PAWS Chicago extended Spring Adopt-a-Thon underway now through May 11

(WBBM NEWSRADIO ) – A growing number of homeless dogs and cats has prompted PAWS Chicago to expand its annual Spring Adopt-a-Thon, which started Friday.

PAWS has extended its spring adoption event from one weekend to nine days. The event will now run through May 11.

PAWS Chicago has started its annual adoption event - and is expanding it to accommodate the large number of homeless pets we’re seeing

PAWS took in an extra nearly 700 dogs and cats from Chicago Animal Care and Control last year during what the shelter calls a crisis here and across the country.

Senior Director of Operations Celene Mielcarek says they often see more litters of puppies and kittens because of spring births.

Rachel of Gurnee and her three-year-old daughter Ophelia watched kittens play with ribbon as they waited for their appointment.

They wanted to bring home another kitten to play with a kitten they adopted a few months ago, in addition to an older cat and two dogs.

Rachel says all but one of their animals came from PAWS.

A trio of black wiry-haired puppies played, napped and whimpered for attention while WBBM Newsradio was there. The nine-week-old pups are named Chello, Oboe and Cymbal.

If you’re not ready to adopt, Mielcarek says they’re always looking for volunteer workers, donations and foster families.

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