PAWS Chicago opened its Holiday Adopt-a-Thon on Friday, Dec. 12, 2024, aiming to place 125 animals in homes before the holidays. The multi-day event, staged at the nonprofit’s Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center in Lincoln Park, brought families, volunteers and staff together for a coordinated push to increase pet adoption rates at the end of the year.

The day began with volunteers setting up intake and matching stations and staff highlighting adoptable pets to visitors who walked in throughout the morning and afternoon. Organizers said same-day adoptions were available and that staff were on hand to answer questions about fostering and long-term care. A local television segment on CBS News ran coverage of the kickoff as PAWS Chicago sought to place animals ahead of the holidays.

The Riley family of Lincoln Park was the first to complete an adoption during the event. They formally adopted Sprinkle Belly, a cat the family had been fostering. “There’s nothing like having a pet, nurturing them and building a family with them,” said Lori Riley. Her son, George Riley, 5, added, “He’s so cuddly.” PAWS staff noted that fostering-to-adopt arrangements are a regular part of their work to ensure matches are appropriate for both pets and households.

Among the adoptable animals on display was Ambrosia, a terrier-mix puppy outfitted for the season in a red cape. PAWS staff said Ambrosia has five siblings, all named after apple varieties, and that several animals at the center wore holiday outfits to create a festive atmosphere for families browsing potential companions.

Celene Mielcarek, Chief Program Officer at PAWS Chicago, framed the adopt-a-thon as an opportunity to connect animals and households in time for the holidays. “Having a companion animal is so rewarding, and bringing that pet into your home, it’s life-changing,” she said, adding that events like the adopt-a-thon let staff display a wide range of animals and help families find good matches. Adoption rates during the holiday season are often higher than at other times of the year.

Volunteers and staff staffed intake and matching stations on site. “We are seeing intake increase across the country. That means public shelters, like Chicago Animal Care and Control, are overpopulated,” said Paige Krueger, a PAWS Chicago volunteer, explaining why partnerships with public shelters remain central to the organization’s work. PAWS representatives said community adoption events increase visibility and access by putting animals in high-traffic settings, allowing direct interaction with potential adopters and often streamlining the process so pets can go home the same day.

Organizers also highlighted a larger seasonal trend: national shelter data indicate that dog adoption rates peak in the fourth quarter, with the highest adoption rate occurring during the holiday season in recent years. One analysis noted adoption rates between December and January rise by about 27 percent, a pattern agencies said they consider when planning staffing and events.

PAWS staff spent the day helping visitors complete paperwork, reviewing medical and behavioral histories and discussing what long-term ownership entails. Potential adopters were reminded that acquiring a companion animal is a long-term commitment — many pets require 10–20+ years of care — including daily food, fresh water, exercise, social interaction, grooming and safe shelter, as well as budgeting for preventive and emergency veterinary care over the animal’s lifetime.

The adopt-a-thon continued into the afternoon and was scheduled to run through the weekend, with staff encouraging walk-ins and appointments at the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center, 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. in Lincoln Park. PAWS Chicago said volunteers and program staff would remain focused on matching animals to homes and educating new owners about fostering, adoptions and long-term care plans as the campaign worked to meet its goal of placing 125 animals before the holidays.

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