News and Events

Low Cost Spay Neuter Program
Did you know the Peoria Humane Society funds a low-cost spay/neuter program for low-income pet owners? Your generous contributions helped to spay and neuter hundreds of dogs and cats each year. These surgeries prevent hundreds of kittens and puppies coming into a world that has no homes for them. In 2005, the PHS – in cooperation with our local vets, the Peoria County Veterinary Medical Association – spayed or neutered more than 300 dogs and cats. Considering that one female cat can produce 420,000 kittens in just 7 years, imagine what we’ve prevented by spaying all these animals.

To participate in the program, pet owners must prove they meet income guidelines, have their pet vaccinated against rabies and registered, and pay $50. The PHS initiated this program more than nine years ago and continues to promote it throughout the community with billboards, flyers, and other advertising means.

Thank you to the Peoria County Veterinary Medical Association for their cooperation and collaboration on this project. The Peoria community benefits tremendously from the progressive and professional programs offered through the collaboration between organizations like the PCVMA and the PHS. Thanks goes to the City of Peoria and Peoria County as well in their continued support of the animal control and animal welfare programs offered.

Help for Victims of Fire
Over the past several years, the City’s Fire personnel have struggled to assist pets caught in house fires. Numerous pictures have been published showing a firefighter frantically trying to provide oxygen to resuscitate a dog or cat overcome by smoke in a house fire. Tragically, many of these pets die of smoke inhalation because the oxygen masks used are intended for humans and don’t work well with animals.

The Peoria Humane Society, in conjunction with Helping Animals, Inc., have purchased and provided oxygen masks for each Fire Station in the City of Peoria. Now, when a firefighter encounters an animal suffering from smoke inhalation, he will have the right tool to provide aid. Each station received a package of three masks; one of which will fit most animals from cats and rabbits to the largest dog. The masks can be sterilized and re-used. Additionally, the PHS provided individual masks to the Peoria Police Department for the K-9 Unit in the event any of the police dogs is caught in a fire.

Fire can destroy a person’s home, possessions, and family. The Peoria Humane Society wants to prevent a fire from taking a beloved pet if possible. We hope to be able to supply similar masks to the surrounding fire departments in Peoria County in the coming years. If you’d like to assist our efforts, contact Patti Schaffner at 685-9015.

For your own protection, the PHS has window stickers available, free of charge, that you can use to alert rescue workers that pets are inside. A sticker on your door or window will notify fire personnel, paramedics, police, and others that animals also reside in the house which could lead to their safe rescue. If you’d like a free sticker, please contact Kitty Yanko at 494-8171.

Bark in the Park Countdown. . .

it’s only about three short months until we’ll be Barkin’ in the Park again! It’s time to start getting your Bark Team together at work, begin asking friends and relatives to help you raise money for our animal friends with a Bark pledge, and practice, practice, practice those tricks for the Mutt Show! Be sure you don’t miss Bark 2006 - which is going to be our biggest, best, and most successful ever!

Barkley, the Bark in the Park dog, will be celebrating his tenth birthday at the TENTH BARK BIRTHDAY BASH! October 8, 2006

Clicker Training for PAWS Shelter Dogs

During March and April 2006, the staff and volunteers at PAWS had the pleasure of participating in Clicker Training classes with professional dog trainers Jane and Greg Clark from Dog Training Plus. Jane and Greg taught us simple training techniques to use in our routine daily interaction with the dogs in the shelter.

It was quite exciting to see how quickly the dogs responded to the use of clickers to promote “quiet in the kennels”, better manners when meeting prospective adopters, and more manageable behavior when taken out for daily walks. Thanks to Jane and Greg for their time spent with us!

SPAY DAY USA
February 28, 2006

Led by the Doris Day Animal Foundation, Spay Day USA is America's leading national day of action to promote the spaying and neutering of companion animals. This special day helps to raise awareness of the serious pet overpopulation problem we have in the United States and throughout the world.

The Peoria Humane Society teamed up with Von Stueben Middle School to produce a PSA that aired on Cable Access Channel 22 in honor of Spay Day USA. Students work hard to expose the reality of pet overpopulation for our community by discussing the effects of too many unwanted dogs and cats.

The Peoria Humane Society also sponsored ads promoting low cost spay/neuter assistance with two billboards and commercials on WEEK-TV during the month of February.

