On Monday and Wednesday, nearly 30 dogs and cats from flood-stricken shelters in Texas will be flown to airports in Nebraska and west suburban Aurora, where PAWS Chicago transport vans will be waiting to take them to its shelter.
Depending on their medical needs the animals could be ready for adoption within the week, said Ashley Podjasek, a media relations and communications associate with PAWS Chicago.
“All of these animals were already in the shelter before the floods hit,” she said. “So by doing this rescue, we’re taking them out of the shelter and making space for the pets who were displaced in the floods.”
Podjasek said animals will be flown from the Concho Valley PAWS shelter in San Angelo, Texas, to Nebraska City Municipal Airport on Monday, and two days later, rescues will be flown from the Austin Pets Alive! shelter to Aurora Municipal Airport.
On Sunday, PAWS Chicago hosted its 12th annual Angels With Tails event in Roscoe Village. In partnership with five other rescue organizations, the shelter aimed to find homes for more than 50 cats and dogs. PAWS Chicago volunteers were stationed outside local Roscoe Village businesses, allowing people walking by to meet and interact with the animals.
Trevor Davis and Katie Engle arrived at the event promptly at noon when the adoption event started. They were in search of a dog named Fritter that they had seen online the night before. They walked up and down the block, looking for the 3-month-old puppy.
Once they found him sitting outside, they put their application in and underwent the adoption process. Just before 2 p.m., the Lincoln Park residents switched Fritter’s bandana from yellow to red, marking him as officially adopted.
“I can’t wait to bring him home,” Engle said while tearing up and holding the puppy right after the adoption was finalized. “I still just can’t believe it.”
Fritter was rescued from Houston before the floods.
After their dog died two months ago, West Town residents Anita and Walt Puyear were wondering whether they would adopt another pup. They were open to adopting when they arrived in Roscoe Village, but they weren’t sure if they would take a pet home with them.
But they were drawn immediately to Tilly, who is 4 1/2 months old, for her friendly and calm demeanor.
“We’re very excited,” Walt Puyear said. “Also a little nervous.”
Charese David, a real estate broker with Compass, said she’s volunteered at the event every year since 2013. She adopted her first dog, Samson, at a PAWS Chicago event in Lincoln Park in 2006. In 2013, she adopted another dog from the first Angels With Tails event in Roscoe Village.
David, a Roscoe Village resident of 24 years, said the event is a huge draw for people within the neighborhood, but also for people all around the city.
“It’s an amazing place to give animals a home,” said David, 62. “Our community is strong because of our shared love for animals.”