100 wonderful cats and kittens in the last five years, but Eli was extra special because he was our first bottle baby. This was the first time we didn't have mama cat around to help with kitten care,” said Jenna.  

All of Jenna’s hard work paid off, though, as she watched Eli grow bigger and stronger.  

“It was so fun to watch him reach various growth milestones, but one we were concerned about for a bit was his ears. They stayed folded down for longer than usual, and for a while, we wondered if they would ever pop up.” 

But pop up they did. As did Eli’s personality.  

“In the last couple weeks of his foster period, Eli had so much kitten energy. He loved running around and playing with anything and everything. But he was always still such a sweetheart and would cuddle up on our chests and enjoy chin scritches.” 

After eight weeks with Jenna, it was finally time for Eli to move onto the Adoption Center. But he wasn’t there for long. 

“We were so happy that Eli got scooped up right away—and that he got adopted with another kitten!” 

Today, Eli is finally enjoying the happy, healthy life he deserves with adopter Jamal Saghir and cat brother, Matty. Congratulations to this wonderful new family, and huge thanks to Jenna Friebel for her part in making it possible.  

Ready to change a homeless pet’s life, like Jenna did for Eli?  

Become a Foster

Several news outlets helped us welcome these pets to the PAWS Chicago Medical Center.  

Chicago Sun-Times, FOX 32 Chicago, ABC, NBC, CBS, WGN

View adoptable senior pets here and learn more about fostering here.

Not even 10 pounds at the time, this two-month-old puppy was fighting the typical symptoms of parvovirus, vomiting and diarrhea, but the latter became so severe that one section of her intestine telescoped into the next. This is also known as Intestinal Intussusception, and it immediately put her life in danger. 

“Intestinal Intussusception compresses the blood vessels in the area and quickly kills that section of the gut. As the gut wall is compromised, bacteria from the digesta can cross the weakened membranes into the blood stream and create whole-body infection and sepsis,” said PAWS veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Nevis. 

Three of our veterinarians scrubbed in for Wishbone’s emergency surgery and performed an intestinal resection and anastomosis—cutting out the bad section of the gut and reconnecting the healthy parts of the intestine. 

As much luck as her name implies, this one is all thanks to the outstanding work of our surgeons and Shelter Medicine team. Not only was the procedure extremely complicated on such a small puppy, but it was only half the battle. Wishbone now had to recover from surgery while still recovering from parvovirus. 

“The Shelter Med team are the heroes on this, that's for sure—to pull a tiny, emaciated, anemic puppy fighting parasites and viruses through after a major emergency surgery like this is really, REALLY incredible even at the specialty or university level,” said Dr. Nevis. 

In the toughest of circumstances, and through a lot of pain, Wishbone proved she is the mightiest little warrior! After a full recovery, she spent just one night at our Adoption Center before finding her new family.  

Learn more about our transformative Medical Center and its lifesaving impact.  

Take a Virtual Tour 

“You can definitely see when an animal comes in and they're scared and shut down; they might be totally closed off and frightened. And then, the more time you spend with them, they come out of their shells—more quickly than you would think. Because they start to trust that this place isn't bad, and these are good people, and I'm being helped,” said Maryellen. 

Maryellen Friedman has been volunteering at the Medical Center, located in Little Village at 3516 W. 26th St., for over five years. She’s also a proud part of our TLC program, which gives volunteers extra training in order to safely spend time with sick and injured pets.  

“It's one class and then the volunteer has to do three sessions with a mentor. It's fun.” 

This additional training gives TLC volunteers the chance to help our most vulnerable pets.  

“I feel like the contagious dogs get the least amount of attention because there are fewer volunteers who can work with them. So, just being able to sit with them and give them TLC is definitely my favorite thing to do here.” 

Many of these pets have diseases that cannot be transmitted to humans or pets that are fully vaccinated. Training also involves the use of PPE to keep from transmitting to other pets at the Medical Center.  

“We can take them into play spaces. We can also give them some enrichment. We do agility exercises and give them treats, like puzzle feeders and kongs, to occupy their brain.” 

TLC volunteers are especially beneficial to our longer-term patients.  

“Some of the sick dogs are here for so long. Like, if a dog has ringworm, it could be a month. If a poor guy comes in with heartworm, they can be here for three to four months or longer. They just need that little extra bit of attention to kind of help them through their recovery.” 

Volunteers can also participate in our clicker training classes.   

“That's really fun, too. And it also lends itself to seeing the benefits because it's really great when you can see a dog progressing in its behavior.” 

There are endless ways you can make a difference at the Medical Center.  

“You can work in shelter medicine where you help the veterinary staff, or you can work in the Lurie Clinic. You can help with community spay and neuter days. You can go work in the pet food pantry. You can pick up animals from under-resourced neighborhoods to bring them in for free spay and neuter or vet care. You can trap cats. You can do administrative work. There's so much to do here, which just makes it really great because there's something for everyone.” 

No matter how you choose to help, our staff is so grateful. 

“The staff is so busy with the deep cleaning and the feeding. The volunteers are able to do that little bit extra. Give longer walks. Spend extra time with the animals. They understand how important volunteers are here and they're so appreciative to have us. They're also just so nice.” 

There are so many pets at the Medical Center who would love to spend time with you. Join our team today and start making a difference!  

Volunteer at the Medical Center 

A group of adorable puppies was filmed at the Lincoln Park Adoption Center and on our fun rooftop. You can watch the TODAY All Day streaming channel on Peacock or your smart TV. View the Puppy Cam footage here.

PAWS has a special adoption event on Saturday, August 27 from 11am-5pm at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center. We are waiving adoption fees for select animals! Learn more and see the adoptable pets at www.pawschicago.org/adopt.

One new partner hospital we’re proud to highlight is Old Town Animal Care Center, located in the heart of Old Town on North Avenue and across from the historic Second City Theater.  Caring for dogs, cats, and exotics, Old Town Animal Care Center was founded by Dr. Tony Kremer, a long-time supporter of PAWS Chicago,  frequent member of planning and development boards for various PAWS Chicago events, and TV personality. Through his 9 local hospitals and his various efforts via Chicagoland community work, Dr. Kremer has helped save nearly 20,000 pets over the past 20 years. 

The five veterinarians at Old Town Animal Care Center are excited to offer wellness plans, dentistry, and orthopedic services as well as boarding, day care and grooming. For all new PAWS Chicago adoptees, the first exam is FREE!  

Take Benji, for example. Right away you notice his emaciated state, but the cause of his condition was unknown. Benji’s previous owners surrendered him to a local animal control facility, saying he had a foreign body in his stomach and couldn’t keep any food down.

We immediately brought him to PAWS for exploratory surgery, which can be done here at our Medical Center. However, through our ability for diagnostic testing, we were able to determine Benji did not, in fact, have a foreign body after all.

This not only saved Benji from unnecessary surgery and a subsequent recovery but allowed us to move forward with a treatment plan that would get him feeling back to his best self in just a few short weeks.

Our ability to perform blood work, x-ray imaging, and so much more under our own roof helps get pets healthier, faster, so they can live happier lives. And as for Benji, we weren’t surprised at all when his foster fell in love and officially adopted him! 

Learn more about our transformative Medical Center here.

Scroll down to watch Tillie’s pregnancy and her birth of six adorable kittens. Remember, this is why PAWS Chicago’s spay/neuter programs are so important. In a matter of weeks, six new homeless pets are created—all in need of food, shelter, and families.

Would you like to change a pet’s life forever by providing a temporary home?

Become a Foster 

Thank you to everyone who voted! This wouldn’t be possible without support from our amazing co-chairs (Holly Pearson and Gina Strohl), sponsors, and attendees who helped make it Chicago’s best and largest pet-friendly charity event!

The 22nd Annual PAWS Chicago 5K is taking place on Saturday, September 10 from 7:30-11am. Learn more and register at www.pawschicago.org/5k.

The officer, John Garrido, is a longtime friend of PAWS and reached out to us for help—of course, we said yes. After examining Paco at the Medical Center, we immediately tried to find a foster home where he could heal. Jamie Young proved to be the perfect choice.

“I was contacted by PAWS in February. They told me the police officer took Paco back to the station and made him a bed in their filing cabinet!” said Jamie.

Jamie fostered Paco for three months and he flourished.

Once fully healed, “he was adopted by a friend of mine who had fallen in love with him when they met at my office. She had been looking for a friend for her resident pup. But apparently, it wasn’t a good fit.”

Which turned out to be serendipity.

“I’ve been fostering for years and always told myself that if a foster is returned, it’s a sign. And it was!”

Ten minutes before Paco was to be returned to our Adoption Center, Jamie made the call to Brian Zeman, our Assistant Director of Foster Programs.

“He’s mine. I’m adopting him,” Jamie told Brian.

Two hours later, it was official.

“I think I really knew long before then. It was his soulful eyes. When he looks at you, it’s like he understands all of your hurts and all of your joys and promises to be there for all of them. He’s deeply knowing.”

When Jamie brought Paco home, he naturally fit into the family.

“He was immediately accepted by my cats, and they sunbathe on the deck for hours. He wants to be by my side at all times—total Velcro dog! Which is perfect for me. I bring him to work every day and we are probably never apart more than a couple of hours.”

Jamie and Paco have a truly special bond. And they're always finding new ways to have fun together.

“We play a game I call ‘Tiny Monster. It’s where he gets so happy with the scritches that he just rolls around and opens his mouth like a tiny monster, rubbing his face with his paws. I kiss his belly, and he thinks he’s in heaven.”

Life in general is pretty heavenly for Paco these days as long as he’s next to Jamie. And she feels the same way.
 

"He’s my ride or die. He is my best friend. I love how excited he gets when he hears me grab my car keys, and he knows we're going somewhere. He is gentle and patient and looks at me like I hung the moon,” said Jamie.

Ready to find your own best friend?

Meet Adoptable Pets 

She was first found by a local rescue before coming to PAWS where she could be evaluated and treated at our state-of-the-art Medical Center.

In addition to some of the health conditions typical of dogs living on the street—ear infections, dental disease, conjunctivitis—Ursa was battling deeper health concerns that made everyday life painful.

Right away, you notice her skin. Alopecia affected most of her body, and the fur she had left was severely matted, especially between her toes. These made it painful to walk, and her dry cracked skin hurt to lay down.

Once at PAWS, her examination revealed a heart murmur and spondylosis, affecting her spine. A wound on her back end was so bad, she wouldn’t let anyone touch it. Still, the sweet girl inside greeted this human kindness with open arms.

Seeing the dog she is today, you wouldn’t even recognize her! Her fur has grown back in, she’s put on healthy weight, and her condition has steadily improved in a loving, patient foster home. As her personality slowly comes out, it turns out she’s a simple girl: loves to go outside for walks, can’t pass up a soft pillow to curl up on, and is a very posh lady who doesn’t like to roughhouse.

Ursa is nearing the end of the recovery part of her journey and looking forward to what comes next—a family.

Learn more about our transformative Medical Center.

But making this kind of impact involves a lot more than wandering the streets to find un-fixed strays. It’s a highly coordinated, consistent operation involving close relationships with the community to help manage outdoor cat colonies while supporting their natural habitat.

“We send out trapping teams on a Monday to specific locations we've scheduled ahead of time,” said Yasmine Pacheco, PAWS Chicago Community Outreach Manager.

PAWS tries to tackle large projects and decides where to go based on information collected from community members via our Pet Help Hotline as well as animal control—we go wherever we’re needed most.

“This last Feral Spay Day, we involved a lot of our independent trappers that work on their own colonies, and they basically volunteered to help us trap as many as we could,” said Yasmine.

As a result, we were able to humanely trap over 60 strays in a single day, focusing on adult cats.

“It’s all based on food and us hiding. When the cats go in the baited trap, they step on a plate in the back and then it closes behind them, so you don't have to touch them, and nobody is at risk of getting bitten or scratched.”

The feral cats are then brought to the Lurie Clinic and stay overnight. Our team works hard to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible.

“There’s a divider in the cage to keep them on one side so we can give them fresh bedding, water, and food for the night, and then they get surgery the following morning.

After anesthesia, they’re removed from the trap and spay/neuter surgery is performed.

“That's pretty much it. They get food and stay overnight because they've had surgery and it’s for their safety. We change their bedding, give them food and water again in the morning, and then they get released that same day.”

Cats who are especially social are considered for our adoption program. During this past Feral Spay Day, we happily accepted 14 cats into the program.

“We assess their friendliness based on how they act in the cage. For example, if they're coming up and rubbing against it, that's showing friendly behavior. When that happens, we ask the medical team to add some tests to their services and that gets the process started.”

Whether returned to their colony or adopted, we’re making a difference one spay/neuter at a time, working toward a No Kill equilibrium where the number of strays is in balance with our capacity to care for them.

“The more we do this, the more cats we can get off the street and help reduce overpopulation.”

Interested in helping feral cats in your community? Learn more about our Community Cats Program.

Recently, PAWS Chicago has seen an increase in relinquished senior pets like Koby and Annie. With that rise, PAWS is in need of more fosters for senior pets.

Older pets can more often come with minor health conditions like dental disease or ear infections that we treat at our Medical Center before pets get ready to meet potential adopters. While their health condition and treatment is minor, the emotional toll can be major for a pet transitioning from years of routine at home to life in a shelter.

That’s why we’re seeking fosters who can give a senior pet a quiet, loving home to recover in. Senior pets are often the easiest to care for in the short period of time they need to hang out in your home. The greatest thing you can do is provide a safe space to rest, and maybe a lap to curl up in.

Change the life of a senior pet in need by signing up to foster today.

Become a Foster 

Watch the segment here. Learn more about the Beach Party and purchase tickets here: pawschicago.org/beachparty

Don’t miss an op-ed in today’s Chicago Tribune written by PAWS Chicago Founder Paula Fasseas! 

In 1997, Chicago was one of the highest euthanasia cities in America. Learn how the No Kill model addressed the homeless pet crisis on every front, from reducing oversupply to increasing adopter demand.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped share our No Kill mission with the world.  

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When Paula Fasseas founded PAWS in 1997, 93% of animals were being euthanized citywide. Now, 90% are being saved! Learn more about the groundbreaking measures taken to help solve Chicago’s mass euthanasia problem at the link below. 

To celebrate PAWS Chicago’s 25th anniversary, on Thursday, June 23, PAWS Chicago is encouraging pet-loving Chicagoans to make a promise to homeless pets and save more lives on PAWS Giving Day

Watch the Chicago Tonight interview here.

After 10 years in a loving home, Lilly’s owner sadly could no longer keep her. We welcomed Lilly back to PAWS and while this sweet girl has gained a couple pounds and a touch of arthritis, her cuddling skills have only improved over the years.  

Once our Medical Center vets prescribed joint supplements and a healthy diet, Lilly was ready to find her new home. And, no surprise, this purr-happy, mini panther wasn’t on our website for long before catching someone’s eye.  

“One of my friends showed me her profile and her picture and I knew immediately she was the right fit for me and my other kitty,” said Sasha.  

Sasha’s instincts couldn’t have been more right.   

“Lilly Lou made herself right at home. She snuggles and purrs up a storm. I love having her curl up next to me at night with her knowing she has a forever home.” 

While Sasha’s other cat, Kitty, is still getting used to having a roommate, the transition is going well.  

“They share food and water bowls and nap on the bed.” 

Today, we’re happy to report that Lilly Lou is truly living her best life.  

“Her favorite activities are eating, sleeping, playing with her stuffed mousey, eating, and sleeping again,” says Sasha.  

Interested in giving a kitty like Lilly Lou a second chance at happiness?  

Meet Adoptable Cats 

While this condition isn’t life threatening, it’s very uncomfortable and if left untreated, causes decreased tear production. Over time, this can cause life-changing complications—sometimes as serious as blindness.  

Cherry eye requires surgery to repair and will not go away on its own. Buddy’s condition required surgery on each eye to correct the prolapsed gland. But the brave Buddy took it all in stride and got plenty of love and snacks along the way!  

Despite a long stretch of doctor’s appointments, Buddy is a typical pup who loves his people. When he wasn’t in a lap, Buddy was always looking at the bright side of life with a game of fetch or picking out the perfect stick to carry around on his daily walks. More than anything, Buddy is a big fan of people, which made him a model patient for examining such a sensitive area.  

This complex surgery, especially on small animals like Buddy, is all possible because of our state-of-the-art medical facility, where pets are not only treated for lifesaving conditions, but also to help pets live life to the fullest. 
 
There’s lots to see in this big world, and little Buddy deserves to see it all through clear eyes. You would think his puppy dog eyes are a little rusty after all this, but no way! Ironically, red is Buddy’s color, and he earned his bandana right away after being scooped up by an adopter.  

When you donate to PAWS Chicago, you have a direct impact on helping homeless pets like Buddy. Thanks to the PAWS community, he’s looking forward to many happy, healthy years ahead.  

Make a Lifesaving Donation 

During this program, students are exposed to the full spectrum of shelter medicine, working alongside experienced shelter veterinarians to learn about infectious disease care and control, spay/neuter, animal welfare, behavior enrichment, and client education. 

At the end of the program, Katie gave a presentation to our Medical Team about her experience, focusing on animal behavior. Here are some of her takeaways.  

“Behavior has a link to medical concerns. It is so important to look at patients holistically,” said Katie.

Some animals exhibit fear, anxiety, and antisocial behavior because they’re physically hurting. For others, the pain is more nuanced. And while medication can be helpful, it’s not necessarily the solution.  

“It’s up to resources and consistency and routines to make sure these animals thrive in a shelter environment. But this isn't really possible in most shelters,” said Katie.  

Fortunately, thanks to PAWS’ Medical Center, training staff, volunteers, and foster network, we have the capacity and resources to help every animal that comes through our doors.  

But rehabilitation at PAWS is just the beginning. A lot still needs to happen post-adoption. 

“Our job as veterinarians is to make adopters aware of options, whether that be behavioral or medical. And there are certain habits not only with the animal but with the owner that need to change.” 

That’s right, it’s not just the pet’s job to learn and grow.

Adopters learn how their behavior impacts animals during our adoption counseling process and with the support of the PAWS Training Center. Actions that seem totally normal to us can actually be harmful.

“The classic example is when owners leave, they make a big deal about their animal, and when they come back, they also make a big deal about them. The bigger deal an owner makes, the bigger deal their departure seems to the animal.”

When an animal is still learning how to be alone, they may experience separation distress or even separation anxiety. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to gradually build an animal's confidence and comfort alone.

“You have to get habituated to leaving for increasing increments of time. So, you would start off leaving for half an hour. Then you come back, act like normal, and reward calm behavior.” 

Some people also like to play music or leave on a white noise machine, while they’re away to ease a pet’s anxiety. (Insider info: We play classical music all the time at the Medical Center and the animals love it!)  

And though it will take some time for any animal to get adjusted to a new home and new routine, the reward is immeasurable—finally getting to see an animal for who they truly are.  

“Once adopted, I like to use the “three”: three days, three weeks, three months. Three days is basically ‘all right, this is my new environment.’ Three weeks is getting settled into their routine with the owner. And three months is truly when the animal’s personality comes out,” says Katie.  

Are you ready to start a journey with your new best friend?  

Meet Adoptable Pets 

We’re not sure how long she was waiting there before being found by a police officer, but judging by her appetite, she had been hungry for a while. Due to her age and size, Cow first went to foster care and got to enjoy being a puppy with plenty of love and attention.   

At her foster home, Cow really found her voice—and a penchant for stealing people’s hearts wherever she went. Whether it was falling asleep in her foster mom’s lap in the sun, or figuring out what kind of toys are her new favorite (tennis ball- a classic), Cow made sure to give everything a try while deciding who she wants to be.  

