Paw-Some Pets Project

Service Information
Paw-Some Pets Project Summary. 1,000 large dogs were spayed or neutered. 2,145 pets were adopted.

An initiative of Cook County and South Suburban Humane Society

The Paw-some Pets Project has officially concluded, resulting in 946 dog and 1,199 cat adoptions as well as spay/neuter services for 1,000 large dogs since November 2024.  

The program is a partnership between ARC and South Suburban Humane Society that provided fee-waived dog and cat adoptions as well as free large dog spay and neuter services. The project was available to all Cook County residents. The program helped pets find good homes, increase spaying and neutering and ensure the health and safety of the County’s pets. 

All dog and cat adoptions included: 

  • Spay and neuter services
  • Microchip
  • Rabies vaccination (if applicable) 
  • Heartworm test (dogs six months and older)
  • FIV/FeLV test (cats six months and older)
  • Core vaccines
  • UTD Heartworm prevention/flea prevention/deworming
  • ID Tag (dogs only)

Large dog (over 44 pounds fully grown) spay and neuter services included: 

  • Any non-elective surgery that is required with spay and neuter
  • Absorbable sutures
  • 1-year rabies vaccine
  • Microchip and registration
  • Nail trim
  • Take-home pain medications
  • E-collar

Funding for the Paw-Some Pets Project is part of the Housing Cook County’s Animals grant program which provided $7.4 million to assist with costs associated with the planning and construction of the new SSHS facility which opened in 2022. ARC and SSHS agreed to use $268,440 of the funds for this program. Housing Cook County’s Animals grant program was funded by small fees charged for rabies tags provided by Cook County. 

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