Paula Fasseas is the founder of PAWS Chicago and Rochelle Michalek is the Executive Director.
Q: What is the mission of PAWS Chicago?
PAWS Chicago mission is to make Chicago a "no kill" city. This will be accomplished by providing accessible free or low-cost spay/neuter services through the PAWS Chicago Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic. The clinic provides free or low-cost spay/neuter services in low-income communities where the majority of stray and unwanted pets originate. Since opening our doors, we have spayed/ neutered more than 80,000 cats and dogs. In 2008, we performed more than 15,000 surgeries with the majority being no-cost.
In addition, we save the lives of the cats and dogs most in-need through an innovative adoption center and program. Our state-of-the- art adoption center is located in Chicago's vibrant community of Lincoln Park. This inviting, cageless center provides homeless pets with the care and dignity they deserve, while welcoming adopters and providing them with guidance in selecting their new pet.
PAWS Chicago is the most committed and dedicated transfer partner of Chicago's Animal Care and Control. Every day of the week, PAWS Chicago takes dogs, puppies, cats and kittens from ACC, and those animals become part of our adoption program. PAWS Chicago makes a lifetime commitment to these animals so they will never be at risk of being killed again. In 2008, we saved the lives of more than 3,000 homeless cats and dogs.
We are also educating and partnering with the community to make a difference in the lives of animals. PAWS Chicago believes that by educating the community, the media, volunteers and donors on the current state of animal welfare and by partnering on implementing a proactive solution that will save lives and make Chicago a "no kill" city. Our Humane Education and Community Outreach Programs have reached thousands of children, teenagers and parents in our at-risk neighborhoods. Our educational programs teach empathy, compassion, caring for pets and how to stop the cycle of violence.
And lastly, our volunteers are the life force of the organization. More than 7,000 dedicated volunteers allow the organization to continue to save lives and expand services. Volunteers are integrated and play a significant role in every aspect of the organization - from the adoption program, the intake program to our fund raising efforts and our clinic. Because of volunteer support PAWS Chicago has been able to significantly expand their life-saving efforts each year.
Q: What are the biggest obstacles to still overcome?
Saving more lives! Even though the euthanasia rates have come down in Chicago, the number of lives saved needs to increase. Spay/neuter, spay/neuter, spay/neuter is the proactive solution that prevents the intake to our shelter and increases the number of lives saved, as well as encouraging people to adopt verses buying a pet from a pet store, the Internet or the newspaper.
Q: What are PAWS Chicago's greatest accomplishments so far?
Our greatest accomplishment is the significant reduction in euthanasia rates in Chicago. Since PAWS Chicago was founded in 1997, the number of homeless cats and dogs killed annually has dropped by more than 50 percent; from more than 42,000 homeless pets killed in 1997 to fewer than 20,000 killed in 2007. PAWS Chicago is working to build a "no kill" Chicago"”a city where pets are no longer destroyed because they are homeless.
Q: What are your ongoing and current campaigns?
Here are a few of our current areas of focus: "¢ Sick & Injured Medical Fund: PAWS Chicago provides comprehensive medical care for all the animals in its program "¢ Guardian Angel Program: Planned Giving Program
Q: What goals have you set for 2009?
In 2009, PAWS Chicago will spay/neuter 16,500 cats and dogs, save the lives of 3,600 homeless cats and dogs, and continue to educate and partner with the community to make Chicago a "no kill" city.
For more information or to make a donation: PAWS Chicago 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. Chicago, IL 60614 (773) 935-PAWS www.pawschicago.org
