PAWS Chicago

PAWS Chicago was founded in 1997 by Paula Fasseas after a personal encounter with the Chicago Animal Care and Control system that led her to discover the city was euthanizing over 42,000 animals per year. The organization's founding mission — to make Chicago a no-kill city — was, at the time, considered impractical by most observers. Roughly twenty-five years later, that mission is essentially complete: Chicago's euthanasia numbers are down over 90% from 1997 levels, and PAWS Chicago is one of the central reasons.

The organization operates two main facilities: the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center on Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park (named for one of the founder's family dogs), and a separate medical center handling intake, spay/neuter, and rehabilitation.

How they work

PAWS Chicago adoptions begin with an in-person visit to the Lincoln Park center. The application is completed on-site, the interview is conversational, and meet-and-greets happen the same day for animals you're interested in. The organization is open-hearted in its adoption philosophy — the staff is trying to place animals, not to filter applicants.

Adoption fees vary by animal and are listed on the website. Fees include spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and a starter pack.

PAWS Chicago is no-kill in the strictest sense. Animals are not euthanized for space, time, or for treatable medical or behavioral conditions. The medical capacity to back this up is substantial — the dedicated medical center handles complex cases that some shelters would not have the resources to take on.

Beyond adoptions, the organization runs:

• Animal transfer programs — PAWS pulls thousands of animals annually from Chicago Animal Care and Control before they face euthanasia for space.
• Low-cost spay and neuter clinics at the medical center, available to the general public.
• Lurie Family Spay/Neuter Clinic specifically focused on Chicago's underserved neighborhoods, providing free or low-cost services.
• Foster networks that handle puppies, kittens, and post-surgery recoveries across the Chicago metro area.
• Humane education programs in Chicago Public Schools.

The Lincoln Park adoption center, opened in 2007, was one of the first purpose-built no-kill adoption facilities in the country to receive significant architectural attention. The building is designed around natural light, sound dampening, and visitor flow that prioritizes animal welfare over visitor convenience.

How they changed Chicago

The scale of the shift PAWS Chicago has been part of, since 1997, is hard to overstate. The city's annual euthanasia numbers have fallen from over 42,000 to under 4,000. Chicago Animal Care and Control's live release rate has climbed from roughly 25% to over 90%. The transfer pipeline PAWS built between CACC and its own adoption center is one of the single largest drivers of that shift, alongside the broader no-kill movement that grew up around the city in the 2000s and 2010s.

Other Chicago organizations — Anti-Cruelty Society, Felines Inc., One Tail at a Time, and the broader network of rescue partners — have been part of the same story. But PAWS Chicago is, by volume, the largest individual driver.

You can support them in the standard ways:

• Adopt from the Lincoln Park center.
• Foster — the foster network is one of the largest in the Midwest and constantly recruiting.
• Volunteer — dog walking, cat socializing, medical center support.
• Donate — PAWS Chicago publishes detailed financials annually and holds top charity ratings.

Field & Era at PAWS Chicago

The Lincoln Park adoption center coordinates appear in Companion Edition orders shipped throughout Chicago and across the broader Midwest. If you adopted from PAWS Chicago and want the address set on archival paper, see the Companion Edition. 10% of every Companion order supports a rescue partner.

Last verified May 29, 2026. Facts about hours, intake policies, and adoption fees can change. Confirm with PAWS Chicago directly before visiting.