Dear Friend,

We have extraordinary news to share. A few generous supporters were so inspired by the outpouring of compassion for homeless pets that they stepped forward with an additional $70,000 for our You Give, They Live Match.  

That means even more of your gift will be doubled—up to $115,000—to save dogs and cats who are depending on us right now.

This is a remarkable moment—and it’s happening because people like you continue to show up for animals who have nowhere else to turn.  

Every time you give, you become part of a beautiful chain of compassion—one that begins the moment a frightened, forgotten animal arrives at PAWS Chicago.

Because of you, our intake team can rush to save a pet in crisis. Our medical and care teams can offer healing, warmth, and safety. And when the pet is ready, a foster family can open their home—giving the pet a place to rest, recover, and rediscover what love feels like.

That’s the journey you make possible for every pet like Daffodil.

When our team rescued Daffodil from Cicero Animal Control last spring, she was just four years old but had already been through more than a dog ever should. She’d been forced to have back-to-back litters, her body exhausted and her eyes dull with fatigue. Our medical team treated her, ensured her puppies were safe, and surrounded her with gentle care until she was ready for a foster home.

In her foster home, Daffodil could finally breathe. She learned that people could be kind, that food would always come, that a soft bed was hers to keep. Even after her puppies were adopted, her foster knew Daffodil still needed time. Months later, when she was finally ready, Daffodil found her forever family. “It was a hard goodbye, but Daffodil’s living her best life now—and being a foster dog prepared her for it,” her foster shared.

That’s what you give when you support PAWS—not just a roof or a meal, but the entire journey from fear to love.

You did the same for Julia. She was just a tiny kitten when a Good Samaritan brought her in through our Citizen Cat Care program. At first, she was too scared to come out of her carrier. But because you gave, our team could make sure she was healthy and safe, and then send her to an experienced foster who knew just what she needed.

Within a single day, Julia was climbing onto her foster’s lap, exploring the house, and even making friends with the resident cats and dogs.

That transformation—from terrified stray to confident, affectionate kitten—happened because someone like you believed she deserved the chance.

And right now, you can make that chance possible for twice as many animals. Thanks to the $115,000 You Give, They Live Match, every dollar you give will be doubled— helping to save lives today and power our work into 2026, when we expect to find homes for nearly 5,000 pets, perform 21,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, and care for more than 26,000 homeless and at-risk animals.

Your kindness creates miracles every single day. You give love—and they live.

Looking for alternative ways to donate? Some supporters find that making their year-end gift for the 2025 tax year through appreciated assets—such as stock, IRA distributions, or Donor-Advised Funds—can be a meaningful and tax-efficient way to give. Learn more here.

Thank you to our You Give, They Live match sponsors:

Anonymous - In honor of PAWS alum dog Macie

Anonymous - In honor of Smokey Boy and Coy

Anonymous - In honor of 3 PAWS alumni

In loving memory of Robert & Donna Kobetsky

Claudia Langman & Thomas Hayes

Frank Swiderski