PAWSChicago

It’s Hank’s Time to Shine 🌟   Hank is part of Time to Shine, our foster-to-adopt event happening Sunday, March 29 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center! It’s a great chance to meet animals who are usually in foster homes and not often at the adoption center.   This big, handsome 7-year-old is the total package: sweet, goofy, and full of love. He’s playful, a great listener, and just as happy lounging with his people as he is going for walks or playing fetch. Hank is looking for a home with a mix of activity, companionship, and continued training, and he’ll give endless affection in return.   This event lets you bring a pet home without pressure. PAWS provides supplies and medical support while you get to know each other. Many attending pets do best in homes without small children and may prefer to be your one-and-only.   Ready to meet Hank and other pets looking for families? RSVP at the link in our bio!

Fergus’ heart was literally failing him, but he didn’t give up — and neither did we. When Fergus arrived at our medical center from CACC, our team discovered a severe congenital heart defect called a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). Most dogs with this condition don’t survive past their first year, but Fergus, estimated to be three years old, had already defied the odds. Determined to give him a second chance, our veterinary team partnered with specialists at the University of Illinois to perform life-saving heart surgery. The procedure was a success, and Fergus is now on the road to recovery, with careful monitoring and rest ahead. Stories like Fergus’ are why we do this work. Every animal deserves a chance at life, no matter how complex their medical needs. Thanks to advanced care, teamwork, and your support, Fergus now has a brighter future ahead.

Footage of CM Punk and AJ Lee at @PAWSChicago yesterday ❤️ :')

ADOPTION EVENT: Fennel, Daisy, Nutmeg and Gravy are headed to @marianosmarket in South Loop tomorrow in search of loving homes! Stop by to meet these cuties in person and see if one of them is your perfect match! Meet the attending pets at pawschicago.org/adopt - look for pets flagged “Offsite Event” 📍1615 S Clark St. Chicago, IL 60616 📆 February 7th, 12-3pm

See how one week at PAWS can change everything for an at-risk pet 💛 This is Cedric. Cedric was living as a community cat, meaning he was part of a feral outdoor colony and cared for by one of our dedicated Colony Caretakers. When he came to PAWS for a scheduled neuter and return, it was clear he needed much more than that. He was suffering from a severe upper respiratory infection, dehydration, and an upset stomach. He was simply too sick to go back outside. Instead of returning Cedric to life outdoors, we knew we needed to help him. We brought him into our care so he could receive the medical treatment he needed, as well as the comfort, patience, and love that every at-risk pet deserves. He quickly seemed to discover just how much he enjoys life as an indoor cat. With soft beds, warm spaces, and plenty of pets, he settled in nicely. Now, Cedric is healing at PAWS, surrounded by dedicated care and so much love as he continues his journey toward a cozy, healthy future.

donate.pawschicago.org/campaign/76487… Zuzu and Zucca were just eight weeks old when Chicago’s winter nearly took their lives. Found alone on one of the coldest, snowiest days of the year, these tiny sisters were frostbitten, dehydrated, and barely hanging on. They were rushed to PAWS, where they’re now warm, safe, and receiving lifesaving care. But so many others are still out there tonight, facing freezing temperatures with nowhere to turn. Winter isn’t letting up, and the need is urgent. A gift to our Cold Weather Fund helps rescue pets from the cold, provide emergency medical care, and save lives when every minute matters. Zuzu and Zucca survived because help arrived in time. Please donate today to help the next animal in need. 💛

‼️SEVERE WEATHER WARNING ‼️ It will be extremely cold the next few days, click the link below for tips on how to keep pets safe! pawschicago.org/fileadmin/medi…

This is how we met Olive - injured, bleeding, and wrapped in a towel in the early morning hours when staff first arrived to our Adoption Center. She was covered in abrasions and puncture wounds that appeared to be dog bites, but even swollen, bruised, and in extensive pain, Olive only offered us tail wags and kisses. The wounds across her legs and chest were infected, and our medical team has spent the last week and a half cleaning, bandaging, and doing laser therapy to help her heal. She’s been an angel for it all, not minding the baths or protective goggles, just happy to have the company of friends. Today, Olive is feeling so much better! That first day at our Medical Center, she barely moved from all the pain. Now, she’s up on her feet, and using those little legs to jump up on us and smoosh that bowling ball head into the nearest set of hands for pets. Olive has turned a huge corner in her recovery and she should be ready for adoption soon - keep an eye out at pawschicago.org/adopt for her arrival 💕

