Now, she has become an advocate for pets who are homeless, facing death, or living in inhumane conditions in puppy mills. In April, Oprah highlighted issues facing pets in the United States on three separate shows, including a tour through PAWS Chicago’s cageless No Kill Adoption & Humane Center.

Oprah dedicated her entire April 4 show to issues pets face in puppy mills and shelters throughout the United States. Oprah Show correspondent Lisa Ling, equipped with hidden cameras, ventured into puppy mills for an investigation into horrific conditions that many of the nation’s puppies are born into each year. In these inhumane breeding grounds, moms are forced into pregnancy their entire lives, never stepping outside their small wire cages. Ling exposed images of the cruel conditions: of dogs who have never set foot on grass and a female Lab who has been forced to have more than 1,000 puppies. The result was a tremendous feat for pet advocates as the country saw the reality of the abusive and “factory-like” breeding operations behind the purebred and “designer” puppies seen in pet shop windows every day.

Then, the show toured a typical Animal Control shelter that kills an average of 40 homeless pets each day and showed a dog being euthanized—one of an approximated 4 million homeless dogs and cats that will be killed in America this year. Though challenging for viewers to watch, the Oprah Show took a large step forward for homeless pets by exposing what happens behind closed doors in shelters every day, motivating people across America to rescue their future four-legged companions. Without public involvement and commitment to change the status quo, lives with continue to be taken.

“I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show” -Oprah Winfrey

This enlightening show elicited the largest response of any Oprah show this season, having a great effect on people across the country and inspiring record-breaking adoptions. Oprah herself was deeply impacted, saying, “I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show.” She was so inspired that she decided to take further action, this time in her hometown.

PAWS Chicago was notified that Harpo wanted to film the new state-of-the-art, cageless Adoption Center and hear about the tremendous response from the community that occurred after Oprah’s show on puppy mills aired. Volunteers and the PAWS Chicago team were shocked when Oprah walked in for a surprise visit, saying on camera “I’ve heard all about this place. I’ve heard how great and how cool and how clean it is.”

Paula Fasseas, PAWS Chicago founder, was caught on camera, shocked as Oprah walked in and picked up adorable shepherd/chow mix puppy, Brianna.

Fasseas then toured Oprah, Brianna, Harpo’s film crew, and the nation through Dog Town and the rooftop deck where the dogs play. Oprah was delighted, saying, “I’ve never seen anything like this. So the animals aren’t caged at all. They have their own little rooms!” Impressed with the new way of sheltering homeless pets, Oprah presented a check to PAWS Chicago from Target for $10,000, but it did not end there.

Oprah shocked PAWS Chicago for a second time that day when she so generously announced, “I would love to sponsor a room on behalf of my lovely Sophie,” choosing a beautiful pale yellow dog home.

Now, adopters and visitors at the PAWS Chicago Adoption & Humane Center will have the opportunity to see Sophie’s Place, the most famous spot in Dog Town. Oprah’s design crews came through and built out the most beautiful tribute to Sophie, with a custom-built dog-house for the room’s homeless guests, a beautiful portrait of Sophie, an iron chandelier, and detailed painting on the walls featuring tufts of grass and a banner above that reads “In honor of my beloved Sophie”.

Brianna's adoptive family prepares to take her home.

When the segment aired on April 21st, Oprah announced that Brianna still had not found a home. That day, a family had seen the show and went to PAWS Chicago to claim Brianna as their own. On April 28th, Oprah featured Brianna’s story. “There are three boys in the house who say they love her furry face and are excited to have her home,” Oprah said. “I was so happy Brianna got a home.”

Though Oprah had fallen in love and wanted to take Brianna home for herself, she said she was not quite ready for a new dog in her life. “It will take some time for me to be ready,” she said. “As I said before, the next time I adopt a dog, I’m going to go to a No Kill shelter.”

With Oprah on-board, a No Kill Chicago and a No Kill nation is much closer to reality.

