CHICAGO PROVIDES NEW HOME FOR ABANDONED PETS FROM FLOOD AREAS IN MIDWEST!
30 ABANDONED PETS BROUGHT TO CHICAGO FROM CROWDED ANIMAL SHELTERS IN IOWA, DOWNSTATE IL!
When tough times hit, family pets are one of the first casualties, unfortunately. You've probably seen stories of dogs and cats abandoned in the wake of home foreclosure. Here in Chicago, the latest pet casualties come from the recently-flood-ravaged towns of Cedar Rapids IA, and downstate Quincy IL.
Saturday afternoon, Rochelle Michalek, the Executive Director of PAWS Chicago, a no-kill animal shelter at 1997 N. Clybourn Avenue, on Chicago's North Side, welcomed a van load of dogs and cats directly from the flood zone. "When we opened up the doors of the vans, everybody's tails were wagging," said Michalek. "They were very, very happy."
Late last week, PAWS Volunteers traveled to the flood area to rescue 23 dogs and 7 cats - just a few of the estimated hundreds of animals left behind by their families as flood waters surged. Humane societies in the affected areas quickly filled beyond capacity, and these shelters appealed to those in Chicago to find new homes for these recent flood-related animal orphans.
"Original owners did have an opportunity to reclaim pets, but in most cases they didn't because of the devastation," Michalek said. "People were obviously worried that they could take care of their family first."
PAWS gave the newly-arrived animals full vet care, including spaying/neutering, a full, up-to-date set of vaccinations, and an implanted microchip for easy identification of the pets should they become lost in their new Chicago surroundings.
Chicagoans Traci Peterson and Steve Johnson visited PAWS Chicago on Saturday afternoon to adopt a second dog to be a companion for their lab-beagle mix Buddy. Traci and Steve adopted their first dog after he came to Chicago as part of Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts a couple of years ago.
"We're both very much animal lovers, and knowing these dogs need a good home is something that kind of motivated us," Peterson said.
The couple picked out a 7-month-old female yellow Labrador named Foxy who came from the Iowa flood area.
Twenty of the thirty pets brought in from the flood rescue mission went to new homes by the end of the day on Saturday. More may come, said Director Michalek, however. PAWS Chicago also receives orphan pets from other animal care agencies throughout the area.
Read Robert Mitchum's story in yesterday's Chicago Tribune for more info and accompanying video.
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