After regaining her strength and getting back to her spunky self, Cow was adopted into a family with plenty of love to go around, never to be discarded again.   

“She has everyone’s heart in her paws,” said her adopter, Narinder Singh. “She LOVES to meet people and dogs wherever she goes, and loves being outside. There are lots of dogs in our neighborhood, and she wants to play with all of them, even the ones that don’t want to play with her. She’s been the most wonderful addition to our family.”  

We’re so happy this little pup is leaving the shoebox days behind, and even better, her adopter turned out to be a friend of the officer who found her! We can see a rescuer reunion or two in her future.  

Interested in fostering a recovering pet like Cow?  

Become a Foster 

Canela was found as a stray by a Chicago police officer and initially housed at the police station for a week. The officer was concerned about bringing Canela to an overcrowded animal shelter. Instead, they contacted PAWS Chicago where they knew Canela would be safe.

It didn’t take long before Canela was adopted from our state-of-the-art, cageless Lincoln Park Adoption Center. “She was so gentle and quiet. She was laying on her bed and we locked eyes and it was destiny,” said her owner, Sam.

Canela’s new name is Barb, and she’s living the good life with her family, including a cat!

 “The only thing Barb really wants is love. The first night she came home with us, she was already asking for belly rubs,” said Sam.

Her owners think she’s #1, and we’re proud to call her #75,000! 

“She's our therapist, our friend and our guardian; and even after just a month we already can't imagine our lives without her,” said Sam.

Thanks to PAWS Chicago, 5,000 pets like Barb are adopted each year. Visit pawschicago.org to learn more and schedule your adoption appointment today!

Barb (formerly known as Canela) taking a ride in a Chicago Police Department vehicle after she was found as a stray

Angels with Tails Gold Coast is the event that launched PAWS Chicago – and Chicago’s No Kill movement -- 25 years ago, and after a pandemic hiatus, we were delighted to be back in the heart of the Gold Coast.

Along with several other rescue groups, PAWS brought dozens of Chicago’s homeless animals to 26 stores along Oak Street, Rush Street, and Delaware Place for an afternoon of shopping and saving lives! 

Check out some of the coverage below:

• Thrillist “Things to do in Chicago this Weekend”
• ABC 7 Weekender
• NBC 5 News
• CBS 2 Evening News
• FOX 32 Evening News
• WBBM NewsRadio

The Angels with Tails adoption event will return to the heart of the Gold Coast shopping district this Sunday, June 5! Angels with Tails Gold Coast is the event that launched PAWS Chicago – and Chicago’s No Kill movement -- 25 years ago. PAWS Chicago, along with four other shelter and rescue groups, will unite to bring dozens of Chicago’s homeless animals to 26 swanky storefronts and windows along Oak Street, Rush Street, and Delaware Place. It’s a walking tour of furry faces for the whole family to meet (and hopefully adopt)! Watch the interview here, and learn more about Angels with Tails Gold Coast.

Watch the interview below and learn more about the Summer Kitten Adoption Challenge.

PAWS rescued Lillian from the city shelter. Senior kitties like her often get overlooked, and we wanted to make sure this honeybun got the second chance she deserved. 

The first stop for every PAWS pet is the Medical Center. There, we found out Lillian was dehydrated, her muscles were weak from disuse, and she was suffering from dental disease.   

After giving her fluids and removing several painful teeth, Lillian spent a week in foster care recovering. Despite some discomfort from healing, Lillian quickly regained her curiosity and her appetite—a great sign. 

“Lillian is very clever and curious. She enjoys exploring our apartment and treats it like an adventure. Don’t be surprised if she pouts in the kitchen when you make dinner. She is just jealous it isn’t for her!” said foster mom Emily March. 

Once fully healed, Lillian moved onto the next leg of her journey at our Adoption Center. And it wasn’t long before Sam and John Fletcher met her and fell in love. 

“We knew she was the right cat for us as soon as we met her. She immediately came over to us and started purring, and she hasn't stopped since!” said Sam. 

Post-adoption, Lillian spent her first few days getting to know Sam and John and exploring her new home. She quickly fit right in. 

“We jokingly call her ‘Chillian’ because she's so relaxed and chill. She sleeps on our bed with us at night. We are just as attached and couldn't imagine our life without her,” said Sam. 

When Lillian isn’t napping, she can be found using her scratching post or following her people around the house.  

“She is the sweetest, kindest, cutest girl and has a lot of energy for a 16-year-old! She's decided her favorite places are looking out our door at people passing by and sitting at the head of the dining room table,” said Sam. 

We couldn't imagine a more perfect family for Lillian. 

“She is ALWAYS purring and constantly wants human contact, whether through head scratches or just sitting curled up next to us. We are so thankful to PAWS for allowing us to meet her and bring her home!” said Sam. 

Want to give a homeless cat a second chance like Sam and John did for Lillian?

“I marveled at the animal intensive care unit and our veterinary cardiologists. I wanted to offer dogs in need care and support for healing,” said Joe.

Joe is now one of our most dedicated volunteers at PAWS’ recently expanded and remodeled Medical Center. He’s also one of our greatest advocates.

“The grand re-opening of the Medical Center was a profound event—we learned that spay/neuter takes priority along with vaccinations to have upstream impacts on the health and welfare of dogs and cats. This means having an incredible commitment to teaching, learning, diversity and welcoming all people.”

While Joe appreciates the big picture of our mission, his fondest memories at PAWS are small moments with animals like Toby—a tiny, blind terrier.

“I love dog walking at the Medical Center. After walks one day, I went to visit Toby. He was so excited and happy when I entered his room. I brought plenty of treats and he raced around sniffing and finding them.”

Then something even cuter happened.

“He came up to me and started to lick my face. He kept the kisses coming and climbed up on my shoulders and started to lick my head. I was shocked, ecstatic, laughing, and grateful for my visit with Toby. The sun was shining in his room, and the music was playing. It doesn't get better than that!”

In addition to time with pets, Joe’s a big fan of PAWS’ people.

“I have learned so much from other volunteers at all levels. I am always welcomed and thanked which creates a wonderful culture of caring.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer like Joe?

“Take the plunge! Volunteering is great and happens around your schedule. You can learn online and bring a friend with you,” says Joe.

Become a Volunteer

Watch her story below and learn more about the Medical Center.

Brianna became a PAWS foster in November 2020, and Rudy Rudy was her second foster cat. Since adopting him, Rudy Rudy has done a great job helping Brianna with other shy foster cats.

“Rudy Rudy is a big kitten socializer and such a good role model. He has been helpful for several of the shy cats that we've had, including Dutch,” said Brianna.

Dutch is Brianna’s most recent foster cat. At first, he just hid in the bathroom, afraid of everyone and everything. A big part of that was from being in pain—he was suffering from advanced dental disease.

After several tooth extractions at the Medical Center and a week of careful observation by our medical team, Dutch returned to Brianna. But he was more fearful than ever.

“I would sit in the bathroom, but I wouldn't pet him. I’d just wait for him to come out.”

Brianna earned Dutch’s trust by letting him be in control. It took about a week, but he finally decided to come to her for affection.

“Now his favorite thing is being pet and scratched. As soon as you start, his motor goes, and he purrs so loudly. When I stop, he looks at me and puts his paw on my leg like he’s saying, ‘I didn’t say stop.’”

Dutch has also bravely made his way past the bathroom walls.

“We put a baby gate in the door. He kept showing interest, so we took the gate down and let him explore the bedroom. Soon he was like, ‘Wait. I know there's more.’ Now he just runs around wherever he wants.”

Dutch’s kitty social skills are improving every day, too.

“He likes Rudy Rudy. As soon as he sees Rudy, he runs right up to him, and Rudy will give him some head licks.”

Dutch has even decided toys might be fun. Maybe.

“We've been doing some stuff with wand toys, and he does enjoy them. But he gets distracted. He’s such a playful little guy.”

Thanks to all of Brianna's love and support, Dutch was recently cleared for adoption!

“He would do well in a fairly quiet house with people who take the time to learn and recognize that he really is the sweetest and he just wants love and affection,” says Brainna. 

Meet Dutch

If you’re not interested in adopting right now, consider becoming a foster like Brianna.

“It's a very rewarding experience. You get to see them grow and become comfortable with people and learn that they're in a safe, caring environment. It’s definitely worth that time and energy. And if you happen to have a couple of kittens, it's a whole lot of fun.”

Become a Foster

Aside from loving the kitties, Deb knows what it takes for nonprofits to thrive after working with smaller organizations and startups in her career. The Lifeline program is just that -- it’s the monthly donations that PAWS relies on to fund existing programs and expand the lifesaving work to save more homeless dogs and cats. Sustainability is crucial and ensures that PAWS will be around for many years to come.

Being an animal lover, Deb finds that the adoption program is the most impactful to her. She knows that PAWS finds home for so many animals (we celebrate around 5,000 adoptions annually) and the symbolism of the red bandana pets are given during the adoption shows the transition from homeless pet to PAWS alumni.

Do you know someone who wants to be part of the PAWS movement? Have them join our community of Lifeline monthly donors, so they, too, can make a lasting difference.

Learn More 

Check out some of the exciting media coverage from CBS, Chicago Sun-Times, WGN Evening News and WGN Chicago Scene.

A dog named Milo at PAWS Chicago

Brian Rich/Sun-Times

Chances are, when you say the name Schatzi around anyone who works with PAWS, you’ll be met with a huge smile and one of many reasons why they love her so much. Most of us worked with Schatzi in some capacity over the years, and we shared the highs and lows of her journey with her to find a home.

Schatzi was first adopted as a puppy back in 2014, but she returned to PAWS a few years later when her owners were expecting a child. Schatzi is very fearful of children and needed to spend her time thriving in a stress-free home.

The next time she was adopted, she spent several happy, amazing years with her new guardian. They were the best of friends, so when her owner passed away, poor Schatzi was heartbroken. Losing another family was devastating for a girl who loves as hard as she does.

That’s the thing about Schatzi—the only thing bigger than her appetite is her heart. She loves cuddles, belly rubs and people as much as they love her.

Our favorite chonk was officially adopted by her foster family on April 2. She had spent about a month with them before falling in love and making it official. Schatzi was the first foster for this couple, but sometimes one is all it takes. Adoption staff held a celebration for the new family with cake (even a Schatzi-friendly one), tons of belly rubs, and her tail didn’t stop wagging from the time she walked through the door to her final exit from the Adoption Center.

It’s obvious that Schatzi is crazy about her new family, and she received lots of farewell pets and kisses from PAWS staff to send her off with as much love as she has given us over the years. Please join us in wishing this family lots of fun adventures and couch cuddles to come!

Give a homeless pet a second chance.

Adopt

Alycia grew up in West Roger’s Park with a Golden Retriever, “we were kind of like a bonded pair,” and she knew very early on that being a vet was her calling. 

“There was never a question in my mind. I always knew this is what I was going to do.”

Alycia still has a scrap of paper from Kindergarten where she wrote, “When I grow up, I'm going to take care of dogs and cats.”

When it came to her choice of vet school, Alycia was just as decisive—Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts and Nevis.  

“It was the only school I applied to.”

After Alycia graduated in 2000, she did private practice for two years. In 2003, she opened up her own practice and ran it until 2016 when she decided it was time for a change.   

“I always knew I loved surgery and my goal was to give back to the community. That was something that my dad passed down to me. He was always very big on giving back.”

What followed was a series of educational adventures, starting with volunteering for Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic. 

“I flew in on a Tuesday, did surgery Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and flew home Sunday. I did about 80 surgeries in total.”  

After that, Alycia went to Aruba, then Puerto Rico right after Hurricane Maria.

“From there, I got into Spay-a-thon with the Humane Society, and I started getting a lot more into high volume spay/neuter since 2016.”   

Alycia attributes her exceptional speed to her many travels.

“I met so many amazing doctors, and I started getting so many tips to become more efficient. It's kind of like in the Olympics—you're not gonna shave off minutes, but you can shave off a couple seconds.”  

Alycia’s big passion for spay/neuter is all about prevention.   

“People use the argument, ‘Well, my dog stays on the leash’ or ‘my cat doesn't go outside.' But it's really about preventing so many potential medical conditions, like pyometra (an infection of the uterus) or testicular cancer or prostate cancer.”

Every day, Alycia sees animals suffering from preventable issues and owners have to choose between an expensive surgery or having to put their beloved pet down.   

“People don't think it's going to happen to them until they end up at the emergency clinic and you're handing them a $5000 bill they can't afford. And we could have avoided this situation.”

Last summer, Alycia was contacted by Gabe Nieves, Head of People & Culture at PAWS, on LinkedIn.   

“He called, and he’s the nicest guy and convinced me to take a shift. And then the staff was so nice. I loved everyone here. And two weeks ago, I went full time.”  

We’re extremely grateful to have Dr. Alycia’s skills here at PAWS.

“I'm so, so happy. I mean, the team, they're amazing. I just love it here. Literally, it feels like home. When something is right, you just know,” says Alycia. 

--------------------------------

Think you can’t afford spay/neuter? Think again. The Lurie Clinic offers pricing on a sliding scale so it’s affordable for everyone. 

Call 773-521-7729 (SPAY) or email clinic@pawschicago.org to make an appointment for your pet today.

“I started fostering June 2020. My dad got COVID, and it was the very beginning when it was really, really scary. So, my best girlfriend, Victoria “Tory” Snyder, who’s a PAWS volunteer, suggested I get a foster cat just to have some comfort and distraction,” said Lauren.  

Lauren and her husband, Derek, agreed it was a great idea. 

“So, I got three little kittens. All sisters. I ended up having them for four months. My dad was positive for COVID for 17 days, and those little kitties helped me so much through that time.”

Surprisingly, Lauren had never interacted much with cats before.  

“But after just a couple days, my husband and I were obsessed. We were like, ‘I guess we’re cat people now. This is it.’”

And that was just the beginning. 

“Now, Romney is our 23rd foster. We just love it. We’re planning on, hopefully, fostering for the rest of our lives.” 

Romney is a 5-year-old cat who was brought to the city shelter after being attacked by an unknown animal. He tested positive for FIV, and his face was covered in wounds and abscesses. 

Despite all this, he was still making biscuits when we picked him up and brought him to the Medical Center.

Once safely at PAWS, our veterinary team carefully cleaned his wounds, applied topical medications, and administered IV fluids. After being stabilized, it was time to find this fella a foster home where he could comfortably heal.

Thankfully, Lauren was right there to help.

“My girlfriend, Tory (again!) sent me a screenshot of Romney in his little cone with his face all bashed up, and I just needed to have him,” said Lauren. 

Lauren emailed PAWS right away and picked him up two days later.  

“At the beginning, he was on four or five different kinds of medication, including liquid injections. I also had to put a hot compress on his face three times a day. I was so surprised at how much he seemed to want it. He pushed his little head up against the hot towel. It kind of broke my heart it was such a relief for him.”

Romney’s recovery didn’t take long, though. 

“After a week in his cone and on medication, he looked amazing. His hair started growing back. His bones were healing, and he's just brand new. I don't have to do anything anymore. He is just an ideal cat. He’s so sweet. And he’s so freaking handsome!”  

In fact, Romney is doing so well, Lauren recently got some great news.   

“I just got a call about an hour ago. I'm going to bring him in on Sunday because he cleared for adoption. Very exciting.”

Whoever decides to adopt Romney is going to be one lucky duck. 

 “Every time I think about filling out the foster report, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘911! This is a 10 out of 10 cats. And we need a 10 out of 10 mom or dad for him!” 

 However, if you’re not looking to adopt, you can become a foster like Lauren and help the countless other cats in need of temporary homes. 

“Just try it once and there is a really good chance you are going to become addicted. And if it doesn't work out or it’s not a good match, PAWS is so accommodating. And the PAWS foster community has such a great Facebook group—there are so many people who will help you. But, bottom line, there’s a good chance you’re gonna love it.”

In addition to changing the lives of nearly two dozen cats, Lauren and Derek’s lives have been changed as well.   

“I just feel like my husband and I have a whole new joy added to our lives. We never knew what it was like to have an animal in our home. And life is just better with fosters,” says Lauren.

Romney is with his adopted family now, but we are always looking for new foster parents!

Become a Foster

“We were reading different dog profiles, trying to find a good match for us. Cora seemed to be a great match. We knew we wanted a snuggle dog,” said Matt.

Cora came to PAWS back in August as an anxious, shy and shutdown Lab mix.

Upon her arrival, she was diagnosed with hookworm and heartworm. Cora went to stay with a foster to heal and adjust to family life.

Foster care is where Cora learned to tap into her five love languages–expressing touch as her primary one! This once scared and stand-off pup overcame her anxieties to show her true personality and become available for adoption.

“I quickly made an appointment and as soon as we met her at PAWS, I just knew she was a great fit for us. Meeting her also gave us confidence that we would be a good fit for her,” said Matt.

The first few days at home were critical in setting up boundaries, helping Cora relax, and establishing a routine. Cora was a quick learner, and by the third day, she was expressing her confidence.

“She really changed in the first few days—from coming home a fearful dog to one that is confident, happy and playful,” said Matt.

Happy at home together now, Cora loves learning and playing with puzzle toys. Cora is also taking in all the belly rubs four hands can provide.

“We love Cora for so many reasons, I don’t think we could pick just one! She is part of our family, and we are so excited to be her forever home.” said Matt.

Just like Cora, there are hundreds of sick and injured animals right now in need of your help. Learn more about bringing home a dog or cat on our website.

Different layers, textures, and spaces provide excellent enrichment for puppies and adult dogs, so we introduced lots of fun, new surfaces. The grass area gives traction for running, and the smooth tile surface is great for bouncing toys or cooling down on in warmer months. Plus, removing the flower beds increased our surface area for playing.

This is also an important space for introducing a potential adopter’s resident dog to a dog they want to adopt. The outdoor aspect of the space is more natural and stress-free than a walled-in, echoing room. The ability to sniff, run, and burn off energy during a meeting relieves a lot of the pressure when two dogs meet, and it leads to much more successful introductions.

Our staff and volunteers use this space for multiple playgroups a day, which not only gives the animals a break with some activity and socialization, but it allows us to facilitate animal care and cleaning throughout the day 

Dogs are pack animals and naturally social creatures. Even so, every dog has a distinct personality, so it’s important to organize each playgroup to set every dog up for success.

Staff pairs up dogs strategically based off size and play style, such as puppies versus large breeds, and mouthy versus shy and fearful dogs. Proper socialization involves making good matches, as randomly pairing incompatible dogs together can have a negative effect on how they approach meeting new dogs in the future.

Socialization is the most important use of the space. With so many dogs that want to be with other dogs, the rooftop space gives them the opportunity for healthy playtime and the ability to meet dogs from other rooms.

“Letting them run full out and meet other dogs is one of the most important things we can do for their behavior,” said PAWS Director of Canine Training and Behavior Joan Harris, “One of the biggest stressors that dogs have in the shelter environment is watching people and other dogs go by their rooms and not being able to naturally interact with them.”

Socialization is especially important for puppies, as this is how they learn to play without hurting, the force of their bite, and how to recognize social cues from other dogs’ behavior. As puppies prepare to enter new environments where they will constantly meet and see new dogs, it’s important to give them confidence so they approach new sights, sounds, and smells comfortably and keep that experience fun and exciting.

Help us continue to imporve our shelter spaces.

Donate

“I've been wanting to volunteer at an animal shelter ever since I was little. When I moved to Chicago about a year ago, I finally decided it was the right time,” said Andrea.

Andrea began as a Level 1 volunteer at Dog Town, but she soon knew she wanted to do more.

