News

The adoption option: Find your next pet at the humane society

Posted October 26, 2009 11:00 pm

By Christie Willhite

Naperville Area Humane Society's efforts to protect pets include pet care education for children. Kids can take classes at the shelter, and volunteers also conduct programs in area schools. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer, 2003

Ghosts and goblins, skeletons and witches, and black cats.

Of all the traditional Halloween images, those at the Naperville Area Humane Society want you to focus on the black cats.

(Oh, and the calicos and the ones with tiger stripes and those of any color or breed. And while you're at it, consider dogs of all makes and models too.)

The humane society is sponsoring its annual Black Cat Ball on Friday, Oct. 30, a Halloween-time fundraiser to support the agency's efforts to shelter and care for homeless cats and dogs.

As the witching hour approaches, Angie Wood, the humane society's director of operations, tells us more about the shelter's animal protection and human eduction efforts.

Q. What is your mission?

A. The Naperville Area Humane Society is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 to develop and implement animal welfare programs and services within Naperville and surrounding communities. Our goal is to protect animals and prevent animal suffering. While providing shelter and adoption programs for homeless animals, we also strive to educate the community on compassion, respect and kindness toward all living beings.

The humane society is a professional and knowledgeable community resource committed to the humane treatment of every animal and person. As a leading advocate of humane values, we strive to:

• Provide the highest level of quality animal care;

• Create lasting community relationships;

• Offer effective education and training programs;

• Maintain a strong volunteer program;

• Act with integrity and respect

Q. How do you work toward accomplishing those goals?

A. We provide shelter for homeless cats and dogs to fulfill the immediate need. We also offer a variety of education programs to help create change for the future.

Q. Who do you serve?

A. We serve DuPage, Will, Kane, Kendall and western Cook counties.

Q. When and why did the humane society start? How has it grown?

A. The organization began in 1979 out of concern for the homeless cats and dogs in Naperville.

Today we serve people and animals beyond our immediate community, sheltering pets from several different counties and educating the youth of the area as well.

Q. What kind of successes have you had?

A. First, we are very proud to have placed more than 25,000 cats and dogs into good homes over the past 30 years.

Second, our education programs have offered thousands of children the opportunity to learn more about pets and also about kindness, compassion and respect for all.

Q. What challenges do you currently face?

A. As with most animal welfare agencies, we want people to think about adoption first before seeking a pet from another source. This is not as common as some might think. We hope that with the Ad Council's launch of the Shelter Pet Project we will see an increase in the number of people choosing to adopt their next pet.

Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about the humane society?

A. We wish people knew what wonderful cats and dogs we have waiting for a new home. I think people would be amazed at the different types of cats and dogs they would find available for adoption.

Q. How can readers get involved?

A. First, we have our annual Black Cat Ball coming up on Oct. 30 at Meson Sabika. This is our largest fundraiser of the year, which provides us with critical support to operate our shelter.

Second, we have volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can assist us with a variety of things including caring for the shelter animals, assisting with education programs, providing pet therapy visits to local nursing homes and representing the humane society at events.

Vital statistics

Number of contacts per year: Shelters about 1,200 cats and dogs per year; receives about 300 calls a month from people inquiring about surrendering a pet

Budget: $519,000

Funding: Donations, fundraisers, corporate donations, foundations

Full-time employees: 3

Volunteers: More than 500

To donate: 1620 W. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563

To volunteer: (630) 420-8989, ext. 13, or bwyatt@napervilleareahumanesociety.org

Info: (630) 420-8989 or napervilleareahumanesociety.org

Wish list

• Kitten food, dry and canned

• Kitty litter, non-clumping

• Laundry detergent

• Dish soap

• Paper towels

• Bleach

• Stamps

• Inkjet printer

Volunteers help care for pets at the Naperville Area Humane Society's shelter, including taking them for walks, to keep them healthy or return them to health so a family can adopt them. Daily Herald file photo

Naperville Area Humane Society works to encourage families to consider adopting from a shelter when they're looking to add a pet. Daily Herald file photo

The Naperville Area Humane Society shelters about 1,200 cats and dogs annually, some of which make themselves at home in the office area and keep the staff and volunteers company. Daily Herald file photo

The Black Cat Ball Why: To support the Naperville Area Humane Society When: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 Where: Meson Sabika, 1025 Aurora Ave., Naperville Details: Silent and live auctions, dinner, brief program honoring NAHS supporters, music by the Michael Heaton Band Tickets: $160 Info: <a href="http://napervilleareahumanesociety.org" target="new">napervilleareahumanesociety.org</a>

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