Shelter Transfer Program Saves Animals' Lives
PAWS has begun offering animals to other shelters who have empty cages thereby saving pets' lives. The Shelter Transfer Program gives PAWS the chance to partner with other facilities who have cages available and potential adopters waiting for pets to take home. Smaller, limited intake shelters often have space available for such transfer of animals which moves pets from those areas that have large numbers of unwanted and homeless animals. The program creates a happy ending for all involved - much needed space is freed up at PAWS and animals that might not have found homes locally are placed with families in other regions. The shelters chosen for the STP are in communities throughout the State of Illinois and comply with all the licensing requirements set by the Department of Agriculture. Prior to entering into a partnership, the other shelter submits copies of its licenses, adoption guidelines, and contract for approval. Then, PAWS' staff evaluates dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets for temperament, health, and general condition. Those chosen to participate receive vaccinations and de-worming prior to release. The receiving shelter sterilizes the animals and, in most cases, keeps them until they find a new home. The Shelter Transfer Program illustrates another way PAWS strives to place as many animals as possible.
PAWS Statistics

Last year, PAWS received more than 8,200 animals from Peoria and the surrounding community. As an animal control facility/animal shelter, PAWS accepts each and every animal that comes to its doors. Many of these animals come from outside the boundaries of Peoria County because other communities do not provide a place for unwanted animals. Below you can see the dramatic impact these unwanted animals have on our community's resources.
PAWS serves the City and County of Peoria with animal control and rabies control activities. The shelter also provides lost/found services, adoption of shelter animals, rabies registration, and spay/neuter coupons. For animal related problems, questions, or concerns, call the PAWS office at 309-494-8911.
PetsMart Cat Adoptions
PAWS, at any given time, has so many wonderful adult cats waiting to be adopted. Often adopters are looking for that cute little ball-of-fur kitten, and don't consider an adult cat. But there are many advantages to adopting an adult. First of all, you see the personality of the cat you may be spending the next 10 - 20 years with. If you're looking for a lap-sitter or a more independent type, you can't always tell what a kitten is going to be like when it grows up. An adult or young adult cat may be a better choice for a family with small children or other pets. And, as cute and adorable as they are, kittens just don't stay kittens for long.

PetsMart helps promote adoption of these wonderful adult cats by allowing PAWS to place adoptable adult cats in their in-store Adoption Center for one week each month throughout the year. PetsMart staff care for the cats and facilitate adoptions to customers throughout that week. It's a great opportunity to showcase some of PAWS' just-as-lovable adult cats hoping to become someone's new Best Friend.

PAWS on Parade
One of the greatest personal rewards for our volunteers who give their time to help the animals at PAWS is seeing even one of those animals being adopted by a new family and being given a second chance. In an effort to get the word out in the community that PAWS always has wonderful animals available for adoption, a group of committed PHS/PAWS volunteers produce a weekly adoption show - PAWS on Parade. The half hour show airs every Monday night at 6:00 p.m. on Public Access Channel 22. Volunteers videotape animals at the shelter who are in need of a second chance and a family to love and care for them.

Tune in on a Monday night and you just might see your next new Best Friend! Even if you're not currently looking to add a pet to your family, it's a fun and informative show to watch.
We'd love to help you get rid of your aluminum cans and empty ink jet and laser cartridges! PHS recycles both of these items to raise money to help fund the numerous programs we provide to benefit animals in our community. Ink cartridges can be dropped off at PAWS - at the front desk or to the Education Building. Aluminum cans may be deposited in the large bin marked for "Aluminum Recycling" in the rear parking lot at PAWS.

It's good for the environment and an easy way to help raise money for the animals!
Community Lawn Care Fundraiser
Community Lawn Care is a locally owned, professional lawn care company. Their services consist of regularly scheduled applications of fertilizer, and weed & insect control specially designed for the turf grasses in the Peoria/Bloomington area. Best of all, Community Lawn Care donates 10% of every dollar received for their services to a local non-profit organization. If you decide to use their services, you can request that 10% of every dollar you spend is donated to the Peoria Humane Society. For more info, go to: http://www.communitylawncare.com/lls/phs/

Peoria Humane Society Sponsors Workers to Help with the Katrina Disaster

The Peoria Humane Society sponsored three relief workers to provide rescue and assistance to the animals affected by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Kitty Yanko, PHS Humane Educator, and Bill Motteler and Lauren Malmberg of PAWS traveled to Gonzales, Louisiana on September 23 and spent six days working with displaced animals. In addition to the PHS representatives, three private individuals also deployed to Louisiana – Terry Bennington-Ryan, Connie Davis-Cressy, and Nicki Griner. These animal-lovers donated their own time and money to help the homeless pets.

The Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, American Humane Association, and other animal welfare organizations led the effort to assist animals at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Approximately an hour from New Orleans, Lamar-Dixon housed nearly 2,000 displaced dogs, cats, horses, and small companion animals waiting for their owners. This site was the primary shelter for animals rescued from New Orleans.

FEMA’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Team and the US Public Health Service provided veterinary personnel at this location, and the National Guard provided security. More than 200 volunteers from all over the country, and even Canada, worked to help the animals at Gonzales while our representatives were there. The HSUS and FEMA provided volunteers, rescue workers, and other personnel with food, water, housing, facilities, and support at the site as well.

Each day, dozens of rescuers deployed to New Orleans to continue saving the animals. Rescuers left for the city each morning at 7 am and spent all day responding to calls for assistance or capturing roaming animals to return to the evacuation site. To enter New Orleans, authorities required credentials and identification from rescuers. A curfew was instituted to prevent looting, and rescuers had to vacate the city by 6 PM. Every day, pet owners called or e-mailed the HSUS requesting their pet be rescued. Rescuers would respond to as many of these calls as possible.

Each night, semi-trailers, vans, animal control vehicles, and other cars, trucks and vans arrived at the site with 200-300 more animals. Once at the shelter, the animals were signed in, identified with a numbered collar, photographed, and vetted. Veterinarians examined, vaccinated, and microchipped each animal upon arrival. Injured animals received treatment. Animals were then placed into the temporary facilities that were made up of crates, airline carriers, and horse stalls.

Temperatures hovered in the mid-90’s with a heat index at 115 degrees. Volunteers worked constantly to keep the animals comfortable and safe. Although some pet owners visited the site to look for their pets, few of the dogs and cats were reclaimed. However, most of the horses had been identified by their owners and were awaiting pick up.

The Peoria Humane Society sponsored the three workers by supplying transportation, food, and supplies. The PHS has also collected donations and submitted those funds to the HSUS for the relief effort.

At this time, neither the PHS nor PAWS has any plans to bring animals affected by Hurricane Katrina to Peoria. While transferring animals to other locations may seem to be helpful, a number of issues exist that make that practice unworkable for this area. First, PAWS does not want to euthanize any community animals to make space for the displaced animals. Secondly, experts estimate that nearly 60% of the Louisiana animals may be infected with heartworm. While heartworm is treatable, treatment is costly. Third, some veterinarians are concerned that animals from the South could bring regional diseases or conditions with them that would affect the community’s animals. And, finally, moving the animals to other parts of the county makes reuniting them with their owners that much harder.

The PHS remains committed to assisting with disaster relief in any way it can. Thank you for your donations to the organization and to the disaster. Without you, rescue and relief for these animals would not be possible.

