In it for the long haul
Sep 16, 2025
Each pet’s journey through PAWS is as unique as the pet themself. Some are with us for only a few days while others need weeks or months to find the family of their dreams. No matter how long it takes, PAWS Chicago’s love and support never wavers.
The animals at PAWS count on us to stand by them, and while we hope their stay with us is short on the way to their loving families, we think about those that need our support for longer —sick and injured pets, under-socialized pets, senior pets. These animals need more than a few days to find loving homes; they need a commitment for the long haul. And that’s exactly what the Lifeline Monthy Giving Program provides.
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.