PAWS Chicago’s annual Adopt-a-Thon begins with urgent push to get pets adopted

Angelina Leshchinskaya and Wendy Acosta both walked into PAWS Chicago’s adoption center at 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. at the same time for different reasons.

Acosta, who lives in Portage Park, was sure she was going to adopt and had been doing research to bring home a new friend for her chihuahua, Hazel. Leschinskaya, of Buena Park, was just expecting to browse for what would be her only dog at home.

Despite their differences, both ended up leaving with puppies — chihuahuas named Twinkle and Sparkle — from the same litter.

“Literally within the first couple of minutes, I was drawn to Twinkle right away,” Leshchinskaya said. “I was like, ‘OK, this is a sign.’”

PAWS’ annual adopt-a-thon event got started Friday with a goal to get 200 animals adopted by the event’s end on Dec. 21.

Even in the early hours of the event’s first day, PAWS’ adoption center was full of visitors meeting cats and dogs and receiving adoption consultations. Visitors were welcomed by snacks and warm beverages, too.

Celene Mielcarek, head of program operations, said the Adopt-a-Thon is the biggest push each year to get animals at PAWS adopted.

“The Adopt-a-Thon is not just about bringing a pet into a home at this wonderful time of year,” she said, “but also about enabling us to rescue more, save more, with the space that opens up in our shelter.”

Mielcarek said that the holidays are already a time for increased traffic at PAWS. With many off from work and spending more time with family, people are more inclined to add a pet to their home. The Adopt-a-Thon takes advantage of that timing.

And this year the event is especially critical for the animals. While the pandemic’s restrictions keeping people at home increased pet adoptions, now there is rising pet homelessness and relinquishment.

“We’re seeing that happen all year,” said Paige Krueger, an eight-year volunteer veteran at PAWS, “and those numbers are increasing.”

Krueger said increased care costs for pets and few new veterinary offices are to blame. Getting as many as possible adopted is crucial right now so that shelters can find some relief and not risk the lives of pets in overwhelmed facilities.

To help reach their adoption goal, PAWS has extended hours on select days during the event, and every day there are additional appointment times for those looking to adopt. Walk-ins are also accommodated.

Before coming in, PAWS recommends potential adoptees fill out their “comPETability” survey. Once at the adoption center, counselors help visitors look through different options and get settled with their pet. Krueger added that if the adoptee lives in what PAWS considers a pet food or resource desert, they may qualify for free pet food, leashes or crates.

Leshchinskaya and Acosta pointed to their experience to show how easy the adoption process is and encouraged people to consider adopting instead of going to a breeder. They also said they plan to keep in touch so their new dogs can see each other in the future.

And Acosta, who is taking home Sparkle, can’t wait for her two dogs to start playing together.

“[Sparkle] wagged her tail once she met Hazel,” she said, “and when she did that I knew that these two were gonna be best friends. It just was like, ‘Where do I sign?’”