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Inside PAWS
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PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving) is the city's largest No Kill humane
organization. Its part of a No Kill dream that started in San Francisco in
1994, and is continuing to grow around the nation.
PAWS Chicago is the
first cage less, No Kill shelter to be founded in the Midwest and every
month people from all over are visiting
PAWS to see how they, too, can
bring a No Kill future to their communities.
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Good friends
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Since
PAWS Chicago's founding in 1997, the number of homeless dogs and
cats killed annually has dropped more than 50 percent: from 42,561 pets
killed in 1997 to 19,701 in 2006. But those at
PAWS, and around Chicago,
know that this is not good enough-
PAWS is striving to build a No Kill Chicago-a city where pets are no longer killed just because they are homeless.
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Four for four
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As well as bringing better practices to Chicago, and helping animals to
live the happy and healthy life they deserve,
PAWS has been recognized as
one of the nation’s best run charities. When
PAWS began, it was run by
volunteers, and today has over 3,000 volunteers that assist with dog walking, cat cuddling, adoption counseling, fundraising, fostering the homeless animals- and in return, receive the benefits of the one of a kind warmth and love that only
spending time with an animal can bring to a person.
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Don't you just love me?
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If you are a Chicago resident, you have probably seen or heard about
PAWS
adoption center, started in 2003, on 1997 N. Clybourn. As well as this,
PAWS also runs the Lurie Family
FREE and Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic,
which has performed over 57,000 surgeries since opening in 2001, over 70%
of these are free for Chicago residents on Public Assistance, and for
Feral Cats.
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Take me, please
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To make it possible to save these thousands of animal’s lives, in addition
to donations,
PAWS hosts many annual events to raise money for the
animals.
PAWS Chicago receives no city, state, or federal funding, so
they are only able to continue to thrive if donations are supplemented by
money raised at their annual events. These events include weekend dog
adoption days at different locations around the city, the 6-year and
counting annual beach party held in the summertime, and the next big
event- being held on November 14- the
7th Annual Fur Ball, Chicago's
premier pet-friendly, black-tie gala featuring live and silent auction,
dinner-buffet, dancing, open bar and live music, at The Drake Hotel.
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Peek-a-boo
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The community and volunteer involvement at these facilities is
overwhelming, but they are always looking for more helping hands and
people willing to foster loving fur balls for short periods of time in
their homes. To find out more about attending a
PAWS volunteer
orientation, the door at their Clybourn location is always open and
welcoming to let enquiring minds learn about the endless opportunities to
help save thousands of animals lives, and hopefully one day make the dream
of a kill free Chicago come true.
PAWS sponsors a variety of great
activities and offers many opportunities for donations.
For more information: www.pawschicago.org
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