05/21/2025
This is the intake line outside CACC and it's like this every single day. 📸
In just the first 20 days of May, we’ve averaged 56 animals coming into the shelter per day, a jump from April’s 54 per day. That may not sound huge, but at this volume, every increase stretches our already limited resources to the brink. 💔
Many of the pets in this line are arriving as strays. But many are also being surrendered by their owners... people who likely love their pets, but may not know what else to do.
🙏 If you’re thinking about surrendering your pet, please understand:
➡️ You know your pet better than anyone.
➡️ You are their best advocate.
➡️ Rehoming directly gives your pet the best chance at landing in the right home.
When a pet is brought to the shelter, they become one of hundreds. In a noisy, unfamiliar environment, even the best pets can shut down, making it harder for them to stand out. 🐾
By rehoming your pet directly, you can share their likes, needs, routines, and quirks. These are things that can make a family fall in love. ❤️ That’s information we just don’t always receive.
CACC should be a last resort, reserved for animals truly in crisis.
And we want you to know, you don’t have to make that decision alone. PAWS Chicago is also onsite at CACC five days a week during intake hours to help with diversion support. Talk to us first. Learn what resources are out there. Let’s explore other options before you get in line with your family member.
We are here to help you succeed, not separate you from your best friend.
