About
PAWS Chicago is one of the nation's leading No Kill animal welfare organizations, headquartered at the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center at 1997 N. Clybourn Ave in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Founded in 1998 by Paula and Alexis Fasseas, the organization works to end the overpopulation of homeless animals and has helped drive down the killing of homeless pets in Chicago by more than 89% since its founding. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 36-4219778, IRS tax exemption issued February 1999).
Mission
PAWS Chicago's mission has three core commitments: to build No Kill communities with respect for the life of every cat and dog; to end the overpopulation of homeless animals through solutions, practices, and education; and to transform animal welfare by setting higher standards and sustainable approaches. Its values include respect for individual lives, community engagement, innovation, pro-activity, transparency about animal outcomes and shelter statistics, education, sustainability, and compassion.
What they do
- Pet adoption through its adoption centers, including the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center in Lincoln Park and the Glenn L. Felner North Shore Adoption Center.
- Free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries through the Lurie Clinic at its Kocourek Medical Center.
- Dog training classes at the Blazer Building Training Center, plus a Training and Foster Care Center.
- Community engagement, crisis support services, and feral cat management through trap-neuter-return (TNR).
History
The founders were inspired after rescuing a stray dog named Pippen from Crete in 1996, and after Alexis, then a high school student, discovered during shelter volunteer work that animals were euthanized rather than given basic medical care. A 1997 Chicago Sun-Times article revealed that more than 40,000 pets in Chicago were being killed each year. PAWS Chicago launched on May 30, 1998 with the Angels with Tails adoption event on Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile, and early on ran a volunteer-staffed storefront adoption center on Clark Street.
Scale and impact
- In 2025, PAWS Chicago placed 4,918 dogs and cats with new families; 91,534 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens have been adopted from PAWS Chicago since its founding.
- It performed 21,327 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries in 2025, a 24.2% increase over 2024; since 2000 these programs have helped reduce homeless pet euthanasia citywide by 88.9%.
- It maintained a 97.83% save rate for homeless pets in its care in 2025 and served 27,364 homeless and at-risk pets, while helping Chicago Animal Care and Control achieve its highest adoption, transfer, and lifesaving year in a decade.
Financials
According to its IRS Form 990 as reported by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for fiscal year 2024 PAWS Chicago reported total revenue of $46,965,874, total expenses of $21,346,016, and total assets of $150,104,831.
Governance
PAWS Chicago operates under three boards: a Board of Directors, a Development Board, and a Professional Board.