PAWS FOR LIFE OUTREACH PROGRAM

Content provided by PAWS Chicago

The single best way to end animal homelessness is to prevent it before it happens. And the most effective prevention method is proactive spay/neuter efforts.
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But the communities in Chicago which need these services most have the least access to them. PAWS for Life remedies that by offering integrated, community-based solutions to both save lives and nurture healthier pets.

The foundation of PAWS for Life is a team of staff and volunteers on the ground six days a week, canvassing the Englewood and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. We build relationships, share educational information, and provide resources including a pet food pantry, pet training advice, and veterinary care. We’re there to connect with pet lovers who do not have access to these vital services and won’t receive them without intervention.

95% of pets we meet through our PAWS for Life outreach have not been spayed or neutered. Of those pets, 83% end up getting spayed/neutered through our program. PAWS provides transportation for 90% of PAWS for Life spay/neuter surgeries.

75% of the pets we meet have never been to a veterinarian

From our outreach, we have found that the most common barriers our clients face are cost, transportation and lack of accurate information. By reaching out to clients where they live, we can work with them to understand their needs, address the barriers that they are facing and provide them with the resources to make the healthiest decision for their pets.

PAWS for Life goals include providing spay/neuter and medical services to help keep pets in their homes and out of shelters; to help pets stay healthy and avoid unwanted litters; and to create lasting relationships between PAWS Chicago, our volunteers, our community partner organizations and individuals in underserved communities. 

Want to volunteer with RDMOC at the next PAWS Chicago Community Day event? Get more information here.

​By engaging community members to be a part of the program, clients are joining our efforts to bring about change and make animal welfare more diverse and inclusive.

The mission of PAWS Chicago is to build humane communities. Through our robust adoption program and targeted prevention efforts, we are close to achieving a truly humane Chicago.

In the 20 years since PAWS Chicago’s founding, the number of homeless pets killed in the city has been reduced by 91% percent. That dramatic change is due largely to the success of preventative spay/neuter programs. By supporting our PAWS for Life program, your generosity will help us realize our shared dream of a No Kill Chicago.

PAWS for Life promotes the philosophy that a lack of resources does not mean a lack of love. The PAWS team understands that where there are people living in poverty, pets are living in poverty as well. We respect the bond our clients have with their animals. We aim to empower owners with information and resources to make healthy decisions for their pets, without judgement. This approach has allowed PAWS to become a trusted resource in the community and to provide much needed services to some of the city’s most under-served pets.
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Since PAWS for Life began in 2014, we have built relationships with pet owners on nearly every block in Englewood, resulting in services to 6,600 families and 13,000 pets.

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Want to volunteer with RDMOC at the next PAWS Chicago Community Day event?

MORE INFO

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MORE INFORMATION:
Check out PAWS Chicago Community Outreach Facebook Page.

PAWS Chicago Helps Low Income Pet Owners - NBC Chicago

Here's How A Shelter is Helping South Side Pet Owners - Block Club Chicago

ABOUT PAWS CHICAGO:
PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving) is a national model in No Kill animal sheltering, committed to bringing an end to the killing of homeless cats and dogs.  As Chicagoland’s largest No Kill shelter, and one of the largest in the nation, PAWS has helped to reduce the number of homeless pets killed in the city by 91% since its founding in 1997.  In just 20 years, PAWS Chicago has grown from a grassroots organization to a national leader in the No Kill movement, guiding other communities in how to dramatically reduce the euthanasia of homeless cats and dogs. 

In 2018, PAWS Chicago found homes for 5,591 dogs and cats through its Lincoln Park and Highland Park Adoption Centers and performed 16,750 spay and neuter surgeries through its Lurie Clinic and GusMobile Spay/Neuter Van. These two medical resources give PAWS Chicago the ability to provide subsidized spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and humane education to under-served families and neighborhoods that need the most help in controlling pet population.

Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest independent evaluator, has rated PAWS Chicago at its highest 4-star ranking for 17 consecutive years—an accomplishment that less than 1% of the charities in the nation have reached.

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