The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control is joining forces with the South Suburban Humane Society to bring forth the Paw-Some Pets Project, a program notably designed to both find homes for dogs and cats free of charge to adopters and provide a gratis spaying and neutering service for larger canines, in a move that underscores the county’s commitment to animal welfare and population control, the initiative, which launched today, is open to all residents in the county.
The waived adoption fees which typically range from $25 to $200, can relieve potential pet owners of the initial financial hurdle, making it easier for them to welcome a new furry member into their families; likewise, the free spay and neuter services, priced between $75 and $180, aim at large dogs weighing 44 pounds or more, a particularly notable effort considering that these larger breeds often find themselves at the mercy of overcrowded shelters due to their size and the associated costs of their care.
“The Paw-Some Pets Project is a wonderful opportunity to help pets find good homes and to ensure that more pets are spayed and neutered,” 0said ARC Administrator Mamadou Diakhate, DVM, according to an
official announcement
. The all-inclusive nature of the program means that dog and cat adoptions also cover spay and neuter services, vaccinations, microchips, and other necessary supplies and medical procedures that may otherwise be a barrier for those looking to adopt.
Tracy Elliot, interim CEO at South Suburban Humane Society, noted the plight of large dogs in the community and the importance of collaborative approaches to this ongoing issue,
telling the public
, “We are overwhelmed with large dogs who make wonderful companions. The only way out of this crisis is for all of us to work together and we thank Cook County for leading the way.” The initiative also extends to community feline welfare with no-cost feral cat spay and neuter services available to ARC-approved sponsors.
This philanthropic venture is underpinned by funding from the Housing Cook County’s Animals grant program, which allocated $7.4 million for the new SSHS facility that opened its doors in 2022, of which, $268,440 has been designated specifically for the Paw-Some Pets Project, this project is set to run through October 31, 2026, or until the provided funds are consumed, manifesting the county’s practical steps toward facilitating animal welfare and community engagement and funded by small fees from rabies tags sourced through Cook County, for more details on the Paw-Some Pets Project and information on accessing these services, residents can visit
Cook County’s official site
.
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