Cook County

South Suburban Humane Society Gets Massive Anonymous Donation

A south suburban animal shelter recently received one of its largest anonymous donations ever.

Last month NBC 5 reported on overcrowding issues at small shelters like the South Suburban Humane Society.

“I mean, nothing like this has ever happened to us before,” CEO Emily Klehm said.

A 4,500 square feet was donated to the South Suburban Humane Society. A gift from an anonymous donor Klehm hopes will save more lives.

"He really believes that God spoke to him and asked him to do this," she said of the donor. "For four-legged pets and I almost start crying when I talk about it again."

Being renovated for a spring opening— the building on 183rd Street in Homewood will alleviate their current Chicago Heights facility— where some pets are kept in break rooms and offices to handle overcrowding.

The new facility— once an animal hospital— doubles their capacity.

"There’s tens of thousands of dollars of cage equipment left behind," Klehm said.

Klehm says the need for more space hit a breaking point last year after the Animal Welfare Leauge decided not to renew its contract with Cook County—one of the largest counties in the country without its own animal holding facility.

"Because we never euthanize for time or space, we’re holding on to pets until they find homes," Klehm said.

The South Suburban Humane Society hopes their new home will help to do just that.

As far as repaying this anonymous donor?

"Do I give you a gift basket?" Klehm asked. "I don’t know how to thank you."

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