Today is very important day. It's World Mental Health Day.

I was diagnosed as having "PTSD with Depression" in 2017, but once I started taking medication, I began to realize that I have been depressed my entire life. I also learned that my medications helped relieve the unrelenting anxiety that I never realized wasn't "the norm" either. Side story: I will work endlessly to break the stigma about being medicated. The clarity and warmth that I felt when my meds started working will always be the moment I go back to when I feel down. ​

Paw Salvation, Inc. began because when founder, Peter, would visit downtown Chicago, he would see a lot of homeless people with pets and observed that most of the pets where not in good shape. One day he said to himself "Why don’t I start a charity that cares for this pets by providing them healthy meals, grooming, and vet checks?" This way whatever the human can make on the streets can be used to care for themselves and Paw Salvation cares for their pets.

Will you help us? 

It should come as no surprise to anyone that knows me or follows Real Dog Moms of Chicago that I am a ridiculous dog lover. I blame my Mother. I grew up in a dog loving home; growing up with Rocky, Taffy, and Anna, during my childhood. In 2001, my senior year of college, I rescued an Australian Shepherd from a local farm. Emma was my first rescue and I would go so far as to say I was hooked. Shortly after my mom and I drove across 3 states to rescue a Border Collie, Lucy. Some where in there I started fostering for PAWS Chicago. Foster Failed a dozen dogs in, on a broken sweet German Shepherd, I named Greta Von Barken. Got my family to adopt one of my other fosters, a sweet pibble they named Molly. Anyway, you get the point.

Thinking of getting a puppy? That’s awesome, here’s what you should know about puppy mills and what to look out for. ​
Puppy mills still exist, they’ve just gotten sneakier. Online puppy mills create beautiful websites that make them look like loving breeders, and dang aren’t those little faces cute. The reality is quite different. We want to help you make an informed decision when choosing your next best friend.