More than 1,000 pets now have forever homes in the Chicago area after Saturday's successful "Clear the Shelters" event.
As of Sunday morning, the more than 30 participating shelters in the Chicago area reported 1,038 adoptions during the event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, the shelters waived adoption fees and encouraged people to adopt a pet.
A total of 17,812 pets were adopted nationwide during the "Clear the Shelters" event, which was a joint initiative between NBC and Telemundo.
In the Chicago area, hundreds of first-time and veteran pet owners took home new furry friends, and a total of six shelters were completely cleared, including On Angels' Wings in Crystal Lake, McHenry County Animal Care and Control and four Help Save Pets locations — Mallard Point Veterinary Clinic, Animal Care Center, Hinsdale Animal Hospital and Oswego Animal Hospital.
A line stretched for blocks outside of PAWS Chicago's Lincoln Park Adoption Center before it opened, making Saturday the busiest day in PAWS history. Other adoption facilities, like Orphans of the Storm in Deerfield, were also packed with soon-to-be pet parents.
In west suburban Naperville, a little white dog named Oreo was the first pet to be adopted from the Naperville Humane Society for the event.
Other pets found their forever homes after losing their first homes for various reasons.
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One lucky pit bull named Joe Cool, a.k.a. Chief, was reunited with his owner after he got lost. Chief's owner posted a photo of the dog on Facebook, and the Humane Society in the Calumet area saw it and immediately recognized the face. Chief's "re-adoption" marked the first adoption of the day for the shelter.
Hundreds of cats were looking for forever homes Saturday as well. James Gecosala and Jennifer Reyes, of LaGrange Park, adopted a cat from the West Suburban Humane Society.
"There are a bunch of cats in there that want a home," Gecosala said. "They're all nice. Anyone who is looking for companionship, this is the way to go."
