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Dear Friend,

The "Millennium Park Cat" finally has a home.

️Buddy had been living in Chicago’s Millennium Park since last spring and, while friendly, expertly evaded capture for months, according to park security and staff.

Buddy turned into a minor celebrity on social media. He was frequently posted in neighborhood Facebook groups and popular with the park's visitors over the summer and fall months.

“I had never seen a stray cat who was so open to meeting people,” says Melissa Miller of Michigan City, Indiana, who first met the 2-year-old tabby on an 11-degree day when she was ice skating in Millennium Park.

While giving Buddy some water, Melissa met someone trying to help Buddy. She gave them her contact information to let her know if they ever caught him, since she was hoping to add him to her family. She went home hopeful but didn’t set her expectations high.

While Buddy had eluded capture for much of the year, Judy Drake, a local cat whisperer who regularly works with Trap-Neuter-Return cats, had teamed up with local trappers to train them and provide the equipment.

It took weeks of learning what Buddy liked best to coax him to safety, but he had a village out there to help him. And on December 23, Buddy was finally captured in a trap and brought to PAWS Chicago where he received a veterinary exam, neuter surgery, and vaccines. Buddy’s arrival to PAWS was accompanied by Melissa’s contact information, of course.

[link removed] a clean bill of health, the PAWS team reached out to a surprised and overjoyed Melissa Miller who officially adopted Buddy on December 28.

“I feel like it was meant to be,” says Melissa, “I had been meaning to get my cat a companion for a while now, and I felt such a connection to Buddy when I met him. He’s been so happy being home.”

Melissa went on to say, “Buddy loves to explore, drink water, and mostly eat. And he’s already bonding with housemate Nugget.”

Huge thanks to Judy Drake and the entire PAWS Chicago community for helping Buddy ring in the New Year in a new home!
Find Your Buddy at PAWS ([link removed])
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** Bodie’s Big Break
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“When I was told he might be difficult, that sealed the deal for me,” says Isaiah, Bodie’s adopter and biggest fan.

Follow Bodie ([link removed])

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** Animal Magnetism 2025
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Friday, April 4, 7 p.m.
Morgan Manufacturing

No Kill is more than a movement—on Friday, April 4, it's positively magnetic.

You and your dog are invited to Animal Magnetism, a lifesaving event hosted by the PAWS Chicago Professional Board in the West Loop neighborhood.

Raising funds to give Chicago’s neediest pets a second chance, Animal Magnetism welcomes more than 700 of Chicago’s animal lovers for a night of food & drinks, dancing, entertainment, a fabulous silent auction, and more! 

Buy Tickets ([link removed])

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** Upcoming Adoption Event
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Meow Mixer
Tuesday, February 11, 6–7:30 p.m.
Virtual Cat Adoption Event
Registration Required

Find your Valentine without leaving your sofa. Sign up for our Meow Mixer, a virtual adoption event for our cats living in foster homes! This event features cats that prefer an adults-only home. If you have experience owning cats and are interested in one who may take time to open up, then this event is for you!

Sign Up Now ([link removed])

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** Vanity Fur Pet Photo Contest
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Is your pet the cutest little stinker in the whole darn world? Prove it.

Enter your dog or cat in the PAWS Chicago Vanity Fur Pet Photo Contest for the chance to be crowned Most Photogenic Pet of the Year in our March newsletter and win three special prizes: a website feature, a social media post, and a PAWS Shop e-gift card.

Entering is easy and free. Simply upload a photo of your pet, add the best creative caption, and then invite your family and friends to vote. But hurry, the contest ends on February 28 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Enter My Pet ([link removed])

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** Eat Pizza. Save Lives.
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“Slice to Meet You” has returned for its 3rd year in a row, but Piece Pizzeria & Brewery is going bigger than ever before.

Now through April 9, grab the exclusive chef collab pizza of the month for $35, and $70 will be donated to PAWS Chicago pets thanks to six matching donors!

For January, Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's and Bill Jacobs of Piece Pizzeria have cooked up Bill & Doug’s Excellent Adventure, a delicious white pizza topped with thinly sliced Yukon potatoes, Hungarian sausage, roasted garlic, horseradish cream sauce, and finished with scallions.

What are you waiting for? Order an out-of-this-world pizza to support homeless pets.

Order Now ([link removed])

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** Volunteer of the Month: Moira Quinn
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At just 12 years old, Moira started supporting homeless pets through our Junior Volunteers program. Now 18, she’s helping usher in a new generation of service-minded animal-lovers.

Meet Moira ([link removed])


** CPD Pet Supply Drive
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There’s been an increase in lost/stray dogs brought to Chicago Police Districts, which aren’t equipped with the supplies necessary to receive the dogs and temporarily house them while awaiting transfer to Chicago Animal Care and Control.

To help these dogs in need, we are accepting donations of supplies that will be provided to the police districts. The deadline to donate will be Friday, February 28.

The most needed items are:

1. Stainless steel water & food bowls
2. Slip leads & leashes
3. Dog collars
4. Poop bags

Any new or gently used items are greatly appreciated! We will have a donation bin at our Adoption Center, and we are open seven days a week for drop-offs.

1997 N. Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL
Monday–Friday: noon–7 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
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** Fitness February
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Ready to sweat for homeless pets? Let TEAM PAWS Chicago help you with your 2025 fitness goals.

Back for a second year, we are partnering with local fitness centers every weekend in February featuring unique classes with proceeds benefiting PAWS Chicago!

Click below to view all classes, dates, and times.

Class Schedule ([link removed])

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** Broken Jaw, Resilient Heart: Delgado’s Fight to Survive
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Found as a stray in November 2024, Delgado was barely hanging on, his jaw badly misaligned from an untreated injury. But his will to survive was unbreakable and, with the help of dedicated rescuers, Delgado’s heartbreaking past is now just the beginning of a brighter future.

His Journey to Recovery ([link removed])


** Red Bandana Celebrations: First Family Photos
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The PAWS Chicago Holiday Adopt-a-Thon was a heartwarming success, as the shelter set out to find homes for as many animals as we could before the holidays in just 10 days. The festive atmosphere was in full swing, with twinkling lights, holiday decorations, and a sense of community filled our Lincoln Park Adoption Center.

The Adopt-a-Thon was featured in multiple media outlets and we're highlighting some broadcasts and articles that perfectly capture the spirit of the event. These segments showcased the joy of pet adoption during the holiday season and the important work PAWS Chicago is doing to help animals find their new families!

See Adoptable Pets ([link removed])


Watch the WGN9 Segment ([link removed])


Thank you for all you do to save the lives of homeless pets,
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Our mailing address is:
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