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On September 8, 2007, PAWS Chicago will welcome the public to an open house, and animal lovers who walk through the front door will be flooded by natural light from the curtainwall of windows that surrounds the Petco Welcome Center. Large wood trusses scale the Center, thirty feet above, giving the feeling of a farm in the city. Fitting for the location, since in the late 1800’s, the building was first erected as a stable to hold the horses belonging to the workers of the metalworks shop next door. In the center of the lobby is a three-sided fireplace, and further back, on a rear wall of the Counseling Center, is the original barn door recovered from the site before demolition and restored for the new adoption center.

“This Adoption Center will be an inviting place for adopters where families will be counseled around a large fireplace and coffee bar after completing interactive training in the computer gallery,” said Paula Fasseas, founder and chair of PAWS Chicago. “The Center will increase adoptions and adoption retention by offering lifelong counseling and support.”

Flanking the entrance are the pavilions of homeless pets in need of permanent families. Visible from the vestibule is Miss Kitty’s Senior Cat Room, where ramps, perches, and climbing posts are easily accessible to senior felines. Further into the Barbara Bradford Kitty City are kitten rooms for high-energy youngsters, adult rooms, and special kitty condos for cats that prefer humanonly companionship or for litters who arrive at PAWS together. Each room has large windows to allow for lots of natural light, as well as viewing by potential adopters.

In Dog Town, homeless residents will live in large suites with comfortable beds, other canines to comfort their pack instinct, and windows to allow natural light. Dogs will enjoy at least three walks a day, as well as interaction and training with volunteers. In the David E. Klaskin Family Dog Play Space in the middle of Dog Town, dogs will socialize with one another and volunteers, while their suites are being cleaned. The Bill & Maria Smithburg Rooftop Garden will also be a popular destination for dogs and volunteers.

Both cats and dogs reap the benefits of the custom-built 13,000 pound HVAC system that provides 100% fresh air to each room and 15 air exchanges per hour. The system is designed to avoid recirculating air within animal suites, so disease will not spread and pets will stay healthy. However, if a dog or cat does come down with an illness, they will be moved to the Kenneth Sachsel Medical Care Center, just beside Dog Town, for treatment and closer observation.

A sound system brings calming classical music to each homeless pet, which is proven to reduce stress and behavioral deterioration in sheltered animals. Natural light reaches all suites to enable proper circadian rhythm, essential for pets’ healthy sleep patterns and mental wellbeing.

Exhibit rooms close to the Clybourn entrance will feature information on a variety of pet issues, from the pet overpopulation problem to animal cruelty, dog fighting, and puppy mills. The PAWS Chicago Adoption & Humane Center will be a resource for the pet loving community to learn more about how they can get involved in helping animals.

Impact Beyond Design

But the change brought forth in this new, state-of-the-art shelter is far more significant than bricks and mortar. The architectural concept was created by ARQ Architects, the nation’s leading architectural firm for designing No Kill shelters. Holabird & Root, the architect of record, can be credited with the detail, design and all construction documents. Though no shelter compares to a home when considering quality of life for cats and dogs, this new age of sheltering attempts to mimic as much of the home environment as possible.

Utilizing the scientific studies of such nationally renowned animal behaviorists as Dr. Emily Weiss, Dr. Ian Dunbar, and Pamela Bennet Smith, PAWS has focused on creating design and developing operations to decrease stress, increase positive stimulation and emotional stability, and improve visitor interactions with homeless pets. The large community room and the Smithburg Rooftop Deck will both serve as areas for volunteers to exercise and train dogs, while volunteers will socialize, groom, and play with cats and kittens daily. Special toys and treats, as well as lots of TLC from volunteers, will provide mental stimulation and distraction from the shelter environment.

Bringing homeless animals to Lincoln Park, one of the most vibrant retail and residential neighborhoods in Chicago, and integrating them into the community will generate more adoptions, more volunteers, more education, and more support. Child and youth education will help develop the next generation of animal welfare leaders, teaching compassion, empathy, and the value of service.

If you would like to help in the transformation of animal sheltering in Chicago, consider making a donation to the PAWS Chicago Adoption & Humane Center campaign. Pledges to the new Center are payable over five years. All donors who have given $100 or more will be recognized in the Center. A large plaque in the lobby will recognize all donors who contribute $5,000 or more to the campaign. Room namings are still available. Contact Peggy Asseo at (773) 890-5188. You Can be Part of this Dream for Chicago’s Homeless Pets!

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