“I noticed how many Level 2 dogs weren't getting as much time because there aren't as many Level 2 volunteers. After becoming a Level 2 volunteer about a month ago, I've been able to walk and socialize the dogs who have been with us just a little longer.”

Andrea sees this type of support as a crucial part of what sets PAWS apart.

“PAWS is special because we don't give up on a dog. Some dogs come in from rough situations and no training—many shelters out there would move on and only work with dogs who are immediately adoptable. PAWS puts in the time to train these dogs to help them become ready to be part of someone's family.”

Every transformation is truly rewarding.

“It's amazing to see them really open up as they get to know you. As anyone who’s met Finch or Wanda know, they are a little fearful of new people, but as they get to know you, they're the best cuddlebugs and total sweethearts.”

But the ultimate reward is seeing these pups find their people.

“I love being part of the adoption process. There's a moment when you're introducing an adopter to their potential new dog, and it just clicks. I can think of so many adoptions where you just know that dog has found its new family before that family even tells you they want to move forward.”

If you’re ready to start making a difference in the lives of homeless pets like Andrea, please sign up to become a PAWS Chicago volunteer.

Become a Volunteer

Despite his big name, Titan was the runt of the litter, weighing five pounds at two months old. His brother Timaru, on the other hand, was already on the verge of a hearty nine pounds when they arrived at the Medical Center—the first stop for every PAWS pet.

When we get new pups like this, they immediately go into quarantine for two weeks to make sure they don’t have any underlying, contagious illnesses. In this case, Timaru and Titan happily spent most of that time in foster care.

After vaccinations, neuter surgery, and a final checkup, Timaru and Titan were cleared for adoption. And, as you can imagine, it wasn’t long before they were on their way home with a welcome bag of healthy Merrick pet food.

Timaru (now named Maru) instantly hit it off with his new dad, Keshaun Canty.

“I knew Maru was right for me when I first looked at him and we just connected and built a quick bond. He makes me feel complete,” said Keshaun.

When they’re not turning heads with their off-the-charts cuteness, Keshaun and Maru can be found playing tug of war or spending time with family. 

But Timaru isn’t the only happy camper. Titan went home with Rich Dorsey and his girlfriend, Revae, who named him Gouda.

“Like the cheese!” says Rich.

Today, Gouda is “becoming a zoomies pro. His favorite move is the risky business slide on our hardwood floors. It's fun to watch his personality come out. He's added a lot of spunk and love to our household,” said Rich.

Interested in welcoming a homeless pet into your life?

READ WHISKEY’S STORY HERE

Since launching the program in 2014, we have built relationships with pet owners in Englewood, West Englewood, Woodlawn, and Back of the Yards, providing free services to 17,000 pets in those communities.

Whiskey was suffering from severe infections caused by advanced dental disease, which could have been fatal if left once the infection entered his blood stream. Our Community Medicine veterinary team performed a three-hour emergency dental surgery at our state-of-the-art Medical Center in Little Village. 

The PAWS Chicago Community Outreach team is composed of five different programs, each working in tandem to address pet overpopulation and resource inequity on the South Side of Chicago:

• PAWS for Life - our door-to-door, relationship-building outreach program that removes barriers to spay/neuter and preventative care for pets
• Community Medicine - where we provide complimentary weekly illness and injury veterinary care at our Englewood Outreach Center
• Pet Help Hotline - where we connect residents to pet services, problem-solve issues around pet care and behavior, and counsel pet owners going through stress related to their pets (available in English and Spanish)
• Pet Food Pantry - distributes donated pet food to residents, based out of our Englewood Outreach Center
• Community Cats - creates access to trap-neuter-return services for residents who feed outdoor cats

Our teams work on the ground in our service communities five days a week, year-round, and our Pet Help Hotline receives 200 calls a day from South Side residents looking for help with their pets.

Seventy-five percent of the pets have never been to a vet, as there are no veterinarians, pet supply stores, or other pet-related resources in these neighborhoods. The majority – 95% – of pets are unaltered when we meet them, and 83% end up getting spayed. Whiskey was not neutered, so we performed a free neuter surgery as well. We’re there to connect with pet lovers who do not have access to these vital services.
 
To learn more about receiving assistance through our community outreach programs, call our Pet Help Hotline at: 773-217-9113.

That’s 420,000 potential heart beats. 420,000 uncertain fates. 420,000 reasons why every single spay and neuter matters.

Prevention is our most powerful tool for achieving No Kill communities. And it’s why we built the Lurie Clinic—a place where any pet owner in Chicago can access essential spay/neuter services. But we need your help to keep moving forward.

You can make a difference by volunteering for Thursday Client Lifts.

Every Thursday, we offer free spay/neuter surgeries as well as pick-up and drop-off service for pet owners in resource-deprived neighborhoods.

Starting this month, we’ve welcomed a new vet  to the team and are able to increase the number of Thursday spay/neuter surgeries, which means we need your help more than ever to transport cats and dogs.

If you’re already a volunteer and would like to help with morning pick-ups (7:00–9:15 a.m.) or afternoon drop-offs (4:30–7:30 p.m.), please email Becky Murrow at bmurrow@pawschicago.org.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, CLICK HERE .

You can also help by getting the word out. Here’s what your family, friends, and friends of friends should know:

#1: Spay/neuter is the easiest way to help your pet live a longer, healthier, happier life by reducing the likelihood of certain cancers, tumors, and behavior issues.

#2: The Lurie Clinic has tiered pricing to ensure everyone can afford spay/neuter. See all Lurie Clinic services and pricing HERE.

#3: Spay/neuter is the key to preventing unwanted pets from being killed.

To make a spay/neuter appointment at the Lurie Clinic, call (773) 521-7729 or email clinic@pawschicago.org. Customer Service representatives are available Sun, Tues–Thurs, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

“I grew up in Iowa City. Animals just found me; cats followed me home. My parents never turned an animal away, so we fostered a lot. I even hand-raised kittens that didn’t have a mom,” said Lisa.

Lisa’s caring nature led her to a profession in nursing, specializing in infant care. However, she missed helping animals. And at her sister’s baby shower nine years ago, Lisa met a PAWS foster coordinator who said something that changed her life:   

“The more fosters we have, the more animals we can save.”   

Later, as Lisa filled out a PAWS foster application on her sofa, “one of my cats was laying across my neck. Another was over my head. And my third on my legs. I thought, ‘every animal should have this—to be comfortable and loved not scared.’” 

Since then, Lisa has fostered 290 cats and kittens, focusing on mothers and their litters. She helps year-round—when one family leaves, Lisa follows a strict ritual of cleaning and sanitizing, then she brings in the next family. 

 But after her most recent litter cleared for adoption, a single kitten caught Lisa’s eye in the PAWS Chicago Foster Facebook group: Jubilee. 

 “Jubilee was there, and she just looked so sad. People were sending hearts and care, but nobody was saying they could take her.”

 Lisa rose to the occasion and brought 6-month-old Jubilee home to heal from a leg fracture, partial tail amputation, and panleukopenia—a dangerous and contagious virus that requires lots of supportive care to help the body fight it. 

“She is on a ton of medication. Nighttime and daytime. Antibiotics, probiotics, Prednisone. She has nebulizer treatments every eight hours.”  

But Jubilee is already feeling so much better.

“Her eyes are less runny. She’s occasionally snotty, especially after the nebulizer treatments. But that's normal. And she's not coughing or sneezing so much.”

 Because of her leg fracture, Jubilee’s movement has to be limited. But, thankfully, her cuddling does not.

“She is one of the most affectionate kittens I've had. She just wants to be pet and purr, rubbing her face all over your hands and your arms. She's a love bug.”

Jubilee is also a big fan of food. 

“She loves to eat, which is a good thing because she's very thin. She dives her head right into the plate. It’s like kittens when they first learned to eat—they put their whole heads in the food and you have to keep wiping their faces. She’s just the same.”

 But that’s not Jubilee’s only adorable trait.  

“She makes me laugh every time I'm with her. She's got this kind of raspy meow, and she talks to you. And she flops so that you can rub her tummy and her chest, and she just looks so cute because when she flops, her eyes cross.”

Lisa has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of homeless pets, including Jubilee, as do all our fosters. 

"It's so important to me that every animal is loved and wanted and cared for. A lot of the cats and kittens have been through horrible, heart wrenching situations. To be able to spread a little bit of love and sunshine into their hearts, it’s an incredible thing to do.”

For starters, his name used to be Hartley.

When Hartley came to PAWS, he was just a scrawny one-year-old filled with fear. His first adoption attempt failed because he refused to get more than 10 feet away from home and started having debilitating separation anxiety.

Hartley returned to PAWS where he could get the training needed to work through these issues. Our patient staff, volunteers, and fosters slowly got Hartley comfortable taking longer and longer walks.

As Hartley’s athletic side blossomed, he graduated to our Fun Run club—a program where volunteers take out exercise-loving pups for longer runs. James Pszanka, a volunteer and part of TEAM PAWS, took an instant liking to Hartley and trained with him often.

In February, Hartley completed the final step of his transformation—he found his family in Kendall and Taylor Wolfe during our Big Love adoption event at the Lincoln Park Adoption Center.

“We’ve named him Clark, and he took to the name almost immediately. ‘Hartley’ had some cards stacked against him, but I believe that his new name gives him a fresh start,” said Kendall.

Clark took to his new home just as quickly as his new name.

“Clark acclimated to our family within just a few days, and it’s hard to imagine not having him around. He's polite and gentle, and he hasn’t had an accident yet.”

Kendall and Taylor see Clark’s quirks as part of his charm.

“He has some more complicated needs than other dogs, but that’s part of what makes him so endearing. He’s incredibly sweet and a fast learner. I’m confident we’ll bring as much to his life as he does to ours.”

Clark even keeps in touch with his Fun Run club buddy, James Pszanka, who likes to swing by for a jog from time to time. Clark is truly living his best life.

“When Clark isn’t outside running or walking, he enjoys playing with his squeaky toys and snacking on ice cubes. We love his personality. Clark is always full of energy, and he’s always happy. We love him, and we’re so excited to be his forever home!” says Kendall.

Adopt

View the full list of winners here.

Today is a momentous day for pets in Illinois – the Humane Pet Store Bill is officially in effect! Illinois has become the fifth state to ban puppy mill sales in pet stores.

This is a great victory for pets – after months of advocacy, Governor Pritzker signed HB 1711 into law in August 2021 and it went into effect on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. This historic legislation will protect puppy mill pets from being bred for profit by driving the pet market in Illinois towards more humane sources like shelters, rescues, and responsible breeders. Thank you to everyone who contacted their state legislators and helped bring these protections to pets statewide!

Update: February 11, 2022

HB 4643, which would reverse the historic passing of Humane Pet Store Bill HB 1711 that was signed into law last summer, will be heard in committee this Tuesday, Feb 15^th. Please speak up for animals in need by signing witness slips in opposition ASAP. Individuals can mark “self” for representation, and “record of appearance only”. It only takes 1 minute of your time to make a difference, sign the witness slip below and voice your opposition today!

Click here to fill out your Witness Slip form.  

Witness Slip Instructions: 

Part I: Fill in your information. Enter "Self" for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields. 

Part II: Enter "Self" in available field 

Part III: Mark "OPPONENT" 

Part IV: Mark "Record Of Appearance Only" 
 

What is HB 4643?

Historic legislation (HB 1711) was signed into law August 2021, and due to take effect this month, protecting puppy mill pets bred for profit by driving the pet market in Illinois towards more humane sources like shelters, rescues and responsible breeders. It protects mother dogs and puppies from the puppy mill pipeline and prevents consumers from supporting cruel puppy mills and ending up with sick puppies. 

HB 4643, introduced by pet store and puppy mill lobbyists, would reverse the protection of pets born for profit across the state and place thousands of animals in danger once again. The bill is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, February 15. Please take action now and voice your opposition by filling out a witness slip!   

Update: January 24, 2022

The legal path to protect innocent lives from the terrors of puppy mills continues. The hearing for SB 1751 Amendment 2 was cancelled in the House of Representatives last week, and the rescheduled date hasn’t been announced. But puppy mill lobbyists are still at work by introducing a new bill – HB 4643 – which would reverse the historic passing of the Humane Pet Store Bill HB 1711.  

HB 4643 has not been assigned to a committee yet but in the meantime, it is vital to contact your State House Representative to OPPOSE HB 4643. Find your House Representative and their contact information and ask them to vote NO on HB 4643. 

Update: January 14, 2022

Historic legislation—HB 1711, signed into law August 27, 2021, and due to take effect next month—protects puppy mill pets bred for profit by driving the pet market in Illinois towards more humane sources like shelters, rescues and responsible breeders. It protects mother dogs and puppies from the puppy mill pipeline and prevents consumers from being duped into supporting cruel puppy mills and ending up with sick puppies.  

Now, a dangerous amendment put forth by pet store lobbyists seeks to reverse those protections and undermine the new law.  SB 1751 Amendment 2 would reverse the protection of pets born for profit across the state and place thousands of animals in danger once again. The bill is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, January 18. Please take action now!   

1) Call your House Representatives to oppose SB 1751 Amendment 2. 

Find your State Representative and their contact information.  

2) Sign a Witness Slip to oppose the bill before Tuesday, January 18 at 3pm.  

Click here to fill out your Witness Slip form. 
 

Witness Slip Instructions: 

Part I: Fill in your information. Enter "Self" for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields. 

Part II: Enter "Self" in available field 

Part III: Mark "OPPONENT" 

Part IV: Mark "Record Of Appearance Only" 

Update: August 27, 2021

Since March, HB 1711, the Humane Pet Store Bill, has passed through the Illinois legislature, garnered support from thousands of animal-lovers, and made its way to Governor Pritzker’s desk. Today, Governor Pritzker will sign HB 1711 into law! 

Soon, animals will be legally protected from puppy mill breeding intended for pet store profit in the state of Illinois. 

What happens to the legislation now that Governor Pritzker signed HB 1711?

With the Governor’s support of HB 1711, puppy mill pets bred for profit will soon be legally protected by the state of Illinois! The protections for puppy mill animals outlined in HB 1711 will become effective 180 days after its passing, or late February 2022.

Thank you, animal advocates, for using your voices for pets in need! Because of your constant, unwavering support, our state has taken an important step toward an even stronger No Kill community. We wouldn’t be celebrating this momentous victory for in-need pets without you.

Update: July 22, 2021

HB 1711, the Humane Pet Store Bill, is still sitting on Governor Pritzker’s desk waiting to be signed into law. This legislation is vital to furthering the No Kill mission and protecting pets born for profit across the state. Its passage would make Illinois the 5^th state to ban puppy mill sales in pet stores. Thank you to all who have helped voice support of this bill!

Your advocacy can’t end here. Constant, daily contact with the Governor’s office is needed to get this legislation enacted.

Contact Governor Pritzker’s office by phone at (217) 782-0244 or email at gov.billpositions@illinois.gov  to urge Governor Pritzker to sign the bill into law.

Suggested email script:

Dear Governor Pritzker,

As your constituent, I urge you to sign HB 1711 into law to prohibit the sale of puppy mill puppies and kittens in pet stores today. By signing this bill, you’ll be helping Illinois make history as the nation’s 5^th state to ban puppy mill sales.

HB 1711 will drive the pet market in Illinois towards more humane sources like shelters, rescues and responsible breeders. It will protect mother dogs and puppies from the puppy mill pipeline and prevent consumers from being duped into supporting cruel puppy mills and ending up with sick puppies.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Update: June 1, 2021

HB 1711, the Humane Pet Store Bill, has passed with 38 votes! Now that it’s been voted out of both the Illinois House and Senate, it’s on its way to Governor Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law. Thanks to all who helped voice their support of this bill and the senators and representatives who championed this cause, puppy mill breeders can no longer rely on selling the animals born in their care for profit in Illinois pet stores. 

Update: May 28, 2021

We are happy to report that HB 1711, the Humane Pet Store Bill, passed the Senate Agriculture Committee 12-1 yesterday, which means it is now before the entire Senate for a vote at any time.  Your help is urgently needed.  Please contact your State Senator today to support HB 1711! 

Find your State Senator and their contact information.

Update: April 21, 2021 

Chicago just passed Ordinance 2827 to close the puppy mill loophole, an incredible win for innocent animals! The passage of HB 1711 would extend these protections to animals statewide. 

Right now, HB 1711 is in the Illinois Senate, about to be assigned to a committee where it will be ready for a committee hearing. You can directly help this bill pass by contacting your senator to support or cosponsor HB 1711, and make Illinois the 5th state to make history for homeless pets. Find your Senator and their contact information.

Related: Read how you can support SB 0153 and the effort to strengthen protections in animal cruelty cases in Illinois.

Update: March 17, 2021

We are thrilled to report that HB 1711 passed out of the Illinois Consumer Protection Committee with a 5-1 vote, which means it’s now headed to the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives. 

HB 1711 joins another animal welfare bill on the House floor called HB 572, which will prohibit third party financing for dogs and cats purchased in pet stores and will protect consumers from high interest rates. Both bills are before the House of Representatives and will be voted on in the coming weeks.

Your help is needed for these bills to pass the next stage in the legislative process. Please contact your Illinois Representative to urge them to support and co-sponsor HB 1711 and HB 572 by using the suggested script below. Find your Representative and their contact information.

Update: March 12, 2021

On Monday, March 15, the Illinois Consumer Protection Committee will vote on HB 1711, a bill that will ban puppy mill sales in pet stores statewide, thereby protecting innocent animals who have survived inhumane treatment for profit.

The 2014 Chicago Pet Store Ordinance (Ordinance 2827) was the first step in protecting animals within city-limits, but a loophole in the ordinance allowed three pet stores to exploit the law. In January 2021, PAWS Chicago showed our support for an amendment to close this loophole, but the amendment was put on hold by the city council. HB 1711 would not only close the loophole, but it will also extend protections statewide.

Passage of this bill means dogs and cats for sale in pet stores must be obtained from a credible animal shelter or animal control facility. That means statewide protection for innocent animals who have endured cruel conditions at the hands of puppy mills.

The road to passing HB 1711 is just beginning. The bill will first be up for vote in the Illinois House Consumer Protection Committee. If it passes the vote on Monday, it will advance to the full House of Representatives, then Senate Committee, the Senate Floor, and ultimately will land on Governor Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law.

Right now, your support can impact the outcome of the vote that will protect innocent animals in Illinois.

TAKE ACTION

If you live in Illinois, please sign a Witness Slip to show your support of HB 1711 before Monday, March 15 at 3pm. By making your voice heard, you will stand up for the humane treatment of animals and promise them a better tomorrow.

Click here to fill out your Witness Slip form. 

Witness Slip Instructions:

Part I: Fill in your information. Enter "Self" for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields.

Part II: Enter "Self" in available field

Part III: Mark "Proponent"

Part IV: Mark "Record Of Appearance Only"

 Learn more about HB 1711.

In late January 2022, the PAWS Chicago medical team sprang to action when Jubilee, a 6-month-old kitten, arrived at our Medical Center from a municipal shelter in need of urgent medical care.

Her x-rays confirmed a fracture in her hind leg and she was suffering a break in her tail that failed to heal properly and required surgery. Several days later, her bloodwork results came back positive for feline panleukopenia. Highly contagious and resource intensive, this diagnosis is typically a death sentence at most shelters. PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center was designed with diseases like panleukopenia in mind and is able to care for sick cats like Jubilee thanks to medical-grade quarantine and isolation rooms.

Jubilee’s care required a feeding tube and IV fluids to receive intensive treatment along with antibiotics to stave off further infection. After several days in recovering in an incubator, Jubilee has overcome the odds and recovered from panleukopenia!

