360@CACC is a public-private partnership between PAWS Chicago and Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) to offer life-saving resources to Chicago’s homeless and at-risk dogs and cats.
In the wake of a post-pandemic surge in pet homelessness, a fast-rising number of cats and dogs are entering the city’s facility, without the budget or staffing resources to keep pace with the growing need. That’s where PAWS Chicago is stepping in with 360@CACC, a robust suite of prevention and lifesaving programs that have made significant progress in reducing euthanasia rates across the city.
These programs offer 360-degree support for animals at every stage in their shelter journeys by (1) facilitating the transfer of animals from CACC to other rescues, (2) supporting adoptions at CACC, and (3) providing pet owner support to prevent pets from entering the shelter system at all.
Here are the programs actively being supported by 360@CACC:
Rescue Ready
Helping Rescue Groups Take More CACC Animals
For local rescue groups without in-house medical capabilities, the cost of basic veterinary care can prevent them from transferring CACC pets into their facilities, where the pets are more easily adopted.
Rescue Ready provides subsidized medical services to animals– including spay/neuter, microchips, vaccines, heartworm tests, and FeLV/FIV testing – to encourage qualifying rescue organizations with limited veterinary resources to transfer more pets from CACC into their adoption programs.
In 2024 alone, PAWS spayed/neutered and medically treated 405 animals that were originally from CACC on behalf of other rescues. Overall, CACC saw transfers increase 18.99% in 2024, totaling 7,242 animals.
The Big Fix
Getting CACC Pets Adoption-Ready through Spay/Neuter
By law, all pets must receive spay/neuter before being adopted, but limited medical staffing at CACC means homeless pets can wait weeks for the procedure at CACC, even with an interested adopter.
The Big Fix program transports homeless pets to the PAWS Chicago Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic, where the animals are spayed, vetted, and returned same-day to CACC ready for adoption. This helps animals go home sooner and reduces wait times for families ready to adopt.
In 2024, PAWS spayed/neutered 931 CACC pets through the Big Fix. With this additional PAWS support, CACC facilitated 3,019 adoptions in 2024, a remarkable 28.6% increase over 2023.
Adoption Support Program
Facilitating Adoptions at CACC
Adoptions at CACC are run solely by volunteers, without any budgeted staff positions. PAWS Chicago is now providing a full-time staff member onsite to provide adoption support and matchmaking, ensuring potential adopters get the chance to meet pets and leave with a pet that best matches their home and lifestyle. In addition, PAWS Chicago adoption counselor volunteers supported CACC adoption events, helping send more animals home the day of each event.
As a result of these efforts, CACC adoptions were up nearly 29% in 2024.
Pet Owner Support Program
Helping Animals Stay in Their Homes
Data suggests that 15-20% of families surrendering their pets to CACC would keep their pets with support to cover the rising costs of pet care.
The Pet Owner Support program provides basic care and necessities—from food and pet supplies to vaccinations, spay/neuter and medical care for acute illnesses—to keep pets in their homes and out of the city shelter.
In 2024, PAWS successfully kept 123 pets out of CACC through these vital services.