When you adopt from a no-kill shelter, you save two lives. The animal you adopt and the one that replaces them.

New Adult Volunteer Meeting

August 27, 2024 7:00pm (Full)

P.A.W.S. of Tinley Park

8301 W. 191st, Tinley Park, IL

September 21, 2024 10:00am

P.A.W.S. of Tinley Park

8301 W. 191st, Tinley Park, IL

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

 

General Membership Meetings

Last Tuesday of February, March, April, September and November

Tinley Park Historical Society

6727 174th St

Tinley Park, IL 60477

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We need volunteers! If you love animals and have time to spare, join our family! A few short hours of your time each week can make such a difference!
Help is especially needed for volunteers comfortable with large dogs, as well as cat and dog volunteers for weekends.

Email volunteer@pawstinleypark.org and get started today!

Kitten season is here and we need your help to save lives!

If you can provide the warmth and love of a home, we can provide all the supplies and veterinary care. Kittens under 8 weeks old and nursing moms and babies can’t be saved without foster homes.

Together we can save lives! Email fosters@pawstinleypark.org

We are proud to introduce our volunteers of the month, Genny Kowalski, Leslie Bonk, Christine Barcikowski and Mary Krolikowski aka The Search & Rescue Team- our dedicated volunteers who help find lost animals and are always there to help P.A.W.S. alumni!
The team was nominated by their peers because:
“They are amazing at what they do. It’s so nice to know that the dedication to our adopted animals never stops!”
“Those girls are always there when needed, rescuing so many!”
When asked why they started volunteering, this is what the team said:
“The P.A.W.S. Rescue Team got its unofficial start in July 2014 when Leslie Bonk and Mary Krolikowski searched for Bobo, a small terrier mix that got away from one of our volunteers. Red the coonhound was next – a P.A.W.S. rescue that got away from its owner. Regrettably, these two situations did not end happily, but it did not deter Leslie & Mary. Miss Kitty, whose carrier broke in the parking lot as she was leaving for her forever home, was on the lam for 77 days in the frigid cold before Leslie & Mary recovered her!
Christine Barcikowski joined the group in 2020 when P.A.W.S. dog Kiwi (aka Sharon Stone) walked away from her new owners’ yard a few days before 4th of July. After almost a month in scorching heat and with the assistance of another trapper, Kiwi was reunited with her family on July 27.
This new team met Genny Kowalski in August 2020 while assisting on Anna Mae, a NAWS foster who got away in Orland Park. Anna Mae ran the railroad tracks and was never found; it broke our hearts. During that time, Genny became (and is still) our mentor. She had fallen into search and rescue quite by accident when she saw a German Shepherd puppy living in a field. That day was pivotal for Genny as she met her mentors, the puppy was recovered, and she found her passion. We convinced Genny to join the P.A.W.S. family and the rest is history.”
What do you enjoy about being part of the search and rescue team? “Trapping is a science, time-consuming, and also a lot of luck: Putting up flyers, mapping out sightings, finding the animal’s pattern, putting up cameras and traps, buying lots of smelly food and cheeseburgers from White Castles, frying up tripe in your kitchen and nearly dying from the smell, having an owner make sock soup out of dirty socks, and don’t forget those long overnights because that’s when animals are on the move!
Why do we do this? Because there is nothing better than reuniting owners with their pets, but it is also extremely humbling when bringing deceased pets to their owners for closure. Education is key. A lost pet can happen to anyone! Three out of four of our Team have experienced it. Search & Rescue takes a village and we have the pleasure of working and becoming friends with fellow trappers and pet owners. P.A.W.S. volunteers Mark Favre, Mary Korbel, Dave Otto, and Jayce Vickers have checked it out – there is a job for everyone, so come on and give it a try!”
“Lastly, if you see something, say something! Call animal control or non-emergency police stations and report lost or stray animals. Pay attention to flyers that are hung – only one sighting is needed to bring a pet home!”
We are so lucky to have Genny, Leslie, Christine & Mary as a part of our PAWS family! Finding and trapping scared animals is no easy task. Their patience, knowledge, and big hearts have saved so many lives from awful fates outdoors. These ladies never hesitate to answer the call for help. They spend so many hours behind the scenes and we cannot thank them enough. Search & Rescue team, we love to learn from you. Thank you!

The Minnie Hochwarter Memorial Fund just saved its 100th dog!
Foxy is a 6 month old Shepherd mix who was relinquished with a broken leg that was beyond repair. Thankfully, the surgery was able to be performed and paid for by the Minnie Fund. Foxy healed quickly with 3 legs and she’s ready for a home!
Joan & Wayne Hochwarter created this fund for special needs dogs after their beloved dog Minnie died. The fund has spent over $100,000 to save dogs that needed extra care to live. From broken bones, eye enucleations, to diagnostic specialists, the Minnie Fund was there!
We are so thankful for the Minnie Hochwarter Memorial Fund, so we can continue to save these special dogs.
Thank you Wayne & Joan for all that you do!
If you would like to donate to future Minnie dogs, you can donate on our website with “Minnie” in the memo.

WAYS TO HELP

Chewy.com

We have partnered with Chewy.com & they have generously offered to donate $20 for every new customer who makes a purchase!  All you have to do is use the link below & make a purchase & we will receive $20.  So go ahead & order a lil’ something nice for your pet & all their friends!  It’s a win-win for everyone!

Click here to make your purchase count for P.A.W.S.

Amazon Wish List

We are often asked if there are things that we need that can be shipped from Amazon. There sure are! You can find our Amazon Wish List by clicking this link: Amazon Wish List

Fresh Step Paw Points

Did you know that you can donate points from every purchase of Fresh Step cat litter to help our shelter? Join the Paw Points Rewards Program & donate your points to help us earn things like cat litter & comfy beds for our kitties!  Join the Paw Points Rewards Program

FURRY FEATURES

Minnie’s Memorial Fund

The Minnie Memorial Fund which was created years ago by Joan and Wayne Hochwarter after their beloved Minnie passed away. This fund is used for our special needs dogs who may require expensive procedures and surgeries in order to give those dogs a chance for a good life. Besides selling dog bandanas at all events and the Tinley Park Farmers Market, each year on Minnie’s anniversary, Joan and Wayne Hochwarter honor their Minnie by donating $5,000 to the memorial fund. May 11th marked Minnie’s 7th anniversary. What a bittersweet day for all who knew Minnie. P.A.W.S. Tinley Park would not be able to do these life saving procedures without the Minnie Fund and we would like to say “thank you” so very much for Joan and Wayne’s dedication to our special needs dogs. When Joan spoke about Minnie’s fund she said, “Seven years and the tears continue to flow but she does live on in “Minnie’s Dogs”.

Partners

As a non-profit organization, we could not keep our shelter open without the help of our generous Partners. Each of these businesses provides valuable services to the Shelter. From organizing an event or taking care of our animals and the shelter grounds, each of these Partners plays a special role in helping us with our mission of caring for and finding ‘furever’ homes for our animals.

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