A Happy Ending

This is a happy ending to a sad time for many people and animals. During our time at the Lamar Dixon shelter for Katrina animals we saw many pets coming in for shelter. On our last day of service, I happened to be in the vet area where pets were housed who needed special care and attention. I was looking at the rescued cats when two excited people came in looking for their 15 year blind cat. The rest of the story follows. Kitty Yanko In September of 2005, for the first time in the history of the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams, all four VMAT teams were deployed in response to Hurricane Katrina. The Federal Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams are a division of Homeland Security under the National Disaster Medical System. VMAT teams consist of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, scientists, epidemiologists, toxicologists, pathologists, pharmacists and other trained support personnel. They are trained to assist the local veterinary communities in providing medical care to animals, addressing public health issues and coordinating on site animal relief efforts. The Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams set up and operated a field hospital at the Lamar Dixon Equestrian Facility in Gonzales, LA. The animal shelter established at the Lamar Dixon Equestrian facility was perhaps the largest animal shelter operation in the history of the US. Likewise, the field veterinary hospital established by the VMAT teams at the Lamar Dixon shelter was likely the largest field veterinary hospital in US history as well. By late September the animals entering the shelter system were often in poor shape due to the length of time required to rescue them. In spite of the odds, many pets arrived at Lamar Dixon in remarkably stable condition. One of these animals was an elderly, blind, black female cat. Her examination on presentation to the VMAT hospital revealed moderate dehydration but an otherwise relatively stable feline. Due to her obviously blindness and age she was maintained in the hospital's intensive care unit. Happy reunions did occur on a relatively frequent basis, although not nearly as frequently as all would have liked. Sometimes an owner would be hopeful that their pet was found only to realize on closer interaction that it was not their animal. When Jon and Sally Wallman approached our hospital in the hopes of finding their pet I have to admit I was a bit skeptical that we would be successful. Sally approached each animal cautiously and began to describe her beloved Lydia. As I led her to our senior black cat she started asking questions. "Is she blind? Is this a female? Is she older?" She then recalled a small lump at the base of her cat's tail which had been discovered by her veterinarian at last year's annual exam. To her pleasant surprise this kitty had a small lump on the base of the tail. It then dawned on me that some of the animals at the shelter had been taken from known addresses. In some of these cases the address where the animal was rescued was written on the intake form. Having realized this I asked the Wallman's what their address was and amazingly this senior, blind, black kitty was their beloved 15 year old Lydia. It is these stories which made every long 16 hour day in heat indexes up to 116 degrees absolutely worth while.

The PHS Celebrates National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
November 5-11, 2006

The Peoria Humane Society celebrated National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, designed to help promote the lifesaving work done by animal shelters across the country. The Humane Society of the United States established NASAW in an effort to promote the lifesaving work done by animal shelters across the country.

Our local shelter, PAWS, continues to receive countless dogs and cats and other small animals, who, without their help, would have no where to go. In 2004, PAWS took in 8,000 animals who where abandoned, abused or neglected. The Peoria Humane Society is proud to partner with the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter to offer one of the best animal care and control programs in Central Illinois.

For more information on National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week you can contact our Education Dept at 494-8171.

Click Here for Education News!

Public Awareness Campaign

"Make a Pet Stop at Paws"
With a goal of raising awareness about PAWS and ultimately increasing pet adoptions, the Peoria Humane Society has launched it's "Make a Pet Stop at PAWS" campaign. The campaign will include several billboards from Adams Outdoor Advertising, an advertisement on the envelope of a money mailer that reaches 50,000 homes in the Peoria area, television and radio ads promoting pet adoption, and a year-around informational kiosk in Northwoods Mall.
Please support us in our efforts to find loving homes for the unwanted dogs and cats at PAWS! Make a Pet Stop at PAWS - ADOPT!

Pet Bird Adoption

Many pet birds need new adoptive homes each year in the Peoria area. Finches, parakeets, cockatiels and the occasional parrot are in need of a second chance in loving, attentive homes. If you have the time and attention to give to a new bird, and have a non-smoking, cat-free household, please call Betsy Christison at (309)231-7198.

Click Here for More Info

Spay/Neuter License Plate

A new license plate is available to help fund a spay/neuter assistance program in Illinois. Apply for the new plate at your area driver services facility. For the additional $40 collected for each plate, $25 goes into this fund to assist humane societies with spay/neuter efforts. We have been told the money will be available for distribution next year some time.

PHS wanted to do something to help reduce the number of animals coming to PAWS simply because they were not wearing identification. It is very sad to see animals entering the shelter and ultimately being euthanized because there was no way to know where they came from and to whom they belong. PHS now presents each cat or dog adopted from PAWS with a free ID tag, which could some day save their life. New adopters are given an ID Tag Coupon which they can take to the Petco store in Peoria to receive their free personalized ID tag for their new pet.

PLEASE - Keep identification tags on your pets! It could literally save their life some day. Some important facts you should know:

• 95% of the lost pets found without a tag DO NOT get home!
• 95% of the lost pets found with a tag DO get home!

