About Us
At PAWS Chicago, we are dedicated to building No Kill communities, starting with a No Kill Chicago, that respect and value the life of every cat and dog. Our mission is to end the overpopulation of homeless animals through innovative solutions, practices, and education. We strive to transform animal welfare by setting higher standards in the way animals are treated and developing a sustainable, solutions-based model.
Our Mission
Our mission is multifaceted:
- To build No Kill communities by ensuring that every cat and dog receives the respect and value they deserve.
- To end the overpopulation of homeless animals through targeted spay/neuter programs, proactive adoption efforts, and comprehensive animal health and behavior services.
- To transform animal welfare by setting new standards in animal care and developing sustainable models that prioritize the well-being of all animals.
Our Values
At PAWS Chicago, we value:
- Respect: For each and every life, recognizing the inherent value of every animal.
- Community: We believe in the power of community engagement, working with volunteers, employees, donors, adopters, fosters, clinic clients, corporations, small businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies to make a difference.
- Innovation: We continuously seek to improve best practices and explore new ideas and strategies to save more lives.
- Pro-activity: We are proactive in solving difficult problems and prepared to offer emergency and crisis support.
- Transparency: We inform the public about the fate of homeless animals and provide truthful statistics about the likelihood of pets surviving private and public shelters.
- Education: We raise awareness about the realities that homeless animals face in the community and across the nation, promoting responsible pet ownership and providing a forum for people to get involved in effecting change.
- Sustainability: We manage our finances to maximize the impact and reach of our resources, ensuring that PAWS Chicago remains a resource for homeless animals.
- Compassion: We show compassion toward all people and animals, recognizing the interconnectedness of our community.
Our Services
We offer a range of services designed to achieve our mission:
- Prevention: Through targeted spay/neuter programs, we aim to get to the root of overpopulation.
- Adoption: We find loving families for homeless pets, rescuing them and uniting them with new families.
- Animal Health & Behavior: We provide state-of-the-art Shelter Medicine and comprehensive Animal Behavior programs to treat and rehabilitate both body and spirit.
- Volunteers: Our dedicated team plays an invaluable role in every aspect of our lifesaving efforts, touching every operation with the highest quality of care for our pets.
Our History
PAWS Chicago was founded by Paula and Alexis Fasseas after they rescued a stray dog named Pippen from the Greek island of Crete in June 1996. The organization was launched with an adoption event, Angels with Tails, on May 30, 1998. Since then, we have grown significantly, opening various centers and clinics, including the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic, the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center, the Training & Foster Care Center, and the Glenn L. Felner North Shore Adoption Center. Our growth has been driven by public awareness and the recognition that every person can take action to help homeless pets.
Join Us
At PAWS Chicago, we believe that together, we can make a difference. Whether you are a volunteer, donor, adopter, or simply someone who cares about animal welfare, we invite you to join us in our mission to build a No Kill community. Together, we can ensure that every cat and dog receives the respect and value they deserve.