Now, she’s looking for a foster home where she can recover from an upper respiratory illness and receive crate rest and lots of physical affection to help her stay social and happy. Despite all she’s been through, Jubilee is thriving and loving.

While we don’t know the circumstances that led her to PAWS Chicago in this condition, we are thankful she is now receiving the lifesaving care needed to make a full recovery.   

“Other shelters don't have the capability, and without the ability to treat them, we can't possibly alleviate their pain, and that's a primary goal—to alleviate their pain and treat more animals in Chicago that couldn't get treatment elsewhere,” said Dr. Emily Swiniarski.

Last year, the PAWS Chicago Medical Center team performed 25 specialty eye surgeries and helped hundreds more recover from eye conditions through careful medication.

PAWS Chicago is a resource to nearby shelters, always willing to take pets in need of supportive eye care when they reach capacity. This includes enucleation—the complete removal of an eye.

“Even though animals have to rest and recover, they heal very quickly. Probably even within a week to 10 days, the incision is all healed and they're raring to go,” said Dr. Emily.

Procedures like this are life-changing.

For some animals, “we didn't even know what they were like until the pain was taken away. Then, a week after surgery, they're excited and they're running and they're playing. We actually tend to notice their true personality after surgery.”

But enucleation is just one of a range of eye operations and treatments PAWS tackles regularly.

“We get asked to take cats and dogs with severe eye infections, including deep ulcers on the front of the eye. We also help when the third eyelid is prolapsed, meaning it’s upset, inflamed and angry.”

One of the most common cases we see is entropion.

“Entropion is when the whole eyelid rolls inward and it’s very painful. It causes chronic irritation to the front of the eye. We do surgery for that quite frequently on cats and dogs.”

One such case was Scone, a 5-year-old, male kitty who came to us last fall from the city shelter. He needed entropion repair for both eyes and also had ulcers in both eyes.

“The right eye even required additional surgery to remove dead tissue and help the ulcer heal. He was put on a ton of meds and was officially cleared for adoption in January.”

Now, this sweet boy is showing us his true, opinionated, chatty self. He's even learned how to high-five! Scone’s recovery is one of hundreds made possible by the PAWS Medical Center, and we're just getting started.

No Kill means saving even the sickest and most injured animals. And with the capability to treat severe and complex eye conditions, we’re one step closer to achieving our goal.

Take a digital tour of our lifesaving facilities:

Explore the Medical Center

Interested in meeting Scone?

Schedule an Adoption Appointment

And, as it turns out, her background as a school psychologist has come in pretty handy.  

“Some of the behavioral strategies I learned in grad school, I applied to the cats. Like reinforcing the positive behaviors that you want to see. Providing a lot of structure. Planned ignoring. Setting boundaries,” said Julie. 

For the past two months, Julie has been fostering a unique duo—Caspian and Pancake.  

“I had been told that Caspian was extraordinarily shy and fearful, and that he had been in a home before and just kind of lived under the bed. He spent a lot of time hiding under the sofa at first. But as he got more comfortable, he started coming out while I was around. Now, he rarely hides. I think he likes me. He follows me around a lot, and he lets me tickle his nose or tickle his forehead.”  

Caspian and shy, 10-month-old Pancake were paired up at PAWS to help each other build confidence and come out of their shells.  

“Pancake was fearful the first couple of days and has a tiny bit of anxiety. But he likes to play, and he loves to be petted. Because Pankake was so comfortable with me and would let me pet him and would play with me, I'm sure that helped Caspian get more comfortable.”  

These days, Pancake can most likely be found snuggling with Caspian or going bananas over a wand toy. 

“He just goes crazy. He plays at like 125%. And he does all these jumps that are just gravity-defying.” 

Though Caspian was initially fearful, he has recently started joining the fun. 

“It’s really sweet to see because he’s a little bit chubby and a little bit awkward. He’ll get batting at the wand toy and fall off the chair. He doesn’t have that balance and agility that Pancake has, but he’s getting there and certainly looking for relaxed when he’s playing, so that’s awesome,” said Julie.  

Caspian and Pancake have come a long way in the last couple of months, and their transformation wouldn’t have been possible without Julie or our incredible foster network. 

Right now, there are 163 active fosters for PAWS Chicago giving 230 homeless pets a break from shelter life and allowing us to bring in that many more pets who need our help. Fosters truly make our No Kill mission possible.  

Interested in becoming a part of this life-changing community? Become a PAWS Chicago foster parent: 

Become a Foster

Interested in meeting Caspian and Pancake, aka “the sweetest and best-behaved little guys?”  

Schedule an Adoption Appointment

From snoot to toot, Midnight is covered in luxurious, black ringlets—all achieved without a single perm! And while we love a pup with a lush mop of fur, those tresses can be a deceptive burden requiring constant maintenance.

Proper grooming makes a huge impact on an animal’s quality of life. Living with gnarls is not only painful but can make it difficult to see and move. We’ve even encountered extreme cases where matted fur has cut off the circulation to limbs, ultimately requiring amputation.

Unfortunately, in areas such as Englewood and Back of the Yards, these services aren’t easily accessible, and we heard from many owners that grooming support was simply out of reach.

PAWS Community Outreach saw this problem and responded, partnering with a local groomer to offer free appointments. We keep a running list of community pets who require grooming, and when their number comes up, PAWS arranges free transportation to and from the groomer as well as a full-service package, including shampoo, haircut, nail trim and ear cleaning.

Of course, the transformations are downright adorable—one look at Midnight Weathers’ before and after pics makes that achingly obvious. But the best part is seeing animals’ personalities completely change as matted masses of fur are removed and shining eyes are revealed. Their postures shift, they perk up and jump around. They’re just happy they are to be…free.

Midnight is one of dozens of dogs we help with free grooming every year. If you live in zip codes 60636, 60621, or 60609 and are in need of grooming support for your pup, please call our Englewood Outreach Center at 773-217-9913 for more information.

Cobbler: This happy ball of joy loves activity as much as he loves stuffed toys. Cobbler’s favorite pastimes include romping with his dog friends and snuggling next to you (or in your lap if he can get away with it). A playful cuddlebug with an irresistible face? Sign us up!

Meet Cobbler   

Katara: Katara is a total homebody and devoted to her person. She wants to hang at your feet while you work during the day and chill with you in the evening. Katara is never happier than when she’s laying on the couch next to you, bone within reach. 

Meet Katara 

Chestnut: Chestnut is a country boy at heart and loves a quiet, green space to play. He’s affectionate, attentive and emotionally intelligent. He bounds to the door when you come home and never turns down a head rub— especially between his eyes. 

Meet Chestnut

Leah: This gentle giant is a hound in a Rottweiler body. Leah craves attention (and treats) from new friends, but she also enjoys people-watching at the window. Leah is looking for a person who enjoys lazy mornings and playful evenings as much as her. 

Meet Leah  

Hinley: Hinley is a survivor! He used to be 30 pounds underweight and had patches of missing fur. But he’s made a full recovery and this handsome ray of sunshine is ready to find his home! Hinley is well-behaved, smart, and eager to train. 

Meet Hinley 

Tolouse: Tolouse is that rare kind of dog who loves cats. She also loves tug of war followed by cuddles. And once she’s comfortable with you, she’s yours for life. Tolouse is looking for a true best friend to accompany her on life’s many adventures. 

Meet Tolouse

As an adult, Audra happily welcomed two felines into her family permanently: Alex (aka Bubby) and Gabriel (aka Girly Girl). 

“When I first got them, they literally fit in my palm. They were just the tiniest little puffballs. They played like crazy together. They slept together. He always had his arms around her. I even have pictures where they’re hugging each other in the shape of a heart,” said Audra.

While Gabriel was more aloof, Alex clearly ran the house and would literally sit on Gabriel to get Audra's attention. In fact, Alex was so smitten with Audra, his favorite place to nap was face-down in her gym shoes.

At bedtime, “one was always under one arm, and one was always cuddled on the other side. There wasn’t a night without them. They were so loving. They were my world,” said Audra.

Alex crossed the rainbow bridge in 2009 and Gabriel in 2014, but their spirits live on. Audra proudly honors her “babies” by being a Lifeline donor.

“I know what it feels like to be loved unconditionally by a furry friend—there is nothing else like it in the world. It was a life changer for me. It is important for me to give monthly in memory of that love,” said Audra.

Whatever your inspiration for joining Lifeline, you are truly making a difference.  

Because of donors like you and Audra, we’re able to offer free and low-cost spay/neuter services, veterinary assistance in underserved areas, and medical support for sick and badly injured animals.

Making a monthly donation goes beyond the regular level of support, but it means so much more to homeless animals. Thank you!

Kristina comes to us with more than 15 years of experience managing business lines and teams in the healthcare and nonprofit spaces, most recently as the Managing Director at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Kristina is an extraordinary executive with robust operational, strategic and general management expertise. She is a collaborative leader experienced in developing high-performing teams and will be a critical partner in supporting the operations of our growing organization.

Beyond her business background, Kristina is a certified animal trainer who can often be found bringing PAWS pets into her office for some R&R.

Kristina started training animals over nine years ago after volunteering in an open-access shelter where she learned how training can help decrease euthanasia by increasing the adoptability of animals. She has worked extensively as a clicker trainer for cats and has done considerable work on training for “consent-based care” to provide owners and pets low-stress vet & grooming experiences.

Throughout the years, Kristina has developed foster programs, handling & safety training, and enrichment programs for multiple shelters and rescues. She’s also part of the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers, helping small rescues and rural shelters without training resources.

Over the past 4.5+ years, Kristina has taught over 200 courses at PAWS alone, including puppy, Canine Good Citizen, reactivity, positive handling, and nose work classes.

“I’m amazed by and enjoy learning something new from each pup I meet,” said Kristina.

Kristina has personally owned or fostered almost every animal you can think of, focusing on reactive and fearful pets. She and her husband, Nick, currently share their home with a clicker-trained PAWS alumni cat named Sasha, a foster-fail pup named Lucy, and many rotating fosters.

“I have to admit, I came in looking for a kitten for my older cat after we lost her longtime companion. But the best-laid plans are no match for a cute face,” said Quiana.  

Recently rescued from a hoarding situation in Wheeling, IL, 3-year-old Misha had just been cleared for adoption.

“I went into Misha’s room on just a whim, and he came right up to me and said hi. He then went back to greeting the new feline resident in the room. I just loved how immediately friendly and affectionate he was to both me and the other cat,” said Quiana.

Completely smitten, Quiana made the happy decision to adopt Misha and then brought him home for the very first time.

“He was a little shy for a bit once I got him home. I'm sure he was also getting used to the new space and knowing there was a cat on the other side of the door. He's now back to being his friendly, sociable self that he was at the adoption center. He's not really a lap sitter, but he frequently comes over for head rubs and sleeps at the foot of my bed,” said Quiana.

Today, Misha is enjoying every moment of his new life.

“Misha LOVES to play and is quite the athlete. He likes to bat a few of his toys back and forth across the apartment. He also loves to hunt his fake mouse toys and then toss them into the air to catch. And after playing hard, he sleeps hard and always in the middle of the floor,” said Quiana.

Misha is also quite the mischief-maker, but it’s basically impossible to get mad.

“That face gets him out of a lot of trouble. I love how friendly and outgoing he is. I also love how adventurous he is. I mean, I've had to move some things around (he thinks the succulents are taking up valuable windowsill space), but he's totally worth it,” said Quiana.

After starting life in a hoarding home, Misha is finally where he belongs and we’re so happy to have been a part of his story.

“Thanks to PAWS for rescuing him and to his foster home for giving him the time and space to be ready for adoption!” said Quiana.

Interested in giving a homeless pet a second chance? View all our adoptable pets here.

He was breathing funny.

"Twice as fast as normal," Tawny said.

"I took him to the emergency vet at 2am in the morning. His liver had slipped through his chest wall into the cavity with his heart and lungs. They said he had hours, days, maybe weeks to live. They recommended euthanasia," Arlie said.

It was an impossible situation. And the last time they went to an emergency vet, their cat, Sirus, didn’t come back, which made everything that much more upsetting. 

“I was like, you’re kidding me, this can’t be happening again with our new kitten that we finally found,” said Tawny. 

“So, I called Tawny, and we had a big cry. We ended up bringing Nimbus home and called PAWS in the morning just to ask what to do and they said, ‘Would you like to take him to the Medical Center?’ So, we brought him over there for a second opinion the next morning,” said Arlie. 

After that, everything happened pretty fast.

Following x-rays and an ultrasound, “we confirmed the diagnosis and rushed him into surgery with relief surgeon Dr. Jennifer Nevis. It was a very dangerous, complicated surgery, but Bach would not have survived without it,” said Senior Vet of Shelter Medicine Dr. Kathryn Heigel-Meyer who assisted.

The hernia was congenital, meaning it was a birth defect, and it was very large. A rare case, this is exactly what our newly renovated Medical Center was designed to handle. And, despite the severity of the situation, the surgery went flawlessly.

“We opened him up and found that the liver was indeed located in the pericardial sac (the sac that surrounds the heart). Dr. Nevis removed the liver from the chest cavity, I held it down into the abdominal cavity while she closed up the pericardial sac and then closed up the diaphragm so that this won’t happen again. We were both so impressed with how well he did,” said Dr. Heigel-Meyer.

With our help, and the fact that Nimbus was thankfully still within our 2-week return window, the procedure didn’t cost Arlie or Tawny a penny.

“Technically, we had to return Nimbus to PAWS. So, we signed the paperwork, they did the surgery, and they asked us if we wanted to be the medical fosters while he recovered. Having some experience with that, we said, ‘Absolutely!’” said Arlie.

After five days in an oxygen cage at the Medical Center and 10 days recovering in Arlie and Tawny’s bathroom, Nimbus was like a different cat.

“We brought him back and he was super excited. Everybody at the Medical Center fell in love with him because he was such a sweet, cuddly cat. And he still is! But, where he was very quiet and calm, now, he’s extremely playful. Like he’s just happy to be alive. I think he can tell he was not well, and now he’s fixed. He’s just doing great and living his best life,” said Arlie.

The whole rollercoaster took about a month in total.

“We adopted Nimbus on December 1. We went to the emergency vet on December 10. He had the surgery on December 12. We got him back on December 18. And then he was checked and cleared for adoption, and we took him home officially and permanently on the 28th,” said Tawny

Now that life is back to normal, the whole family is enjoying Nimbus’ company, including Arlie and Tawny’s two kids.

When asked “Do you like having cats?” 7-and-a-half-year-old, Ellis, replied “Yes!” and 3-and-a-half-year-old, Lettie, said, “Good. I want dogs now, too.”

According to Tawny, both kids have snuggled on the couch with Nimbus and read him books, “which is a little bit ridiculous but so cute.” And according to Arlie, Nimbus loves the piano and “when he hears somebody playing it, he will run across the house and sit in a chair by the piano or sit on the person’s lap.” Perfect for a cat whose name used to be Bach!  

PAWS is so happy to have made this happy ending possible. 

“The whole ordeal was traumatic. But PAWS made it as easy and simple as it could have been. It’s kind of a small miracle that it worked out the way it did. PAWS was great about taking care of him and stepping up and saving this animal that we didn’t expect them to save,” said Arlie.

 Thank you, Arlie, Tawny, Ellis, and Lettie, for giving Nimbus the home he deserves!

“I was told he was a little shy and had a bad eye. When I saw him, I knew he was a sweet boy but definitely in pain,” said Kristina Rosinia, PAWS Chicago Chief Operating Officer and Canine Behavior Trainer & Instructor. “I rushed him to PAWS and found that he had a deep eye ulcer, but we could save it with medication.”

The surprise?

"He also had a broken femur and needed emergency orthopedic surgery!”

We have no idea what kind of trauma or abuse caused Davos’ fracture, but thanks to the surgical suites in our newly remodeled Medical Center, we were able to reset Davos’ leg right here.

“Now, this cutie has a cast and is getting lots of love as he heals up,” said Kristina.

To aid in Davos’ recovery, our team paired him with foster mom Grace Aldrich who has experience caring for animals with eye problems.

“During the pandemic, life got a little too quiet and I started volunteering at the PAWS Medical Center in the fall of 2020. It didn't take too long to consider helping an animal in need right at home, so I started fostering a small, one-eyed kitten. And I failed miserably! That kitten is now my sweet cat, Penelope. Since then, I've had six fosters with Davos being the latest,” said Grace.

It didn’t take long before Davos felt at home with Grace.

“Davos was so sweet right off the bat. After a vocal ride home from the Medical Center, he came back to my place for a cozy spot to spend his mandated "cage rest," cone on his head and all! After a few days, his playful side came out. He loves to bat at ball toys and loves anything that jingles. Also...his appetite is massive. Cleans his plate every meal!” said Grace.

Davos enjoys following Grace’s resident cat, Penelope, around. Though Penelope is still “assessing the situation.” What we didn’t expect was that Davos would become pals with Grace’s other PAWS alum, a 14-month-old with “the sweetest little puppy face” named Jack.

“The first several days with Davos and Jack were challenging as expected. Jack likes cats BUT he needs to be able to sniff them and lick their face,” said Grace.

Naturally, Davos wasn’t a huge fan of this approach.

“Davos would hiss and swat. But 2–3 times a day, I would introduce them. After one full week, Davos and Jack were snuggling on the couch together,” said Grace.

Jack and Davos have even developed a little morning routine.

“Davos sleeps in a large soft dog crate overnight with a blanket over it and as soon as we wake up, we go get the kitten. Jack sometimes even takes the blanket off the crate on his own and checks on Davos. He loves to check on the kitten and make sure everything is good,” said Grace.

So far, Davos’ progress has been both adorable and impressive. And his future looks bright.

“I love how resilient the little guy is. Who knows what he went through to get his eye ulcer and his femur broken? That little guy went through a lot in his first three months of life, but at this point, you wouldn't know it. He loves people, seems to like other cats, and acclimated pretty quickly to a dog. Plus, Davos is squirmy cause he would always rather be playing, but when he gets sleepy, he is so sweet and cuddly. His eye ulcer looks better every day and I believe he's expected to make a full recovery. Go Davos!” said Grace.

Just like Davos, there are hundreds of sick and injured animals right now who would love a comfy place to heal. You can make all the difference. Become a foster today and start changing lives. 

You get a home! And you get a home! And you get a home!

We originally set out to find families for 120 pets, but thanks to an outpouring of enthusiasm, we exceeded that goal and placed a tail-wagging total of 183 dogs and cats in loving homes. Which meant making space to bring that many more outcast animals into the safety of our shelter. Exactly what we were hoping!  

During this push to get pets in homes, we maximized impact while adhering to COVID guidelines by leveraging our new appointment-based model, which significantly reduced crowds and long lines. We also extended our hours, making it easier for potential adopters to stop by after work.

The entire week, our Lincoln Park Adoption Center was abuzz with adopters and the most beautiful sight of all: families petting the soft face of a new friend. Included in these picturesque moments was Pepe.

Pepe is a 10-year-old terrier whose little smile will melt your heart. Pepe arrived as a stray with terrible teeth and the early stages of kidney disease. Thankfully, at our newly renovated Medical Center, we were able to give Pepe a full-mouth makeover and a much better quality of life by extracting dozens of painful, decaying teeth and restoring his sweet smile. Our team was also able to do blood tests in-house to assess his kidney function.

While he healed, Pepe stayed with foster mom Noemy Penafiel who fell in love with his quiet disposition and adorableness in sweaters. And after spending over a month together, Noemy officially brought Pepe into her family during our Adopt-a-Thon and we couldn’t be happier for them!

