Last week, I had the privilege of spending the morning with PAWS Chicago founder and dear friend, Paula Fasseas, touring the organization’s Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic. I’ve supported PAWS for years, but walking through it with the woman who started it all, seeing each nook and corner through her eyes, is special. It reminded me exactly why I joined the PAWS Chicago Board… and why this mission is so deeply personal to me.
Where It All Began: A Crisis Most People Never Knew About
When Paula shared the origins of PAWS, I was stunned. In 1997, more than 28,000 dogs and cats entered Chicago Animal Care & Control on Western Avenue. 26,000 of them were killed. That’s over 90% of homeless pets in our city — healthy, adoptable animals euthanized simply because there was nowhere for them to go.
Paula saw this heartbreaking reality and refused to accept it. Instead, she created a movement. Because of that movement — and the work of volunteers, adopters, donors, and advocates — the number of pets killed in Chicago has dropped by nearly 90% since PAWS was founded. What once felt hopeless is now one of the greatest animal-welfare turnarounds in the country.
On our tour, Paula walked me through the programs that make this change possible:
A No-Kill, Adoption-Focused Model – PAWS saves thousands of dogs and cats every year — more than 4,300 adoptions in 2024 alone — because they refuse to give up on animals who need time, patience, or advanced medical care.
Spay/Neuter as Prevention – The Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic performs over 17,000 surgeries a year, focusing on underserved communities where accidental litters are most common. Since opening, PAWS has completed more than 330,000 spay/neuter surgeries citywide, stopping overpopulation at the source.
Medical Care for the Most Vulnerable – Many animals come to PAWS sick, injured, or terrified. Watching the medical team in action — their calmness and compassion — is truly something to see. These are pets who never would have survived 25 years ago.
Community Partnership with Chicago Animal Care & Control – PAWS works hand-in-hand with the city to pull animals from overcrowded conditions. As a result, CACC’s save rate has climbed to over 76%, something unimaginable in the 90s.
What’s Coming Next — And Why It Matters
Paula also shared what PAWS is building for the future, and it’s inspiring: a new, expanded campus designed specifically for large dogs (the most at-risk population), more medical capacity for the toughest cases, increased outreach in communities where resources are limited, and innovative tech and volunteer programs to improve tracking, enrichment, and care.
This next phase is big, bold, and necessary. PAWS has always stood out to me because of the real, measurable impact they’re making across Chicago. Their approach is smart, compassionate, and focused on long-term solutions — and that’s something I believe in wholeheartedly. I joined the board because I saw the work Paula was doing and knew I wanted to help in a meaningful way. As a dog mom myself, this mission has always pulled at my heart, but being part of PAWS has shown me just how much thought, care, and innovation goes into saving these animals. Touring the facilities with Paula and seeing everything up close only deepened that commitment and made me even more excited to be part of the next chapter of PAWS Chicago.
If PAWS’s mission resonates with you, there are so many meaningful ways to be part of it. Adopting or fostering makes an immediate difference, especially for pets who need a little extra time or care. Volunteering is another option — PAWS relies on thousands of volunteer hours each year, and there’s a role for everyone, whether you love walking dogs, socializing cats, or supporting events. And of course, donations of any size directly support medical care, spay/neuter programs, and the day-to-day work that keeps the organization running. Even something as simple as sharing PAWS’s mission with friends and family helps more people learn about the work being done and the pets still waiting for homes.
Chicago once killed 26,000 homeless pets a year. Now, because of the vision of one woman and the commitment of thousands, we are a national model for humane, life-saving care. If you’d like to get involved, adopt, volunteer, or support PAWS Chicago, visit pawsChicago.org — or reach out to me directly. I’d love to help you find a way to be part of this incredible mission.