ADOPT A FARM ANIMAL

Farm Sanctuary is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and protecting farm animals. They offer people an opportunity to adopt farm animals from their organization. A growing number of people are adopting farm animals as "pets" to directly help victims of "food animal" production. Like all animals, cattle, pigs, chickens, and other farm animals are intelligent, social, sentient beings, yet every day, billions of farm animals suffer fear, pain, and neglect at factory farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses across the country. Opening your home to farm animals directly saves a suffering "veal" calf or "downer" pig. Anyone with a kind heart can care for farm animals. If you are interested in Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Farm Animal program please contact the Farm Sanctuary at info@farmsanctuary.org or visit their website at www.farmsanctuary.org. You could make a difference for a suffering farm animal.

The PAWS Pet of the Week is presented by WMBD News Channel 31 and 97.3 River Country. Every Thursday, Kitty Yanko of the Peoria Humane Society and Rick Stephenson, morning DJ of River Country, make a guest appearance on WMBD This Morning with the PAWS Pet of the Week. You can also see the PAWS Pet of the Week on Public Service Announcements produced by WMBD throughout the day, everyday.

River Country runs PSA's throughout the day as well. The PAWS Pet of the Week can also be seen on WMBD-TV's website, www.wmbd.com.

Dog Fighting in Peoria

The Peoria Humane Society and PAWS are unalterably opposed to blood sports such as dog fighting and cockfighting. These are brutal animal contests resulting in suffering, torture, harassment, and death for animals forced to participate. Such sports amount to torture for fun and are degrading and unfit for civilized society.

The Humane Society of the United States reports that the investigation of illegal animal fighting activities by local law enforcement, animal control, and humane agencies is frequently difficult, frustrating, and unsuccessful. The lack of success is most often due to circumstances beyond the control of the investigating agency.

The Peoria Humane Society is always exploring possible methods to expose and prosecute dog fighting citizens in the Peoria community. Public awareness campaigns, rewards for information, and other ideas are receiving serious consideration. If you have a suggestion or idea that may help in the fight against this blood sport, please contact the Peoria Humane Society at 682-9015, in confidence. If you witness or hear of a dogfight, please call PAWS immediately at 494-8911.

Breed Rescue Efforts Pay Off

The Peoria Humane Society assists PAWS with breed rescue efforts. Approximately 30 percent of the dogs received at PAWS are purebred. The PHS supports the animal shelter by coordinating transport and placement of purebred dogs to breed rescue groups throughout the Midwest.

Each year rescue groups are able to foster and place countless dogs that might otherwise be euthanized. Thanks to our efforts many lives are saved!

Book Endowment Fund

The Peoria Humane Society has established a Book Endowment Fund. With our new Education Center, we now have a Resource Library filled with videos, books, and pamphlets on a variety of animal topics. In a continued effort to provide humane education to area students, the Education Department at the Peoria Humane Society has reviewed and selected a number of books that have a humane theme and are age appropriate for young people to read. These selected books meet or surpass our standards for humane content. A contribution of $15 will allow us to purchase a book for our library in the name of the donor or in memory of someone the donor designates. Each $15 donation toward the resource library will be recognized in the Peoria Humane Society’s Pawprints newsletter and books purchased will have a donor name label inside.

If you are interested in a list of approved and selected book titles please contact our Humane Educator at 494-8171.

Donations to the Book Endowment Fund can be sent to the

Peoria Humane Society, P.O. Box 3592, Peoria, IL, 61612-3592.

PAWS on Parade - There's a great show on TV every Monday night that you won't find listed in your TV Guide. It's "PAWS on Parade" which airs Monday nights at 6:00 p.m. on Channel 22. PAWS on Parade is videotaped weekly at PAWS by a group of PAWS/PHS volunteers. Each week they show the audience a sampling of some of the wonderful dogs, cats, and other pets awaiting adoption at the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter. So, if you're thinking of adopting a new pet, tune in on Monday night for a glimpse of those looking for new homes. And even if you're not considering a new family member at this time, tune in anyway for the fun of it !!!

Recycled Gently-Used Pet Supplies - You can donate your gently used pet supplies to help our furry friends at PAWS. Used-but-nice pet supplies are made available for sale to adopters and visitors at PAWS. Proceeds from our recycled pet supply program help to purchase special-need items for the animals at PAWS - including kitten food, Kong dog toys, and many other items as needs arise. Donations may be brought to PAWS at 2600 NE Perry. For more information, call Patti at 682-9015.

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Page Updated 05/10/07