“When I first fostered Pepe, he was quiet, timid and didn't bark at all. Now, he is livelier and more comfortable in his new home. I had him for so long he became part of my family and couldn’t imagine giving him up,” said Noemy.

Today, it’s clear they’re a perfect match.

“Pepe loves to eat and take naps. He must take after me,” said Noemy.

Interested in adopting a friend of your own? See all the animals looking for homes right now: https://www.pawschicago.org/our-work/pets-adoption/pets-available.  

PAWS Chicago also donated vital supplies to support the impacted shelters, including more than 350 pounds of pet food, treats, blankets, bowls, leashes, collars, toys, and vaccines.  

Our rescue efforts focus on pets who were already in shelters before the storms hit, making space for pets displaced by the storm. Pets like Trusty, Trixie, and Twinkle, a group of three two-month-old puppies who were dumped on the side of the road; and Valentina, a 10-month-old puppy who has been waiting for a home since February 2021. 

If you’d like to support homeless animals like those impacted by the Kentucky tornadoes, 

Please Donate Now

Watch their story on ABC 7.

After a week of careful monitoring and healing, Jinx moved on to the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center where it took just one day for her to find a loving home with Himani Thakkar!

What were your first few days with Jinx like?  

Jinx has been very sweet from the moment I saw her at the shelter. She let me pet her and she leaned in even more to rub her face on my hand. She stole my heart with her beautiful eyes. Once I adopted her, she would gently sit next to me and sleep on my bed next to me. I was very surprised by how comfortable she was around me. She wasn't very active in the beginning, but now she can't stop playing. 

What are Jinx’s favorite activities?

She loves to chase her wand toy and often brings it to me meowing because she wants to play. She also has a part-time job watching over the neighborhood for what we call ‘international super spy squirrels’ and scaring them away. She also likes to make guest appearances in my work meetings, because she has plenty of good ideas to share.

What does Jinx do that makes you laugh?

She has an obsession with plastic bags, and brings them to me to share. She yells for attention so that I can appreciate the gift she so tirelessly acquired from a closed cabinet. 

What do you love most about having Jinx as part of your family?

She has a very sweet personality with a little bit of sass—just like her mom! She is very affectionate and never leaves my side. I joke with my roommates that she is a dog in a cat's body because she always runs to see whenever someone's at the door, even if she is sleeping. I feel incredibly lucky and very grateful to have her as my companion. 

Ready to change a pet’s life and your own?

Meet Adoptable Pets

The theme of the brightly lit float—One Light Per Pet—reminded parade-goers that rescue pets light up our lives and many still need saving. 

Outfitted with thousands of festive lights, the double-decker bus carried dozens of excited PAWS Chicago supporters on the open second deck, while nearly 100 PAWS Chicago supporters—plus their four-legged friend —walked along the bus  and waved at the crowd. 

 “It was an amazing, energizing experience. We were one big rolling celebration of what these innocent dogs and cats mean to our lives,” said PAWS Chicago Founder and Chair Paula Fasseas. “It was wonderful to engage with hundreds of thousands of animal lovers along the parade route. Community engagement is at the heart of building a No Kill Chicago in which every dog and cat can live a healthy, happy life. Every one of the parade-goers, and the millions more who watch it on TV throughout the country, heard our life-saving message and now have a chance to join the PAWS Chicago’s No Kill community.” 

Meet Boomer. He’s been a PAWS for Life pup since July 2020. Originally, his owner, Fayette Henry, wanted to get Boomer neutered. So she brought him to one of our Community Medicine days, where services like spay/neuter and vaccinations are offered for free. But during Boomer’s exam, our veterinarians discovered he was suffering from Cushing’s disease, an illness that causes a dangerous overproduction of hormones which weakens the immune system.

Our PAWS medical team was able to complete blood tests in-house to make the diagnosis quickly. Now, we’re partnering with other vets to help Fayette cut costs for Boomer’s long-term care, which will include careful medication and lots of check-ups. Once Boomer’s Cushing’s is under control, we’ll be able to finally get him neutered and send him to his loving home with Fayette. Until then, we’re just happy to see his lolling tongue and snazzy hoodies around the clinic.

Say hello to Kerry, Kala, Kamaka, Kirkland, Kermit, and Kendrick. This snuggly group of kittens and their mama, Kimberly, were found cuddled together in a dirty auto shop. PAWS volunteer Cyndy Acox-Webb took them in, bathed them, and cared for them while we secured a foster home. From there, foster mom Amy Zier took over for two weeks, providing a comfy place for the kittens put on weight and become stronger.

Once they were big enough, PAWS gave the kittens spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations and cleared them for adoption.Thanks to the hard work of our adoption team, we’re proud to announce that every single one will be enjoying the holidays in a new home! Kendrick & Kirkland and Kermit & Kerry were even adopted in pairs which makes us feel extra warm and fuzzy.

These success stories wouldn’t be possible without our committed and compassionate volunteers. Interested in pitching in to help pets in need? Become a PAWS volunteer and start changing lives.

“I was fascinated with PAWS’ facility, especially their Adoption Center and their whole No Kill mission. I talked to my husband and said, ‘Gosh, I wish I had time to foster.’ But I work full-time, we have three kids, and he’s a physician. But sometimes, I would stop by and look at the cats in the window, just trying to figure out how I could get involved,” says Carrie.

Then, one sweltering day in 2019, Carrie and her husband were at a lemonade stand in the Gold Coast when they spotted a sweet, shaggy little puppy. That puppy’s owner just happened to be a PAWS Chicago board member.

“We went over to pet the dog and we struck up a conversation. I asked, ‘Where’d you get your pup?’ and he said, ‘Oh, we foster for PAWS.’ He told me about their dire need for fosters, and how important they are to the entire No Kill mission—if they can’t foster out, they can’t bring more into the Medical Center. I immediately thought, ‘I’m doing this,’” says Carrie.

She and her family made a plan to convert an extra bedroom into a foster room. After that, everything fell into place.

“I went online and applied, and they called and interviewed me, and that’s how I got started. I said I would love to take kittens because our daughters were so enthralled with our two forever cats when they were babies,” says Carrie.

Once the PAWS foster team got to know Carrie and saw how her foster kittens came back healthy, happy and strong, we worked with her to gradually take on full litters with mama cats, followed by groups of orphans.

“This last group I had, the foster team said, ‘These babies are 5 days old. They don’t have their mom. They’re full-bottle babies. Will you take them?’ Of course, I did,” says Carrie.

Bottle-feeding presents a whole new set of challenges and next-level dedication. But Carrie took it on for Simon, Selke, Sadie, Scamp, and Samson, who were dropped off at the Medical Center in a plastic bag and found in the parking lot.

“It’s exhausting, but so rewarding. It is every 2 hours when they’re that young. I was getting up the in the night multiple times: making the formula, putting it in the tiny bottles, going and getting them all to take it, making sure they’re latching okay. But it’s incredible to feed them literally in the palm of my hand and feel their little bellies expanding. They fall back to sleep and you can tell they’re so gratified and satisfied and comfortable," Carrie says.

Over time, bottle feedings are increasingly spaced out. Then, a mixture of wet food, formula, and water is introduced.

“Eventually you teach them to drink out of a dish. Then it’s less of the formula and more of the wet food. By about 5 to 7 weeks, they’re weened onto wet food and then you introduce the dry food as well as litter box training,” said Carrie.

Bathroom business at this young age is messy business. Training involves literally scratching their little paws in the litterbox for them. There are lots of near-misses, accidents, and laundry. But eventually they get it, and that’s all a part of caring for orphans.

“They don’t have a mom to watch, right?” Carrie says. “They don’t have a mom to learn to clean themselves. They don’t have a mom to watch use the litter box, to learn how to eat solid food. All of that is somewhat instinctual, but they’re generally watching a mother learn those things. So the foster parent has to step in and be their mother and teach them the best we can how to be a proper, four-legged kitten.”

But all that responsibility pays off.

“One of the most rewarding things, when you raise a kitten that young, is that they truly imprint on you. You are — in every way shape and form — what they identify as their parent. You are their food source, their comfort source, their warmth source. And that bond is way different. Fostering every level of animal is awesome, but there is a true difference watching kittens when you’ve been their mother,” said Carrie.

Physical health is an extremely important part of every kitten’s journey. Cats need to reach two pounds and be considered strong and healthy before undergoing spay/neuter surgery and being approved for adoption. But socialization is equally critical to their growth.

“By socializing I mean teaching the kittens how to play, teaching them not to bite your fingers. Teaching them their kitten manners,” says Carrie. “Part of my job is not only getting these kittens healthy, but getting them truly socialized so they’re ready to go into homes and be super adoptable animals.”

Each kitten requires unique care. Some kittens instantly love wand toys. Some absolutely freak out. Some kittens are territorial over food. Some are super protective of certain toys. Carrie works with each animal to overcome these challenges, and includes detailed descriptions of each kitten in her foster reports.

“The other thing that I do a lot with my kittens is massage their front paws. Because that gets them used to people touching their paws, which will ultimately make it easier for the vets, or their forever homes, to clip their toenails,”Carrie adds.

Thanks to Carrie’s  hard work and commitment, every single kitten she has fostered has quickly gone on to a loving home. While it’s a tough job, she wouldn’t change it for the world.

“It’s a process, but I love it. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t have done it 100 plus times now. I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to do this. I’m thankful PAWS has the mission that they have. I’m thankful that I have a room and am able to take these large groups. It’s been a journey,” said Carrie.

To anyone on the fence about becoming a foster, Carrie encourages you to just do it. “You do it once, and there’s no fence anymore. Once you take that leap, you will be addicted and rally everyone you can behind you to also do it. Just take the leap of faith.”

Become a Foster

We want to give a huge thank-you to Carrie and her whole family, including husband Jeff Cilley, daughters Lexi and Zoe, and their forever cats Amity, Sequoia, and PAWS alum Sarim!

“The best part of the Fur Ball is being with people who love and celebrate animals,” says Nancy Santi, co-chair of the event. “They adore their own pets, but are also willing to be there to help the thousands of animals who aren’t as fortunate as their own. We’re all there with the shared goal of supporting the incredible work of PAWS Chicago.”

As an event co-chair, Nancy and the team spent months working with PAWS staff and volunteers to create a gathering that celebrates our supporters and our animals, while also raising critical funds to support our essential services into the next year and beyond

Nancy is a member of the PAWS Chicago Board of Directors and the PAWS Chicago Development Board, a group of dedicated supporters that are charged with providing, facilitating, and securing the resources needed to fund our life-saving programs. They also serve as ambassadors of PAWS and homeless animals, raising awareness and communicating our mission in local professional, civic, and social circles. Their involvement is a critical part of our No Kill mission.

“One goal of mine is to introduce Chicagoans to the incredible outreach of PAWS in our underserved communities — including our state-of-the-art medical center in Little Village. These initiatives not only provide free and low-cost care to animals as well as community education, but they are a model for the nation as the country’s largest and most advanced medical hospital for homeless pets,” Nancy says. “I was in awe when I saw the line outside the medical center one morning; people holding their pets, waiting to receive care. Knowing every ticket, every bid, every donation goes toward saving a life — it’s the most rewarding work of all.”

To join our Development Board, and become part of this highly engaged and impactful group, click here.

Watch the Good Morning America video and learn more about our state-of-the-art Medical Center! 

The Medical Center provides lifesaving care for thousands of animals each year, like Jubilee. Watch Jubilee’s remarkable story on FOX 32.

In October, our Community Outreach team held their largest Community Day to date. Entitled “Healthy Pets, Healthy Communities,” this event served a record-breaking 650 local pets with rabies and distemper vaccines, flea/tick medication, and dewormer.

Around 70 percent of the pets in attendance were not yet spayed/neutered. PAWS staff and volunteers helped make 80 appointments for future spay/neuter surgeries and furthered our No Kill mission through education and community engagement. In the coming weeks, the Community Outreach team plans to contact all who utilized this amazing event in an effort to keep an open line of communication and forge lasting connections. 

The successful Community Day, held at Seward Elementary School in Back of the Yards, was sponsored by the Banfield Foundation, which provided all the vaccines, rabies tags, and flea/tick medication. Our team also partnered with Increase the Peace, a local youth-led, anti-violence organization; their youth community organizers spent hours in front of stores on 47th Street passing out flyers to promote the event in addition to our canvassing. 

Watch Community Day media coverage on CBS 2 Chicago.

This massive achievement would not have been possible without the 60 volunteers who assisted at the event, our dedicated ­­­Clinic team, including veterinarians Dr. Kristel Yocom and Dr. Nick Yohanna, and our small but mighty Community Outreach team. Together, we made a real impact in the lives of pets and their owners.

Interested in joining the cause and donating your time to pets in need?  Volunteer

How did you end up fostering Tad?

I'd seen Tad on the website and was interested in meeting him because he had a high enrichment score, meaning he has a higher activity level.

What were your first few days with Tad like?

He was immediately very curious about his new home and wandered around exploring the apartment the first few days, but most of all wanted to hang out wherever we were hanging out. He was immediately very sociable and would hang out on the couch with us whenever we were watching TV. He quickly found some of his favorite spots around the house.

How did you make the decision to adopt? 

We had such a great time hanging out with him during the fostering period. What really sold us on him was how much he loved to be around everyone. He's always sleeping in one of our beds at night, hanging out in the kitchen while we cook dinner, and following us around the house to get us to play.

What are Tad’s favorite activities? 

Tad loves playing fetch. We all work from home, so he'll often carry a ball in his mouth into one of our rooms to let us know it's time to play. He also loves chasing the laser pointer. We live across from a pretty busy park, and he'll spend hours watching people and squirrels out of the window.

What makes Tad unique?

Tad is very smart and good at letting us know how he's feeling and what kind of mood he's in. He's very inquisitive about new smells, people, activities and training.

What do you love most bout Tad?

My favorite thing about Tad is how much he seems to enjoy living here with us. He's become so comfortable around the house, and it makes me very happy to see him fit in so well. He also looks incredibly cute lounging around the house and sleeping on everything.

Interested in finding a friend like Tad? Take a look at all our adorable, adoptable animals.

 Adopt

Thankfully, Journey had the support of our Medical Center team and dedicated foster mom Amy Elliot-Meisel to help work through her fears, figure out her insulin medication, and stabilize her glucose levels.

Technology has also been instrumental to Journey’s recovery. Recently incorporated into our treatment plans for diabetics is a continuous glucose monitoring device called Free Libre.

“It has been EXTREMELY helpful with Journey as she has some anxiety issues and a legitimate fear of needles. We were able to attach it to her skin and it gave us constant readings 24 hours a day for 14 days. This is the same reader that is used in human medicine. We used it primarily during the early stages of her disease when it is critical to monitor how she responded to her new insulin carefully,” said Dr. Kathryn Heigel, PAWS Senior Vet of Shelter Medicine

The wireless Free Libre device allowed PAWS staff to remotely monitor Journey’s insulin levels even while she stayed with foster mom Amy. However, there were still more challenges to overcome.

“The first few days with Journey were really tough. She had an intense fear of needles, which, as a diabetic dog, makes insulin shots difficult. She was also very scared of her new environment and not sure if she could trust me. We slowly bonded over chicken and walks as she learned this was a safe space,” said Amy.

Managing Journey’s diagnosis has been a process.

“She’s on a variety of medications and twice daily insulin shots. I’ve worked really closely with the amazing PAWS vets to help regulate her diabetes and get her feeling better. Working through her fear of needles and her special prescription food has been a big challenge, but she’s made so much progress. I couldn’t be prouder of her, she’s improving daily! The good days make all hard days worth it,” said Amy.

Now that she’s starting to feel better, Journey is beginning to enjoy just being a dog.

“My favorite moment with Journey was when she picked up a toy and played for the first time. I got her a little donut toy and she grabbed it immediately and started tossing it around the living room. It was the first time she was just a happy dog having fun with a toy. Now, she loves chewing her bones and destroying fluffy toys. She never eats the fluff but gets so much enjoyment in just tearing them to shreds. It’s so funny to watch!” said Amy.

Once Journey is fully stabilized, PAWS will help her find a loving family. Until then, Amy is playing a crucial role in her recovery. You too can change a life by opening your home to a foster pet.

Become a Foster

Our first North Shore New Friend Adoption Event was a success, and seven pets went home with loving families who each received a nutrition-packed welcome bag from our exclusive feeding partner, Merrick. This included two feisty kittens adopted together, Churro and Cleveland, and a cuddly puppy named Jazzy.

Churro and Cleveland were emaciated, 2-month-old orphans when PAWS pulled them from Chicago Animal Care and Control. Each weighed well under 2 pounds. After a week of close observation and treatment at the Medical Center, these little kitties were moved into a foster home where they could grow and get stronger.

Given everything they needed to survive and thrive, Churro and Cleveland quickly gained weight, nearly doubling in size over the course of a month. After being neutered and receiving their vaccinations, these friendly guys made their adoption debut at North Shore New Friend, and they were quickly scooped up by a loving family.

PAWS works closely with shelters in 12 high-kill states, taking in pets who would not otherwise get a chance. Jazzy came to PAWS from one of our rescue partners in Alabama as part of a litter of four 4-month-old puppies with roundworm, a highly contagious infection.

Our recent Medical Center expansion and remodel included tripling isolation and quarantine capacity, allowing us to safely care for pets with contagious illnesses, like Jazzy, without risking the health of other animals. After her initial assessment and treatment, Jazzy spent a couple weeks recovering in foster care with Maija Rothenberg. 

“Jazzy is a soft, playful, adorable cuddle bun! Although she is much smaller than her sisters, she makes up for it in feistiness. She initiates play by chomping on their ankles and tails and chasing them around. She pulls on her foster mother's shoelaces and follows her around closely, wanting to be picked up. When put on a lap, Jazzy immediately relaxes and snuggles into your chest, soaking in the love,” said Maija.

After being neutered and vaccinated, Jazzy was cleared for adoption and found her person at North Shore New Friend.

Your happy story could be next!

North Shore New Friend Adoption Events
November 20 & December 18, Noon–3 p.m.
Glenn L. Felner North Shore Adoption Center
1616 Deerfield Road, Highland Park, IL

But treatment of contagious illnesses goes beyond quarantine. PAWS is able to help pets suffering from pneumonia, providing services like oxygen therapy that allow animals to breathe with less effort. We’re also able to help with critical cases of parvo and feline panleukopenia, which require even more specialized care.

Yuliana, Yvonne, and Yuri were 2-month-old puppies brought to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) because they were ill. They were immediately diagnosed with parvo, and CACC called us to take over their treatment. As CACC’s largest transfer partner, PAWS often takes on the toughest cases.

“We set up housing and isolation, and Shelter Medicine’s team of veterinarians and technicians started aggressive therapy,” said Dr. Emily Swiniarski, Chief Medical Officer at PAWS Chicago. “All three dogs were severely ill. One in particular almost didn’t make it—Yvonne’s disease was so advanced she experienced full-body swelling (edema) from a severe loss of protein. The puppies all had constant intravenous (IV) fluids, medications, feeding tubes and countless hours of veterinarian and technician care,” said Dr. Emily.

In addition to full-time Chief Medical Officer Dr. Emily Swiniarski, the Medical Center’s robust shelter medicine team includes a 35-member medical staff comprised of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and assistants, as well as dozens of animal care specialists who provide the highest quality medical care.

We are happy to report that after two weeks of intense hospitalization, all three puppies survived, and parvovirus was not spread to any other dogs.

While it was a bumpy start for Yuliana, Yvonne, and Yuri, they were cleared for adoption and all went home with loving families within a few days of each other.

