PAWS Chicago is committed to building a No Kill Chicago – a city where pets are no longer destroyed just because they are homeless — and in 2011, PAWS Chicago’s life-saving efforts helped more cats and dogs than ever before.

The following 2011 highlights underscore the tremendous impact that PAWS Chicago’s solution-focused efforts have had on saving the lives of homeless animals, as well as our commitment to helping Animal Care & Control (the city pound).

• PAWS Chicago’s Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic performed 17,235 spay/neuter surgeries. The Lurie Clinic is Chicagoland’s largest free and low-cost spay/neuter clinic, located in and serving Chicago’s most at-risk and under-resourced communities where the majority of stray and unwanted pets originate.
• The GusMobile provided on-site spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and treatments to 464 cats and dogs.  This mobile counterpart to the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic enabled PAWS Chicago to provide accessible, high-volume spay/neuter service to Chicago’s most impoverished neighborhoods for pets who otherwise would not have received medical treatment.
• The Rescue & Recovery Center took in 2,661 animals from Animal Care & Control (ACC). PAWS Chicago continues to be ACC’s largest transfer partner.
• The Adoption Center found loving homes for 4,268 pets, representing a 5.6% growth in adoptions from 2010.
• Of the animals who were adopted, PAWS Chicago’s Rescue & Recovery Center treated more than 1,600 dogs and cats with extensive medical care beyond standard vaccinations, preventative treatments and spay/neuter surgeries. As a No Kill shelter, PAWS Chicago is a safe haven for all animals who each receive full medical treatment, regardless of their condition.
• The Crisis Care Pet Food Bank Program distributed 53,960 pounds of food and pet supplies to at-risk families, preventing these animals from entering the sheltering system.
• The Community Cat Program assisted in the Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) of 938 cats located in the south side of Chicago.
• Commitment to No Kill – PAWS Chicago saved the lives of 96% of all animals under its care and protection.
• Volunteers, the heart and soul of PAWS Chicago, donated 92,100 hours to helping homeless animals – equivalent to 44 full time employees.