2025: A record-breaking year for lifesaving impact 🎉🐾   In 2025, PAWS Chicago’s Lurie Clinic completed 21,327 spay/neuter surgeries — the highest annual total in our history — helping reduce pet overpopulation at its source and easing the strain on Chicago’s animal welfare system. This extraordinary work secured the Lurie Clinic a Snippy Award nomination for the #1 high-volume spay/neuter clinic by @clinichqsoftware .   For more than 25 years, prevention has been at the heart of our mission, and milestones like this reflect the power of accessible, community-focused care. None of this would be possible without our dedicated veterinary team, staff, volunteers, and supporters who make lifesaving progress happen every single day.   We’re expanding our impact even further by offering $25 spay/neuter surgeries for Pit Bulls and large dogs, helping more families protect their pets and prevent homeless pets in communities with the greatest need. See if your pet qualifies: pawschicago.org/our-work/spayn…

Cherub’s heart surgery went super well! Our very brave 4-month-old kiddo has just returned from the University of Illinois where he had a balloon valvuloplasty, a heart surgery he needed to survive. His spirits are up, his future is looking up, (his ears are up!) and he’s moved directly into a great foster home for his post-op recovery. Congratulations, Cherub! ❤️ Fosters are so important to the healing journey, and we give you all the supplies you need — become a PAWS foster at pawschicago.org/foster

Help us welcome these new faces to PAWS! These are the newest pups we got to pick up from Chicago Animal Care and Control, and we’re in love with Twix’s chocolate spots, Pudding’s perfect “shake”, Puff’s fluff, and Sutton’s puppy dog eyes (good luck to anyone who has to tell her no in the future) Big thanks to our feeding partner Kismet helping all our new pups settle in and keeping bellies full while we focus on their next steps — making sure all their needs are met ahead of adoption!

The job Wafflefry wants to do: toy tester The job Waffefry must do: model Dashingly handsome Wafflefry has a big heart and a big personality ready to come home with you! He loves to play fetch, and will insist on sitting in your lap afterwards (as a reward to you, of course). Our trainers love him because he’s incredibly smart, treat motivated, and picks up new skills so easily! He’s now at our Adoption Center looking for a family — he’ll be most successful in a home with older children and no other pets. Come meet this goofy, spunky pup! He’s available for adoption or foster at pawschicago.org/adopt

Sunday Brunch: PAWS, pizza and a cute puppy. Find out how PAWS Chicago is using pizza and local chefs to team up for a great cause — and it looks like @HilleryJewell has a new friend! WATCH: wgntv.com/news/wgn-weeke…

Looking to adopt a pet but want to foster first to make sure it’s a good fit? Next Sunday, January 11, come to our Time to Shine event to meet our foster-first dogs and cats! These are pets who shine in a home, and we want you to see for yourself during a pressure-free foster period. During the foster period, PAWS will provide supplies and medical support, so you can focus on getting to know your new companion! To RSVP, learn more, and get a preview of the pets you’ll meet, visit pawschicago.org/our-work/pet-a…

Happy New Year, PAWS community! We are so excited to get this next year of lifesaving started, especially because you helped us reach every single one of our donation matches this holiday season!!! We’ve got lots of 2025 accomplishments to share with you, but we have to share one of our favorites — we had 4,918 adoptions in 2025! 🎉 Pictured here are some of the PAWS dogs and cats who started 2026 in a loving home, thanks to your support ❤️

DONATION MATCH: We are so close to unlocking the full holiday donation match that ends tonight at midnight - help us reach the finish line with a matched donation for pets like Angus! Angus was found stuck between two cars and brought to our partners at @VEGERforpets. He was in urgent need of an enucleation surgery for a very painful eye injury, so VEG contacted us knowing we could help him find a loving home after his operation. Angus has just had his surgery at our Medical Center and is on the road to recovery. His story is so common for homeless pets, and we know we’ll meet many more dogs and cats just like Angus next year, alone and in need of help. Help us ensure they are never alone again: donate.pawschicago.org/campaign/72919…

DONATION MATCH: We have just 1 day left to unlock a $115,000 donation match that ends New Year’s Eve! We would love to unlock the full match because it means more lifesaving for former outdoor cats like Stevie, because he deserves to breathe easy and purr as hard as he wants. His respiratory infection was so severe it took several rounds of medication and some foster TLC to finally get him to our Adoption Center today. Have your donation matched for double the lifesaving right here: donate.pawschicago.org/campaign/72919… And don’t forget our New Year, New Friend adoption event ends tomorrow too! Select cats and dogs (including Stevie) have waived adoption fees —> pawschicago.org/adopt

DONATION MATCH: 3-month-old Cherub is getting ready for heart surgery. This little guy has severe pulmonic stenosis, which can be fixed through a surgery called a balloon valvuloplasty. Our Medical Center can handle nearly any illness or injury that comes our way, but this is one of the few and rare treatments we can’t provide at PAWS. So, in just a couple weeks, we’ll be taking him to the University of Illinois for this very important surgery, because that’s the promise we make to every PAWS pet: whatever care they need to go home, we will provide. Help us guarantee care for thousands of homeless animals next year with a holiday donation match that ends December 31st --> donate.pawschicago.org/campaign/72919…