The Medical Center represents the next step in building a No Kill Chicago. From struggling to survive to celebrating their first holiday season in loving homes, these pups show how the Medical Center makes second chances come true. 

Keep an eye on the turkey!

Turkey bones easily splinter and can cause serious health problems, even death. Don’t give your pet raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella. Instead, your pet may enjoy a small bite of boneless, fully cooked turkey with their dinner!

Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks poison pets! If your pet accidentally drinks alcohol, they can become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma, or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure. Even beer is toxic; fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs and cats.

Sage

Sage and other herbs have essential oils that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression. Cats are especially sensitive!

Onions & Garlic

Onions and garlic are toxic to dogs and cats. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be detected for days.

Raw Bread

Raw bread dough is a no-no. When a pet eats it, his or her body heat causes the dough to rise in the stomach. As it expands, your pet may experience vomiting, abdominal pain and bloating, which could become life-threatening.

Chocolate

Chocolate in all forms – especially dark or baking chocolate – can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Be sure pets stay out of any desserts.

A Special Thanksgiving Treat

Treat your pet by offering them a special Thanksgiving dinner. Consider adding a small bite of cooked turkey, plain green beans or pureed pumpkin to your pet’s dinner. To show your pet you’re truly thankful, our friends at Merrick Pet Care offer a special Thanksgiving Day Dinner canned recipe for your dog or cat.

This is an exceptional designation for PAWS Chicago, as less than 1% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have ever received a 4-star rating consecutively since 2003, indicating that PAWS Chicago outperforms most other charities in America. Charity Navigator is the country’s premier independent charity evaluator, ranking charities based on their efficient use of donor funds.

PAWS Chicago would not be able to accomplish such milestones without the community’s support. Learn more about Charity Navigator and PAWS Chicago’s 4-star rating!

Medical staff treat the physical body, rehabilitating pets suffering from illness and injury. For generations, getting sick in a shelter meant a death sentence. The PAWS Chicago Medical Center—the first stop for homeless animals when they arrive at PAWS—treats the most serious cases on site.

The accomplished medical team treats animals traditional shelters can’t. Pets’ deeper medical issues require specialized care including bloodwork, ultrasound, X-rays, oxygen therapy and IV care; soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries and tumor removal; eye procedures, advanced dental care. On any given day, the PAWS Chicago Medical Center provides hospitalization to more than 200 pets. The below chart is a snapshot of the conditions the team treats each year. 

In addition, an outpatient clinic offers free and low-cost vaccines and spay/neuter surgeries to thousands of animals in low-income communities, as well as a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats.

We also use a robust foster network for pets more simple treatments that do not require a hospital stay. This not only improves outcomes for healing animals, it frees up space for additional pets to be saved.

Some of our pets come to us with emotional scars from the past. Others were never socialized in a family and don’t understand basic manners. Our Training Center’s staff behaviorists and team of trainers work with dogs on obedience, manners and agility, giving them the enrichment and stimulation essential to a quality life while in the shelter, and also helping them find homes.

Luckily, “Once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet.” Dexter returned to us, and we were determined to find him a lasting companion. Cathrine Vaughn was just that person.

“Both Dexter and I had a few days of uncertainty. It’s hard moving in with someone—new space, new habits, new personalities. And it is that much tougher when only one of you can use your words. But I'm happy to say that we stuck together, and Dexter is doing very well.  He is such a happy and loving boy, and he can be a real goofball. Sometimes when he sleeps, he howls under his breath and moves his legs like he is running—so cute. Are all dogs this cute when sleeping? We've had a lot of fun over the last 6 weeks getting to know each other,” said Cathrine. 

Today, Dexter’s life is filled with all his favorite things.

“Dexter loves morning cuddles on the couch. He is always so excited to start the day and just wants to sit on your lap and nuzzle you for a few minutes to make sure we get it started right. He absolutely loves saying hi to ALL the dogs. When we go for a walk, he is very popular. Also at the top of his favorite things are a good roll in the park, a good lie down in a puddle on a hot day, and ‘swimming’ in the lake (he lays down in the water and just moves his front paws up and down),” said Cathrine.

Cathrine and her husband, Kyle, are completely smitten with this new addition to their family. 

“He brings so much love and joy into our lives every day. I know lots of people know what I'm talking about, but it's the little things that just make life so great—the way he looks at you with his head tilted when you are talking to him or the way he is SO EXCITED to see you even though you were only gone for 10 minutes. It's wonderful. 100/10 recommend!” said Cathrine.

Interested in finding your own Dexter? Check out all the incredible, adoptable pets on the PAWS website who would love to be welcomed into your family.

Meet Adoptable Pets 

This year, Clear the Shelters took place August 23–September 19 and PAWS Chicago joined the campaign by waiving adoption fees for the overlooked dogs and cats in our care, aka Underdogs and Comeback Kitties.

Underdogs and Comeback Kitties need just a little extra from their adopters to truly thrive. Some have medical concerns, would do best with continued training, or need a special home environment. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also so worth it when you see how bright they shine with the help of your love and understanding.

While Clear the Shelters may be over Underdogs and Comeback Kitties are still searching for their person—maybe it’s you!

With long, black hair, a bushy tail and piercing, yellow eyes, Sherlock is an extremely striking fellow. However, he suffers from a couple of rare medical issues and, as such, was deemed one of our special Comeback Kitties.

Sherlock has asthma and takes a daily, anti-inflammatory medication to prevent flare-ups. He also has a spine injury that causes him walk with a “waddle” because he places his weight on his ankles rather than his toes.

After consulting a neurologist, performing multiple neurologic examinations, and reviewing multiple x-rays of the entire spine, we found that part of the vertebrae in the middle of Sherlock’s back have a deformity, causing some pain, his unusual walking style, and a bit of messiness when he uses the bathroom.

While Sherlock’s challenges are uncommon, they don’t impede his sweet nature, which quickly won over foster parents Kira and Blair who ended up adopting him.

“We intended to foster a few cats from PAWS and Sherlock was our first match, and we couldn't help but foster fail. He’s so sweet. He’ll even generously give you a bath if you put your face or hand close to him. It really didn’t take much convincing—I think Blair wanted to adopt him on the first day,” said Kira.

The family hit a couple small bumps during their first few days, but Kira, Blair, and Sherlock figured it out together.

“Sherlock is a very inquisitive cat and was very curious about his new surroundings. We had some issues with him going to the bathroom in inappropriate places, but we quickly found a suitable alternative litterbox and it's been smooth sailing ever since,” said Kira.

Sherlock now has two rambunctious brothers, Rutherford and Reginald, and is living his best life.

“He loves to lay on the carpet and play with ribbons and strings. He loves sleeping next to his humans and sleeping on his back like a human. He also loves tummy rubs and being brushed. His fur was a bit matted at first and it took some time to brush out, but his coat looks very handsome now!” said Kira.

Kira and Blair continue to monitor Sherlock’s spinal condition and make sure he gets the best quality of life possible. Thank you, Kira and Blair, for helping Sherlock make a comeback and for giving him a happy home where he can truly thrive. 

"I’m so happy to join PAWS Chicago—it’s been my favorite organization ever since I met Gus and he changed my life! I’m thrilled to be here with people I consider my heroes, the wonderful employees at PAWS. Together we will achieve a No Kill Chicago and save the lives of so many more loving pets,” Susanna said.

“Susanna is passionate about our cause, a quick learner, and understands the importance of innovation and speedy responses to the ever-evolving challenges that animals face. She brings decades of relationships and a deep understanding of communications, development, operations, events, and brand-building to PAWS. Her entrepreneurial spirit and love of animals make her a great fit for our organization. I have no doubt she will learn quickly and work hand in hand with our talented staff and volunteers to fulfill our mission and goals,” said Paula Fasseas, Founder and Executive Chair of PAWS Chicago.

However, we recently made an exception and for the first time ever took on a “reverse crisis care” case. In this instance, Zella Wright’s cat, Mr. Right, had a severe paw injury and needed immediate help.

“We learned about Mr. Right’s condition because Zella reached out to our call log. She was looking for vets in the city and couldn’t find a clinic to help at an affordable rate. She couldn’t get him seen until we gave her a call back and by the time she learned we were able to help her, his paws was infected to the point where it had to be amputated, unfortunately,” said PAWS Community Outreach Manager. Yasmine Pacheco.

After performing Mr. Right’s amputation at PAWS Medical Center, our PAWS for Life medical team followed up with in-home visits while also providing medical care to Zella’s other pets.

During the healing process, his rechecks were going really well. Then, while we were at a home visit for one of her other pets, we saw that Mr. Right’s surgical site has become red and a little inflamed. So, we scheduled another home visit for the following week and when we went back, the wound was a little open. That’s when we decided to bring him in for a recheck and determined it would be better for him to stay here,” said Yasmine.

Mr. Right stayed at the Medical Center for 30 days to make sure his wound healed properly. Our team monitored his progress closely, treating him with antibiotics and daily bandages changes. While it was the right decision to put Mr. Right in the care of PAWS temporarily, it wasn’t easy for Zella, and she checked in on his progress often.

“She loves, loves, loves her pets. She wanted us to make sure and promise her that Mr. Right was going to come back to her. She said it was hard for him to be gone,” said Yasmine.

Once back on track with his recovery, Mr. Right was cleared to go home. And as you can see from the pictures, his reunion with Zella was an emotional one. They were equally happy to see each other, and we were overjoyed to make it possible.

Our newly expanded Medical Center was built to help animals like these who would have so few options without our help. The road wasn’t an easy one for most of these animals. An outbreak of ringworm affected all 23 cats and two dogs, which meant utilizing our expanded isolation capacity and administering LOTS of medicated baths. Two dogs also tested positive for heartworm, which requires three months of treatment and restricted physical activity during that time.

Slowly but surely, they’re being medically cleared and available for adoption.

Pal is a handsome, orange tabby who arrived with a terrible upper respiratory infection that caused coughing, sneezing, and runny eyes and nose. After recovering, Pal was neutered, vaccinated and cleared for adoption. He spent just two days in Kitty City at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center before being scooped up by a loving family.  

Benji, a 3-month-old shepherd mix, found his new family in Elizabeth Henderlite who started out fostering him but fell in love. “Benji was my fourth PAWS foster. . . after only a few days with him, I realized he was everything I’d been looking for in a dog—friendly with all people and dogs, compatible with high rise city living, active, and smart. It also didn’t hurt that he’s the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen,” said Elizabeth.

Irina is an eight-year-old Shih Tzu. Upon arrival, the PAWS medical team determined Irina had extremely dry eyes, causing her pain and partial blindness. To give her a better quality of life, Irina’s eyes were surgically removed. Irina was also diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, and she is recovering well from her surgery and URI in a foster home. The team is now working on positive training to help boost her confidence and help her navigate the world around her once she finds her loving adoptive family.

Norbert is a six-month-old orange tabby recovering from a rough start to life, in the safety of his foster home. After being diagnosed with ringworm, an upper respiratory infection and ear mites, Norbert was given a second chance at life after arriving at PAWS. Because ringworm is a nasty illness to recover from, Norbert continues to stay in the care of PAWS Chicago until he can be cleared for adoption. 

Davey, a 1-year-old terrier mix, arrived at PAWS with a severely matted coat and was treated for roundworm plus an upper respiratory infection causing a terrible cough. The talented medical team at PAWS helped Davey heal up quickly and he’s already found his caring family.

Oreo is a handsome black and white kitty donning a tuxedo front and socks to match. Coming to us with Coccidia – an intestinal tract infection – and ringworm, he overcame the odds and found a happy, healthy home.  

Aloe is a happy 2-year-old shepherd mix that’s searching for her new family while she’s being treated for heartworm by the PAWS medical team. She’s also an Underdog that needs a special home with a big yard for her to play in and help her grow into the Wonderdog we know she can be.   

Of the 38 homeless pets rescued from Louisiana, we’ve matched 19 cats and 10 dogs with loving families so far. That means 9 adorable animals still need help healing and finding new homes. Please consider lending your support.

Donate

A team of 60+ volunteers, veterinarians, vet techs, and PAWS Chicago veterinary apprentices worked together to vaccinate pets and make 80 appointments for future free spay/neuter and transportation to our Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic over the coming weeks.

“There’s such a demand for vet services in Back of the Yards, Englewood, West Englewood, the communities that we serve. There’s so much love for animals here and unfortunately there are no veterinary resources,” said Laurie Maxwell, PAWS Chicago Director of Community Outreach.

“The event’s turnout is a testament to residents’ commitment to their pets. People started lining up three hours before the start of the event to ensure their pets had veterinary care. Even though the event ran a little over our end time because of the volume, it was worth it to serve such dedicated pet owners,” Laurie said.

Our PAWS for Life program fills the pet resource vacuum in under-served communities, reducing pet overpopulation, and preventing animals from ending up in shelters. The Community Day compliments PAWS for Life’s weekly canvassing efforts in Englewood, West Englewood, and Back of the Yards. Since the inception of PAWS for Life in 2014, the program has served 7,600 families and 16,400 pets.

We are grateful for our community partners who helped make Community Day possible – Increase the Peace and La Casa Norte who provided on-site and future in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to community residents, and the Banfield Foundation who generously donated all pet vaccines and flea & tick preventative medicine!

Watch Community Day media coverage on CBS 2 Chicago.

Underdogs and Comeback Kitties need just a little extra from their adopters to truly thrive. Some have medical concerns, would do best with continued training, or need a special home environment. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also so worth it when you see how bright they shine with the help of your love and understanding.

During our 2021 Clear the Shelters initiative, 49 overlooked pets found their perfect match and are now blossoming into their best selves. While the event may be over, tons of Underdogs and Comeback Kitties are still searching for their person—maybe it’s you!

For people who want to make sure they’re a perfect match for an Underdog or Comeback Kitty, our Foster First Program is a great way to get to know each other while receiving the support of our PAWS Chicago team. 

Janet and Jazzy were surrendered to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) in March. They lived together most of their lives, and their owner was distraught about giving them up but could not take them as he moved out of the country. Both about seven years old and in need of medical care, PAWS Chicago took them under our wing.

Janet suffered from mammary masses, glaucoma, and frequent ear infections, and Jazzy was dealing with severe dental disease. At PAWS Medical Center, Janet underwent surgeries to remove her mammary masses as well as her right eye because it was causing unnecessary pain. Jazzy had 10 tooth extractions.

After healing from their procedures, Underdogs Janet and Jazzy were finally adopted together during Clear the Shelters. Once overlooked because of their medical background, this couple of curly-haired cuties finally found their match in Ashley Callen and we couldn’t be happier for them.

Hampton was found as a stray by PAWS Volunteer Services Coordinator Katie Cozzens. He was microchipped and Katie reached out to his previous owner, but they didn’t want to rehome him.

PAWS welcomed Hampton with opened arms and set to work finding him a perfect match. Hampton had his quirks, though. An escape artist capable of chewing threw any screen door or window, he needed a patient adopter with a kid-free home who was willing to give him lots of active playtime.  

It didn’t happen overnight, but we never lost hope and Comeback Kitty Hampton was paired with his perfect person during Clear the Shelters. This clever orange boy is now happily thriving with adoptive parent Zebedee Miller.

PAWS Chicago makes regular visits to CACC to pull animals and help free up space for more homeless pets. While getting a dog from a nearby cage, Senior Manager of Intake Lauren Osborne spotted Enrique. She gave him an initial assessment, got x-rays, and brought his records back to PAWS. Chief Medical Officer Emily Swiniarski examined his case and gave the team the thumbs up to go back and pick him up.

Once here, Dr. Swiniarski examined Enrique and found that his femur had been displaced from his pelvis. Thankfully, our recent Medical Center remodel and expansion included the addition of advanced surgical suites, making it possible to treat Enrique in-house.

In early August, PAWS Chicago’s distinguished veterinary team successfully completed a surgery to put Enrique’s femur back in place. After a couple weeks of healing under the watchful eye of medical staff and volunteers, Enrique was placed with foster parent Sharon Cech who provided a loving environment where he was able to gradually get back to his energetic, affectionate self.

After making a full recovery, Enrique spent just four days at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center before meeting his perfect match in Emily Stutts on September 8, their official “gotcha day.” Enrique is now enjoying his first weeks of pain-free living as part of a family.

Monthly giving is crucial to our day-to-day work as well as planning for, executing and maintaining long-term projects, like our Medical Center expansion. From injured on the streets to happily adopted, every step of Enrique’s journey was made possible by your generous donations.   

Steel, Stephenson, and Stephanie were found in a trash can and brought into PAWS Medical Center by a construction worker. This was the third group of neonates dropped off in a single week, 11 in total.

Preventing overpopulation is key to building a No Kill Chicago. A single female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 kittens in seven years. For dogs, over 96,000 puppies. Free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries are the solution, and as such, are at the core of PAWS prevention initiatives.

These weeks-old orphans needed a safe place to grow. Luckily, longtime cat colony caretaker and PAWS for Life partner Dolores Sanchez was on the phone with PAWS staff that day and heard the kittens crying in the background. She immediately said, “How many are there? I’ll take them.” For over a month, Dolores has kept these babies healthy and watched them get stronger.

Soon, it will be time for vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries and beginning the search for a new home. With the help of our ComPETibility quiz—a personalized survey that helps identify pets best-suited to an individual’s household and lifestyle—and skilled Adoption Center staff, we’ll make sure each animal finds their perfect match.

But our support doesn’t end at adoption. Throughout their lives, PAWS Chicago will be there for Steel, Stephenson, Stephanie and their new families, making sure they get the veterinary care and behavioral support needed to thrive.

Lifeline donors, like you, provide the reliable resources needed to invest in preventative spay/neuter efforts that help keep infant animals from wandering the streets. And for homeless animals who have already been born, your support helps fund their care at PAWS from intake to adoption and beyond.

Thank you again for your commitment to PAWS Chicago. Your participation in the Lifeline Monthly Giving Program is critical to our success and allows us to save more lives. Please feel free to call 773-475-3320 or email lifeline@pawschicago.org with any questions about your donations or about PAWS Chicago.

In addition to their first meeting at the Englewood Outreach center in June, the Community Council engaged in activities throughout the summer, including a bilingual tour of the Medical Center. We also offered two tours of Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC)—one in English and one in Spanish.

“Offering transportation was key in getting folks to the tours. Most of the people attending had never been to the Medical Center in person even though we’ve been picking up their pets for spay/neuter for years! And none had ever been to CACC. Everyone left so motivated to continue to help animals in their communities,” said PAWS Director of Community Outreach Laurie Maxwell.

On September 11, the Community Council reconvened at our Englewood Outreach Center for a guided discussion.

“We focused on what to do when your pet is sick. And just sharing stories and experiences around what people have done in the past and what they need in the future. It was an information-gathering experience so we can put together good materials from the vet and tailor our offerings to their needs. Community Council members are already getting asked for advice in their communities. They are people’s go-to when they have a problem with an animal. So, we want to make sure we’re equipping them with the best knowledge possible,” said Laurie.

Twelve people attended the Community Council meeting and it got pretty emotional as they shared personal stories about dealing with local animals. Because veterinarians are scarce in the areas where council members live, most attendees have frequently been in the difficult position of trying to assess and help sick and injured pets themselves. These individuals have moved mountains to get pets—often not even their own—the care they need. This includes researching home remedies and resourcing transportation to veterinary care on the other side of the city. 

Council members often act as a shelter in their neighborhoods and residents turn to them when needing help with an animal because there are few or no other options. While rewarding, it can be stressful and isolating. That’s why building this community is so important. 

