Chicagoans Flock to PAWS Chicago for Holiday Pet Adoption Drive as Shelter Sees Spike in Intake.
Over 100 animals await forever homes just in time for Christmas at the city's largest no-kill shelter, PAWS Chicago. The annual Adopt-a-Thon kicked off Friday with a surge of hopeful pet parents eager to find their new best friends amidst the holiday cheer.
"We can only rescue more animals if we have the community fostering and adopting," said Celene Mielcarek, Chief Program Officer at PAWS Chicago. "It gives you such joy, such unconditional love."
With temperatures expected to drop below zero this weekend, the shelter's Lincoln Park center was buzzing with activity as prospective adopters flooded in. Some animals were dressed in festive holiday outfits, while others were too busy playing and napping to notice the commotion.
According to PAWS Chicago, the city's Animal Care and Control has seen a significant increase in intakes over the past year. "We are seeing intake increase across the country," said Paige Krueger, a 10-year veteran volunteer with PAWS. "That means public shelters, like Chicago Animal Care and Control, are overpopulated."
The shelter has overseen an impressive 5,000 adoptions this year alone. But despite the success of their adoption drive, Krueger emphasized that more work needs to be done.
"It's so important that adopters come in, adopt these pets, and that's really the only way we can save more lives," she said. "Every single adoption counts."
At PAWS Chicago, families like the Rileys are counting their blessings after welcoming a new furry friend into their home. The family of three had been fostering a cat named Sprinkle Belly for months before adopting her permanently.
"We are big animal lovers and PAWS supporters," said Lori Riley. "There's nothing like having a pet, nurturing them, and building a family with them."
As the holiday season comes to a close, PAWS Chicago is counting on its community to help make room in their shelter by fostering and adopting more animals. With 125 pets still waiting for forever homes, the countdown begins. Will you be one of them?
Over 100 animals await forever homes just in time for Christmas at the city's largest no-kill shelter, PAWS Chicago. The annual Adopt-a-Thon kicked off Friday with a surge of hopeful pet parents eager to find their new best friends amidst the holiday cheer.
"We can only rescue more animals if we have the community fostering and adopting," said Celene Mielcarek, Chief Program Officer at PAWS Chicago. "It gives you such joy, such unconditional love."
With temperatures expected to drop below zero this weekend, the shelter's Lincoln Park center was buzzing with activity as prospective adopters flooded in. Some animals were dressed in festive holiday outfits, while others were too busy playing and napping to notice the commotion.
According to PAWS Chicago, the city's Animal Care and Control has seen a significant increase in intakes over the past year. "We are seeing intake increase across the country," said Paige Krueger, a 10-year veteran volunteer with PAWS. "That means public shelters, like Chicago Animal Care and Control, are overpopulated."
The shelter has overseen an impressive 5,000 adoptions this year alone. But despite the success of their adoption drive, Krueger emphasized that more work needs to be done.
"It's so important that adopters come in, adopt these pets, and that's really the only way we can save more lives," she said. "Every single adoption counts."
At PAWS Chicago, families like the Rileys are counting their blessings after welcoming a new furry friend into their home. The family of three had been fostering a cat named Sprinkle Belly for months before adopting her permanently.
"We are big animal lovers and PAWS supporters," said Lori Riley. "There's nothing like having a pet, nurturing them, and building a family with them."
As the holiday season comes to a close, PAWS Chicago is counting on its community to help make room in their shelter by fostering and adopting more animals. With 125 pets still waiting for forever homes, the countdown begins. Will you be one of them?
... I had a pet parrot named Sunny who passed away last year and I was so sad but my little niece got me another parrot named Luna, it's like my heart is full again 
... PAWS Chicago is doing such amazing work! I've been fostering dogs for them lately and it's honestly the best experience ever, my place is always filled with energy and love 
... we need more people to come forward and adopt these beautiful souls!
Over 100 adorable animals r waiting 4eva at PAWS Chicago & they need our help!!! 
I mean, who doesn't wanna give a furry friend a forever home during the holidays?! 
It's like, we gotta make room 4 more love in those shelters! 
So if u're thinkin' of addin' 2 the fam, check out PAWS Chicago & find ur new bestie! 
They've got so many amazing animals waitin' 4 a second chance. Let's get this adoption party started! 
it's amazing how one person's adoption can make a difference in saving another life 
the shelter has been doing incredible work with 5,000 adoptions this year alone and still needs help 
but I love that they're emphasizing the importance of community fostering too - every little bit counts! 
? Shelter staff should focus on spay/neuter services and animal rehabilitation instead of relying on a holiday drive every year. I'm all for adopting animals in need, but it's not like PAWS Chicago is the only game in town...
I mean, it's great that people are coming out to adopt some pets during the holidays, but is this really a surprise considering how overpopulated shelters already are? 
Like, 5,000 adoptions in a year is nothing to brag about when you think about all the lives being taken in and killed due to overcrowding. And now they're expecting us to just keep coming back for more? 
The shelter's not going to magically solve its own problems overnight. We need systemic changes, not just Band-Aid adoptions 