“It really was a beautiful sharing session about the struggles these folks have gone through. A lot of the folks in our Community Council have been rescuing animals off the streets for years. At least three of them have rescued over 200 animals,” said Laurie.

The gathering included a mix of English and Spanish speakers.

“One of our council members translated for everybody. So, we had English speakers and Spanish speakers sharing and supporting each other, giving help and advice even through language barriers. It was really, really cool,” said Laurie.

Laurie also collected questions from the Community Council and passed them along to our Community Outreach veterinarian. She followed up by emailing answers from the vet to the group.

Despite all the sad stories, it was heartening to hear about the positive impact PAWS has made.

“I teared up no less than three times hearing from people who have been caring for animals throughout these decades and what a relief it is to have less animals to care for because we’ve been doing this spay/neuter work for so long. There was a lot of general relief about PAWS being there now and having a place to go. Caring for stray animals can be very isolating, and even if we can’t do everything, and provide everything, just getting advice and asking questions is really helpful,” said Laurie.

Brianna Allen is a long-time PAWS advocate and volunteer. She met a cat named Rudy Rudy while working at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center (LPAC) and felt an immediate spark of chemistry. After working with Rudy Rudy every week through our Cat Pawsitive Pro clicker training program, Brianna became completely smitten and decided to take him home for good.

When and how did you start volunteering with PAWS? 

I began volunteering at the PAWS Medical Center in April 2019. I had been a TEAM PAWS Chicago runner prior to that and knew I wanted to do more by volunteering. I started at the Medical Center as a L1 cat care volunteer and worked my way up to an L2 at LPAC. I love the Medical Center and still volunteer there weekly. 

How did you meet Rudy Rudy? 

I met Rudy Rudy when he arrived at the Medical Center in June 2019. I knew he was a special guy and figured he'd be adopted quickly. Unfortunately (and fortunately) it didn't work out that way. I really got to know Rudy Rudy during the Cat PAWSitive Pro clicker training program. Each week I had the opportunity to work with him and better understand his personality. We built a good relationship and understanding of each other.

What were your first few weeks with Rudy Rudy like? 

The first night was a rough one! Rudy Rudy stayed in the extra bedroom because we have resident cats (Cleo and Figaro). We learned quickly that he didn't like being alone because he cried all night. But it was a pleasant surprise to see that he and our cats got along really well, wrestling, chasing, and playing at all hours of the day and night. Rudy Rudy also loves to sleep in the bed with us—he has claimed a fuzzy blanket which he hops on at night, making biscuits before curling up to sleep. 

How did you decide to adopt Rudy Rudy after fostering? 

We knew going in that if Rudy Rudy and our resident cats got along, we'd be adopting him. He has such a unique personality and deserved a home where he could be himself and people understood and respected him. We knew we could give him that.

Does Rudy Rudy have a new name now that you’ve adopted him? 

He is and always will be Rudy Rudy! But he does have some nicknames, including Sir Rudolph the Brave and Schmoo/Schmoodles. 

How do you and Rudy Rudy spend your days together? 

Rudy Rudy and I continue to work on clicker training when he feels like it. He's quite good at high-fives, shake, sit, spin, jumping over a bar, and ringing a bell! He enjoys a good brushing and is amenable to all sorts of petting and kisses. We have our routine of breakfast prep where he leans against me and wraps his tail around my leg. When he's wound up, but the other cats aren't, we play with a wand toy or his fuzzy llama. He's always nearby when I'm working, either in the crate by my desk or sleeping behind my computer.

What do you love most about Rudy Rudy? 

I love his curiosity and how he runs into a room with eyes wide, eager to check out anything new and give me a good sniff down after a trip to PAWS. I also love how he curls up on his security blanket with the most content look on his face. He constantly makes us smile with his adorableness, silly sleeping locations and positions, and his raucous late-night play sessions. We are so grateful to have Rudy Rudy in our lives and look forward to many years with him!

As our first post-COVID 5K, there was an extra-special feeling of excitement and anticipation as thousands of frisky feet and paws assembled at the Montrose Harbor starting line for Chicago’s largest dog-friendly charity event.

To keep everyone safe and prevent crowding, the course was open from 7:30–10:30 a.m. and it was a constant flurry of pitter-patter, chitter-chatter, and happy woofs as old and new friends came together for an amazing cause. 

While other races are all business, this was a straight-up party. A sea of blue PAWS shirts trailed along the 3.1-mile course. But upon closer inspection, everyone stood out as an individual. From full families wearing matching bandanas to elderly pups relaxing in strollers, we saw all flavors of people and pets.  

The “race” served as a perfect warm-up for a lively afterparty emceed by FOX 32’s Jake Hamilton. In addition to general and thorough carousing fueled by the music of DJ D Jones, people and their pets enjoyed a live 50/50 raffle with PAWS and lucky winner Peter Brown splitting a pot of $2,490! Peter Brown plans to donate his half back to PAWS, which is truly inspiring. Runner-up Peter Zlotnicki also took home a top-of-the-line Nexgrill Griddle Grill. 

A dog agility course donated by Tucker Pups Pet Resort gave our canine guests the chance to show off their impressive training. Or just take a shot at it and give up mid pipe-tunnel. Either way, it was a blast to see these pups having the time of their lives together. They didn’t realize they were helping raise funds for homeless pets, we couldn’t have done it without them!  

Fundraisers were invited to enjoy VIP treatment in our Hero Hangout, including a PAWS 5K Treat Bag filled with everything from frisbees to wine tasting vouchers to Chicago Red Star tickets. But the real fun was just hanging out with like-minded animal-lovers and their amazing animals. 

“It was so wonderful to be back in person with our dedicated sponsors, supporters, and volunteers! It felt like one big family reunion, and we are so appreciative for everyone who has continued to support the PAWS 5K in a very interesting year!” said Carrie Cihasky, Senior Manager of Events and Community Engagement at PAWS. 

Huge thanks to the 4,200 people and 2,100 pups who attended the 21st Annual PAWS Chicago 5K! Your participation helps save the lives of thousands of homeless pets every year.  

The event may be over, but our fundraising continues! PAWS 5K pages will be live and accepting donations through December 31, 2021. Plus, participants still have until October 31 to earn our fundraising prizes.

A special shout-out to the winners of our Top Fundraiser competition:

Top Individual Fundraisers

1. Elly Greenspahn
2. Katie Sershon
3. Erica Kazimir 

Top Family/Friends Teams

1. Team #NachoCat
2. Foster4FureverHomes
3. Petrie's Pups 

Top Community Teams

1. Yale Chicago
2. Real Dog and Cat Momms of Chicago
3. BCR West  

Top Corporate Teams

1. West Loop Vet
2. ComEd
3. TopBloc TopDog

Luckily, “Once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet.” Dexter returned to us, and we were determined to find him a lasting companion. Cathrine Vaughn was just that person.

“Both Dexter and I had a few days of uncertainty. It’s hard moving in with someone—new space, new habits, new personalities. And it is that much tougher when only one of you can use your words. But I'm happy to say that we stuck together, and Dexter is doing very well.  He is such a happy and loving boy, and he can be a real goofball. Sometimes when he sleeps, he howls under his breath and moves his legs like he is running—so cute. Are all dogs this cute when sleeping? We've had a lot of fun over the last 6 weeks getting to know each other,” said Cathrine. 

Today, Dexter’s life is filled with all his favorite things.

“Dexter loves morning cuddles on the couch. He is always so excited to start the day and just wants to sit on your lap and nuzzle you for a few minutes to make sure we get it started right. He absolutely loves saying hi to ALL the dogs. When we go for a walk, he is very popular. Also at the top of his favorite things are a good roll in the park, a good lie down in a puddle on a hot day, and ‘swimming’ in the lake (he lays down in the water and just moves his front paws up and down),” said Cathrine.

Cathrine and her husband, Kyle, are completely smitten with this new addition to their family. 

“He brings so much love and joy into our lives every day. I know lots of people know what I'm talking about, but it's the little things that just make life so great—the way he looks at you with his head tilted when you are talking to him or the way he is SO EXCITED to see you even though you were only gone for 10 minutes. It's wonderful. 100/10 recommend!” said Cathrine.

Interested in finding your own Dexter? Check out all the incredible, adoptable pets on the PAWS website who would love to be welcomed into your family.

Meet Adoptable Pets

The PAWS Veterinary Assistant Apprenticeship Program was established in 2020 and provides job training skills, mentorship, and industry exposure to under-represented populations in the field. During this 12-week course, apprentices work one-on-one with PAWS veterinarians, learning about animal care, nutrition, medication, and supporting PAWS veterinarians in their overall diagnosis and treatment of animals. 

All apprentice graduates have gone on to receive jobs at PAWS Chicago and help mainly at our Englewood Outreach Center, which opened in 2019 and provides essential care to sick, injured and suffering pets in under-resourced areas who would otherwise never see a veterinarian.

“A vet needs technicians and assistants, and instead of pulling someone away from the Medical Center, we used this real job need as an opportunity to engage the community in a different way,” PAWS Director of Community Outreach Laurie Maxwell said. 

By taking on responsibilities at the Englewood Outreach Center, Veterinary Assistant Apprentices give staff at the newly expanded PAWS Medical Center the bandwidth to tackle more complex cases in-house, like we did for Nikita. 

Nikita came to us as a stray from longtime cat colony caretaker and PAWS for Life partner, Dolores Sanchez. Nikita had been living with a severely damaged left front leg for a long time and it was causing her a lot of discomfort. After being examined by our outreach team, Nikita was transferred to PAWS Medical Center where she underwent amputation surgery in early August.

After 2 weeks of careful monitoring while she healed, Nikita was cleared for adoption. Though very shy, it took just one week for this sweetheart to find a loving family that was a perfect match her. Nikita is now living her best life with adopter Justin Klei and absolutely thriving with three healthy legs.

This is a perfect example of how PAWS has built a unique network of veterinary resources for the Chicagoland area. By creating programs that support each other, we’re able to save more lives and move closer to our goal of a No Kill Chicago where every healthy and treatable pet is given a second chance.

At this Community Day on October 2, we plan to vaccinate 400+ community pets and are looking for 50 volunteers to help us run the event smoothly (volunteer time: 8 a.m.–3 p.m.). Duties include registering clients, managing lines for pet safety and social distancing, talking to people about the benefits of spay/neuter, and more.

We’ll also be making appointments for pets to receive free spay/neuter surgeries and transportation to the PAWS Chicago Lurie Clinic.  After the event, PAWS will follow up with each pet owner to build relationships and provide lasting support. On average, 95% of the pets met through PAWS for Life have not been spayed or neutered, and 75% have never been to a veterinarian.

As an added bonus, PAWS will be partnering with Increase the Peace to offer human services at the event, including on-site COVID vaccinations and registration for at-home vaccination appointments.

This is a unique chance to help hundreds of pets and people in a single day! Please consider lending a hand, especially if you’re a Spanish speaker.

To volunteer at our Community Day, email PAWS Volunteer Services Coordinator Katie Cozzens at kcozzens@pawschicago.org 

Learn About Volunteering 

“Elizabeth took in Mocha and her puppies and never failed to provide essential medical care for them during their parvo diagnosis. There was one week where I saw her at least three times, bringing in puppies one by one who were exhibiting symptoms. All of her puppies are now recovered, happy, and healthy!” said Bevin Tovar, Senior Foster Coordinator at PAWS.

When and how did you start fostering with PAWS Chicago?

It’s been almost exactly a year. We’re new-ish to Chicago—we moved here in June of 2020. I was looking for ways to get plugged into the community, but that was hard during COVID. I thought about working with animals because it’s a way to get involved without being around lots of people. I heard about PAWS Chicago because someone in rescue group I follow posted about it. So, I checked it out, applied to become a foster, and started parading animals through our house!

How did you hear about this particular group of puppies?

I’m in the PAWS Chicago Fosters Facebook group and one of the foster coordinators posted about them. At first, I was like, “No way. That’s a lot of puppies.” But I know, especially in a city, it’s really hard to find someone with space for that many dogs. We have a backyard and several spare rooms, so I knew had space. I let PAWS know if no one else was interested, we could do it. Of course, we ended up with them. 

How long did you have the puppies?

We started with seven of them, but two had symptoms of parvo within 24 hours so we took them back to the Medical Center. I ended up having the mom, Mocha, and five puppies for 10 days total.

What was taking care of that many puppies like?

It was a lot of troubleshooting. I think the biggest challenge was figuring out how to keep them in the space. They kept escaping. Every morning, I’d walk out and get stampeded by puppies that had gained 2 pounds overnight and now could push past the baby gate we had set up.

The first few days were really hard but once we figured out their routine of feeding time, playtime, and passing out time, it wasn’t so bad. At night, my fiancé and I would each grab a puppy and cuddle while watching TV—that was our little routine. It was so fun to be like, “Oh! I think I want a puppy now,” and just go grab one. It was crazy, but it was a blast.

How did PAWS support you during fostering?

PAWS has been amazing and so helpful through the process. I was at the Medical Center quite often because the puppies were being monitored for parvo, and anytime there was a little thing, I’d have to bring them in. I got to know everybody really well. That's, honestly, one of the things I’ve loved most about fostering—how great the team is. In fact, I recently started volunteering in the Medical Center because the people are so fun.

You adopted Mocha! How is it going? 

We are obsessed with her. She’s the best. The first day we had her, I was giving her a little break from the puppies in our backyard. She found some random tennis ball somewhere and dropped it in my lap, and I threw it. She brought it back and dropped it in my lap again. I learned very quickly this is the only thing she wants in life. Now, she has a basket full of tennis balls. We put them away at night, and in the morning, she pulls out all the tennis balls, one by one. She surrounds herself with them and lays down. That’s her whole thing. She’s like, “Just give me a tennis ball and I'm happy.” She’s just the sweetest dog.

You can change the lives of homeless pets by becoming a foster parent, like Elizabeth.

Learn About Fostering

She was extremely fearful of new people and loud noises. It took the help of PAWS trainers, volunteers, foster parents, and foster siblings to teach her socialization skills and trust. But Tea still needed to find a very special person to take her home for keeps.

Luckily, magic was happening elsewhere in Chicago—Meagan Gagnon was perusing the PAWS website and spotted Tea’s profile.

“I just fell in love with her pictures and her story and Brian Zeman (PAWS Assistant Director of Adoption and Foster Programs) thought we would be a great match!” said Meagan.

Megan decided to bring Tea home with her through our Foster First Program, which gives people and overlooked pets the chance to make sure they’re a perfect match before adoption. The Foster First Program also provides extra support, including food, medicine and training to help with the transition.  

“I think after the first night she came home, I knew I was going to adopt her. I was so excited about the prospect of fostering that, the night before, I went out and got a bunch of toys and put them in a basket in the living room. Within the first 10 minutes of coming into my apartment, she found the basket (without me even pointing it out), picked up the avocado plush, my favorite, and made herself at home next to me on the couch with her avocado in-mouth,” Meagan recalled.

After officially adopting Tea, Meagan renamed her Kiwi! These days, Kiwi and Meagan’s lives are equal parts excitement, snuggles and laughter.

“I love that she is up for any adventure with me, big or small. Going to pick up coffee—she’s in! Hour drive, then 10-mile hike—heck, yes! We love to go camping. And then come home and cuddle for the rest of the day as we both recover,” Meagan said.

Kiwi constantly amuses Meagan with her little quirks and desire for attention.

“She makes me laugh all the time. When it’s time for a walk, I’ll tell her ‘backdoor’ and she’ll go pick up her leash, bring it to the backdoor of my apartment, and wait for me. I just think that is so cute. But the funniest thing she does is while I am at my desk. Just about every hour on the hour, she will start to whine until I give her 10 minutes of petting, minimum. And that’s how we go through the day—with a break every hour that I try not to laugh at. But how can I not? She’s so cute and just wants some attention and I how can I not give it to her?!” Meagan said.

Thank you, Meagan, for giving Kiwi such an amazing home! We’re so happy you two found each other.

To support our current Hurricane Ida rescue relief efforts, please consider making a donation today. 

LOVING OWNERS TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF SECOND-CHANCE DOGS

Sometimes dogs arrive at PAWS Chicago disadvantaged and written off by others because of their challenges. But we at PAWS will defend, protect, and nourish these pets, preparing them for the homes they deserve.

Some of these dogs come from broken pasts: discarded, neglected, and unfortunately, even abused. Some come from stable beginnings that were usurped by life changes, like unexpected moves or unforeseen medical issues that their original owners were unable to manage. Some have been in the shelter for so long that they’ve grown tired.

No matter the circumstance, these are the pups that are at highest risk for euthanasia. These are the dogs who deserve a second chance. These are the dogs we must save to reach our goal of a No Kill Chicago.

WHAT MAKES A WONDERDOG?

There are three parts to the Wonderdog recipe. One part is the medical care they receive at PAWS Chicago, where they are treated with kindness for possibly the first time in their lives. The second part is the unconditional love that is promised to them from their adopters. The third part is the time and commitment that their families provide in order to understand these dogs’ needs.

“Diamonds in the rough” is what volunteer Wayne Gailis calls them. “They are underdogs because of what people have done to them or not done for them. In spite of the fact that they have been neglected and abused, they are forgiving, and given the right environment with people who are willing to train and work with them, they become some of our most loyal, loving companions.”

ELLIE’S JOURNEY

When Stephanie Miksche first adopted Border Collie mix Ellie, it became glaringly apparent that the spirited dog had never lived in a stable home, and she had certainly never stepped paw in a house before she was fostered.

During her first week in her new home, Ellie jumped four feet straight up into the air onto the counter, like a cat. Stephanie realized she had a skilled athlete on her hands!

It didn’t take much to correct Ellie; all she needed were firm boundaries from a loving owner like Stephanie. Now, Stephanie said, “she won’t even hop over a baby gate. She is completely capable, but she understands the intent is to set a limit, and she won’t cross it.”

Stephanie knew that adopting Ellie was going to be a journey. Prior to adoption, Ellie had been placed in multiple foster homes. She had reportedly had trouble with housetraining, but as it turned out, Ellie just needed patience and guidance.

Stephanie sat with Ellie every day as she drank from her bowl, and then immediately escorted her outside. Stephanie soon realized that housetraining wasn’t the issue. Ellie fully understood the concept; she was simply afraid that her new owner would abandon her.

Recognizing Ellie’s fears, Stephanie quelled her anxieties by waiting outside with her until Ellie felt safe and calm enough to urinate in the open air. After just a few rounds of praise, Ellie was house trained!

Ellie also struggles with anxiety. Stephanie assuages her angst by taking Ellie on long walks and runs. Stephanie said, “It took time for her to understand that I would keep her safe, but now that she gets it, our walks and runs are a lot easier.”

Like other previously abandoned adult dogs, Ellie’s traumatic past made it hard for her to trust her newfound security and balance. Stephanie continued to look for common ground, realizing her new dog was not only a fellow athlete but also a complete brainiac.

Ellie has a talent for remembering human names. “She is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met. If I ask her to give a certain person a hug, she’ll be in their lap in a matter of seconds,” Stephanie said.

When Ellie first arrived in the Miksche household, she was skeptical of hugs, wriggling her way out of human arms. Initial wariness of affection is typical for a dog with her past. A few months later, she had warmed up to the idea, responding to hugs better than treats! Now, she hugs her humans back, wrapping her paws around their arms.

Ellie likes to show you that she’s participating in the hug, too. “It’s like her exclamation point to tell you that she really loves you,” Stephanie said.

It’s been over two years since Ellie and Stephanie found each other.

Stephanie is currently building an indoor agility park in her basement for her sporty pup to practice the skills they learned in training classes at PAWS.

Owners like Stephanie are key to transforming a pup from Underdog to Wonderdog.

Stephanie had this to say to folks thinking about adopting an underdogdog: “I would definitely encourage you to go for it! Understand that some of these animals have some trauma in their past, so when they join your family, it might take a little time for them to decompress and settle in. Be patient with them, though, and remember they’ll always work just as hard as you to understand what you’re trying to teach them. The hard work is so worth it—the love they give back is priceless!”

YORI’S MEDICAL MYSTRY

At just a few months old, Yori, a Cattle Dog mix, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the blood vessel walls, and given four to six months to live. He had already been abandoned by his first owner and was back at the shelter for the second time.

Yori underwent a lengthy surgery to remove the cancer. Healing from surgery and with a terminal diagnosis looming over his head, Yori’s odds weren’t great. But, a Wonderdog beats the odds when they’re stacked against him.

The silver lining at this point in Yori’s story was his foster parent, Kevin Connaghan, who made the decision to keep Yori as a hospice foster so Yori could live out his last days in the comfort of a home.

Kevin and his family prepared to give Yori the best life possible, even if it was short. Something strange happened, though.

“Month by month, Yori grew ever the larger. From a 20-pound youngster to the over 100 pounds he is today,” Kevin said. Yori continued, week after week, month after month, to outlive his expiration date. After 18-months of surviving his terminal diagnosis, the vets did an ultrasound to check the mass. To everyone’s surprise, it came back clean. Yori was satisfyingly stripped of his hospice title!

The Connaghan family continued to take Yori to the Medical Center for a checkup every six months, but more than two years later, Yori is still growing, “happy and healthy as can be,” Kevin said. After living with the Connaghans for almost fourteen dog years, they decided to make it official and adopted Yori nearly two years after he wiggled his way into their hearts.

Yori’s family tries to “remember to live each day like it’s our last,” Kevin said. Yori is thriving today thanks to the loving family who never gave up on him. Kevin said, “We’re so glad to be failed fosters!”

ADOPT AN UNDERDOG!

Will you fight for the underdog? Join us in our mission to give every animal a happily ever after. Visit: pawschicago.org/underdog

In 2015, the vision was born. “So many at-risk, sick and injured homeless animals needed us, but our Medical Center was always full,” remembers PAWS Chicago Founder and Executive Chair Paula Fasseas. “Our 30 isolation suites designed for contagious animals were revolutionary in Chicago, but it was no longer enough. Every day, requests would come in from rescues and shelters around the country, but when we were full, we simply couldn’t take more in. And those animals had no place else to go that would give them the comprehensive medical treatment that PAWS is committed to providing for every pet we take in.”

Though PAWS Chicago was already one of the few shelters able to treat thousands of sick and injured animals each year in medical-grade isolation and quarantine areas, more animals needed PAWS and PAWS had the capacity to find homes for more animals.

To address these challenges, PAWS began putting into motion the grand vision to build the most advanced homeless pet hospital in the nation, a project that would triple isolation and quarantine capacity to treat sick and injured animals.

UNDERSTANDING THE NEED 

PAWS Chicago leadership could also see where the industry was heading. With PAWS’ high-volume spay/neuter program targeting underserved communities where unwanted pets originate, pet overpopulation in Chicago has dramatically declined. At the same time, shelters and rescue groups have been saving more animals. But the ones left behind and at risk of euthanasia are increasingly sick and injured, in need of advanced medical care.

“The closer we get to No Kill, we see that the remaining pets require more medical care, behavior modification and socialization to heal from physical and emotional trauma,” Fasseas said. “Tripling our Medical Center was the next necessary step in our mission to build a No Kill Chicago, and continue saving pets in need, no matter where they are from.”

FINDING THE RESOURCES

As with all PAWS Chicago projects, the animal-loving community answered the call. Fundraising began with the launch of this project and many incredible supporters in the PAWS Chicago community stepped forward to usher in a new future for sick and injured animals. To date, $9 million has been raised, fully covering the construction costs. The goal of raising an additional $3 million will establish a reserve endowment to provide ongoing revenue for the increase in medical staffing, supplies and maintenance.

BUILDING THE DREAM

Construction officially began in early 2019 under the oversight of Todd Lesser, PAWS Chicago’s Vice President of Special Projects. Lesser joined PAWS in 2017 with 35 years of experience in operations at companies such as Baxter Healthcare and PharMEDium Services. His first objective was creating standardization of protocols in the existing Medical Center to optimize operations. The 5S system he implemented was instrumental in beginning to identify the operational and design requirements of the new Medical Center.

Eighteen months of design and development planning before construction, including schematic designs and construction documents by Michael Matthys and Chris Tokarz of Linden Group Architects, ensured that this important initiative would address all anticipatable needs of homeless animals. Hiring a contractor with expertise in animal hospital construction was essential to such a specialized project, and RWE Design Build, under the leadership of Jason Sanderson, Mike Jurkovic and Tim Burke, exceeded all needs and expectations.

 The expansion not only converted 20,000 square feet of raw space in the same building as the current Medical Center into a state-of-the-art, medical-grade facility, but also fully modernized and updated the existing 10,000 square feet to the same high standards. All of this with one purpose in mind: treating, quarantining and caring for animals in need.

“We were able to keep the building fully operational despite the construction hardships,” Lesser said. He developed a phased approach to ensure lifesaving would continue during the two years of construction. The entire PAWS Medical Center team provided valuable input throughout the process. “There have been significant improvements to the work environment for PAWS staff and volunteers, but more importantly, we developed a substantially healthier environment for all the animals at the Medical Center,” Lesser said. “We now have additional state-of-the-art kennels, a new surgery suite, additional exam rooms, more sophisticated medical and lab equipment, enhanced lighting, improved flooring for cleaning, new HVAC equipment with 100% outside air, and much more. This allows the team to provide better and more productive care to the animals from a cleaning, feeding, enriching and medical care perspective."

Dr. Emily Swiniarski credits the new Medical Center as one of the reasons she decided to join PAWS Chicago as Chief Medical Officer in February 2020. “Having a state-of-the-art facility means that all animals who are treatable can be treated with high standards of care,” she said. “PAWS will be able to accommodate animals with illness and injury that other shelters in Chicago cannot. I am looking forward to creating high standards of care that can be demonstrated to other shelters as not only possible but feasible.”

With the expansion, sick animals will have their own space, not only separated by species to mitigate stress, but also separated by ailment. This detailed design will not only help the animals, but it will also help the medical staff to care for them more effectively and limit the spread of disease. Tripling the number of isolation suites means tripling the number of sick and injured animals that can be saved. Adorned with spacious suites and playrooms, the animals will enjoy stability, socialization and premium care.

Swiniarski is already seeing incredible advances in PAWS Shelter Medicine with the new building. “We have been able to contain infectious disease that very commonly spreads within shelters, including parvovirus, thanks to our many isolation and quarantine wards.” She continued with a wide list of benefits: “Dogs and cats that are anxious or distressed are now given a place to recuperate away from other animals, so they are better able to cope with the shelter environment. Medical staff can respond more quickly and address urgent concerns and injuries accurately with our new laboratory and radiograph equipment. Ill animals are healing more quickly and moving to adoptions.”

Downstairs in the Lurie Clinic, an additional surgical suite enables separation of surgical and dental suites, increasing the number of daily procedures that can be performed. The faster an animal heals, the faster they are ready for adoption and can be united with their new families, and the faster PAWS can rescue more animals in need. Speeding up the surgical process directly translates into more lives saved.

Lesser said, “Looking to the future, the renovation of the Medical Center helps PAWS Chicago come closer to achieving its vision of making Chicago a No Kill community by improving worker productivity, expanding animal capacity and increasing throughput while simultaneously enhancing the well-being of the animals and PAWS staff and volunteers.”

Underage. Unvaccinated. Unfed. Alone. For days.

Discovered. Rescued. Rushed to medical care. Ordered to be returned overseas. Public outcry. Intervention at the highest levels of government. Quarantined at PAWS Chicago. Now ready for permanent homes.

There, in 35 words, is a summary of the twists and turns of 20 puppies that rival a mystery novel and expose the underbelly of the illicit international dog trade.

But this story needs to be told in full. And we need your help to ensure this does not happen again. It was Monday, August 31, 2020. A group of puppies was found in a warehouse by O’Hare International Airport. They had been placed, twoto-a-cage, since Friday without food or water, sitting in their own urine and feces. One was deceased. The Chicago Police Department immediately stepped in and ensured the still-living dogs were cared for. Eventually 15 French Bulldog puppies made their way to Chicago French Bulldog Rescue and others went to Chicago Animal Care & Control for care.

With fraudulent paperwork, the 20 dogs were denied entry to the United States at O’Hare International Airport. The crime: they had not received the legally required vaccinations to enter the United States. Without the rabies vaccination, they were deemed a risk. As seized property, they were taken to the warehouse. Just another stop in what had already been a rollercoaster. They were born to breeders in Russia, then flown in cargo to Jordan where they transferred flights to Chicago. Reportedly, their ultimate destination: multiple unaffiliated “breeders” in Chicagoland.

Once Customs and Border Patrol and the Center for Disease Control got involved, the “breeders” located in Chicagoland who had purchased the animals relinquished their ownership rights. The puppies then belonged to Jordanian Airlines, and federal agencies ordered them to return the puppies to Jordan. But the puppies had never belonged to anyone in Jordan. Where would they to go? More than 200,000 people signed a petition to keep the French Bulldogs in the country. PAWS Chicago Board Member Tinsley Mortimer was one of them. She was dismayed at what was happening to these dogs and reached out to PAWS Chicago Founder and Executive Chair Paula Fasseas to see what could be done.

“I reached out to the attorney with the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue organization to see how we could help. The situation was quite desperate at the time,” recalls Fasseas. “Learning that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) was in control, we began to reach out to our PAWS Chicago network, and we received immediate response. Our board members reached Congressman Mike Quigley and Senator Tammy Duckworth, who immediately offered their support publicly. And we contacted our longtime friends at Social Compassion in Legislation who have a national legislative network.” It took a village of support. Congressman Quigley said, “As a dog lover, when I learned about the situation these French Bulldogs were facing, I felt compelled to act. In these particularly trying times, I felt that if I could not take the time to help these animals, I would not be doing my job to the best of my ability.”

It was Louise Linton and Judie Mancuso of Social Compassion in Legislation who directly worked with Brian Harrison, Chief of Staff at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Linton was the critical link in securing the Bulldogs’ safety. Because of the recent completion of the Quarantine Pavilion in the expanded PAWS Chicago Medical Center, Homeland Security made an exception to federal law and permitted the puppies to stay in the country, so long as their month-long quarantine was at PAWS Chicago and they were not handled by anyone without rabies inoculation.

On September 28, the puppies were brought to the PAWS Chicago Medical Center where they received additional treatment and vaccinations while fulfilling the legal quarantine requirement. During the four long weeks that followed, PAWS Chicago veterinarians were the only individuals able to socialize the puppies, as rabies vaccinations are required for veterinary licensure.

The puppies were housed in same-sex pairs (to prevent potential breeding) in large suites with relief rooms. Each day, PAWS Chicago veterinarians took them into the play space for much-needed socialization and fun. But four weeks is a long time for puppies to be in quarantine.

“We were so relieved when these adorable pups were at last safe in our new Medical Center,” Fasseas said. “We built the Isolation Pavilion in our new Maddie’s® Pet Hospital because of serious situations like this. We are grateful for everyone that came together to protect the lives of these innocent, vulnerable animals. We need national legislation to prevent this kind of suffering from happening again.”

After their quarantine period expired, the puppies returned to Chicago French Bulldog Rescue, who planned to unite them with new families. A happy ending for these Sweet 15. Others are not so fortunate. How many animals are trafficked to the United States each year? How many are too young for legal entry? How many die in harsh cargo conditions? Two pups of the four who were transferred to Chicago Animal Care and Control were ordered to be returned to Jordan and, as a governmental agency, CACC had no choice but to immediately comply. Where did those dogs go? We will never know the answer to these troubling questions. But the high-profile nature of this case has brought the issue to the attention of animal advocates. For the one puppy who died and the two shipped back to Jordan and others whose fates will never be known, it is time to take action to change animal trafficking laws

A humane future for all pets 

Mike Quigley’s team is digging deep into the laws surrounding animal trade. The layers of agencies and responsible parties adds complication.

• Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) are responsible for everything at ports of entry. Live animals are considered merchandise legally and processed similar to other goods of trade.
• Bonded warehouses are private buildings that contract with CBP to be holding facilities.
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) inspects all live animals, which is why they are held in bonded warehouses.

“After becoming involved in the Bulldogs’ rescue eff ort and learning about the condition the puppies were found in, I want to be absolutely certain that this never happens to any other dogs again. There are several steps we can take that I am working on to ensure it doesn’t,” Congressman Quigley said. “One of those steps would be to require all major airports to have quarantine centers like the one at JFK Airport so animals can be quarantined and cared for if or when they arrive in the United States.”

The ARK at JFK Airport is a shining example of a bonded warehouse properly designed for animals, but sadly, it’s the only one in a nation with 328 ports of entry. The ARK launched in 2015 and is the facility at the airport that manages all animals that come through JFK, ensuring every animal detained by customs has a safe place to rest while decisions are being considered regarding its entry into the United States. But there are more than 1,300 bonded warehouses in the United States that are designed for goods, not live animals. The 15 French Bulldogs know how true that is. An anonymous witness on site in the Chicago bonded warehouse when the bulldogs were discovered: “These warehouses take better care of fl owers and plants than animals. The care and control of these animals seems to be completely disregarded. It’s not a stuff ed animal you can stick in a warehouse for three days. Something needs to change.”

Congressman Quigley is looking at solutions, which include replicating the ARK model at O’Hare at a minimum, improving regulation of all bonded warehouses, and adding accountability for the treatment of animals throughout transport. He said, “First, we want to make sure that all agencies involved in the dog importation process are working together effectively. We have been communicating with the USDA, Customs and Border Patrol, and the CDC to ensure that they’re aware of the issue that occurred and also to understand what went wrong. One of the major issues we discovered was that the USDA has limited oversight and accountability authority over registered transport handlers.”

Ultimately, he believes that the ideal solution would assign legal responsibility for animals’ welfare during transport. “The CBP’s job is to protect the border. The CDC to protect human health. Bonded warehouses are responsible for property. But no one’s job is to look out for animal welfare!” he said. “We believe that the USDA must be able to regulate who can handle animals and make sure that anyone who violates the Animal Welfare Act is held accountable. We’re still in the process of determining whether legislation or adjusting USDA guidance would be the most effective way to solve these issues.”

But there is a role beyond legislation. In fact, uneducated consumers are partially responsible for funding these international trafficking companies. Congressman Quigley understands this importance. “The most important thing is something we can all do to stop it from happening again—and that is to adopt from a local shelter like PAWS Chicago whenever possible and, if you must use a breeder, make sure you use a reputable American breeder,” he said.

For the Congressman, this is personally impactful. “I have always been concerned about animal welfare issues, but as a life-long dog lover and a proud dog dad, the safety of dogs and pets hits particularly close to home,” he said. “Since we know that one of the most important things we can do to stop this from happening again is to simply raise awareness about the impacts of irresponsible breeding, I also feel responsible for using my platform to spread the message.” Thank you to Congressman Quigley and all of the public officials who are taking action to ensure the safety and protection of animals, and for raising awareness in your constituencies about what has, for too long, been a hidden tragedy.

To read more about the Bulldogs and their rescue, visit: pawschicago.org/frenchbulldog

It’s 3 p.m. on a Saturday, but she’s already been hard at work for seven hours. As has become common for her since being cast in a lead role as Dr. Natalie Manning on NBC’s Chicago Med, Torrey DeVitto is wearing protective medical scrubs, but this time she’s not acting. She picks up a syringe, filled with moist cat food, and gingerly holds a handsome, young, orange tabby in her arms. DeVitto has been involved with PAWS ever since she began her role on Chicago Med in 2015. “I wanted to spend more time around animals and give back,” Torrey said. “I just love PAWS’ philosophy and how many lives they are able to save.”

Torrey’s interest in animal welfare began long before she was saving lives on NBC and before her partnership with PAWS. It commenced, fittingly, with her first pet— a dove given to her as a child by musician Stevie Nicks. Nicks is longtime friends with DeVitto’s mother, who quickly realized that you kind of just go with it when Stevie Nicks gifts your daughter a bird of peace. This loving gift planted a seed in Torrey’s heart that blossomed into a deep love and appreciation for animals.

“Since I was very young, rescuing animals and being mindful of the treatment of animals has always been very important to me,” Torrey said. In fact, her first rescue animal was an impromptu but inspired effort to save a neglected love bird from the home of a new violin teacher—who quickly became her old violin teacher! “She kept the bird in a covered cage on the floor and kept kicking the cage and telling the bird to be quiet. I was so horrified that I asked my mom to help me save the bird. We walked back up to the house and said, ‘If you hate your bird so much, do you mind if we take it?’ I was so happy when we carried that bird home!”

DeVitto’s acting career involves a similar touch of serendipity. At age 15, when Torrey’s mother enrolled her in an acting class in Orlando as a confidence builder, she immediately knew it was the career she wanted to pursue full-time. Since then, Torrey has built an impressive resume of acting credits in both TV and film. A winding road, which began with the role of “Girl #1 on Dawson’s Creek,” later found Torrey living and working in Chicago, representing the city on Chicago Med as Dr. Manning, before recently ending her run on the show to join the cast of upcoming film Skelly.

“I love my character,” DeVitto said when speaking about her role on Chicago Med. “I love how well the writers write for her. I really feel that through my character, I get to speak on so many important topics. My character has spoken on gun violence, immigration, women’s rights, and more. I am always so proud to be on this show.”

Torrey’s excitement is transparent when she talks about not only the writing of Chicago Med, but also the setting. She fell in love with the backdrop of the show. “The city definitely feels like home now.”

TORREY’S PACK

Helping Torrey settle into her adopted city are her three adopted dogs, Beau, Homie, and Twiggy. Torrey adopted Beau, a senior Chihuahua mix, at an adoption event in Venice, California. Later, she adopted Homie, a stray poodle-terrier mix in need of a loving home after barely surviving being hit by a car.

At PAWS Chicago’s 2019 Fur Ball, Torrey fell in love with yet another poodle mix named Twiggy! It was love at first sight for the pair, and 12-year-old Twiggy settled in nicely with Torrey’s pack at home. When DeVitto adopted the senior dog, the pup had been suffering from extensive medical issues, including surgical removal of multiple masses.

“My dogs mean so much to me!” Torrey said. “I don’t know what I would do without them. They are the little loves of my life. They have been through every up and down with me. Anytime I am sad, it’s like they know, and they know exactly what to do to cheer me up. They are the absolute best.”

Torrey is a strong animal welfare advocate, and she knew she wanted to continue her philanthropic work in Chicago. She identified PAWS Chicago as an organization with which she could volunteer.

She found PAWS and immediately connected with the mission and work. “The thing that really struck me today and about PAWS in general is just how transparent they are,” she said. “You know, you hear about a lot of shelters who maybe have a different face that they show to the world, and the inner workings are just really sad and kind of bring you to your knees because they don’t really give a lot of animals the chance that they deserve. And here at PAWS, there’s nothing hidden. It’s very light and bright,” she continued.

Her role at PAWS has been critical in fundraising to make Chicago a No Kill community, but she’s more than just a face on the cover of a magazine. She also comes in to do the work. This clean-eating vegetarian isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty if that means she’s aiding in our lifesaving pursuit. “I just love PAWS’ solutions-based approach and how many lives they are able to save,” said DeVitto.