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In this Issue: Kitten season has arrived, March Pet Spotlight, Above and Beyond Volunteers, WSHS went Platinum, Urgent Foster Needs, Upcoming Events, Thank You, and More | | |
Kitten Season Has Arrived! | Kitten born in March 2025 | |
Kitten season has begun at the West Suburban Humane Society with the first kittens being born in our Foster program, and more pregnant or nursing cats arriving in our care. Our Foster program is instrumental in accommodating the pregnant cats and orphaned kittens we anticipate seeing during this time each year.
What is Kitten Season? Kitten season occurs from early spring to late autumn. This time of year is when kittens tend to be born, with the highest rates of kitten births occurring during the middle of summer.
| Knox the cat with her kittens born March 2025 | |
How many kittens are there really? The gestation cycle for cats is two months, and a cat can have up to four kitten litters in a year. One litter of kittens is typically 3-6 kittens. If cats are not spayed or neutered, numbers can triple in a single summer.
Where do the kittens come from? Kittens and pregnant cats come to us from under-resourced animal controls, owner surrender requests, through our rescue networks, or they can be found strays. For many of the kittens at under-resourced animal controls, they are at high risk of illness and euthanasia if they don't receive our help.
How does kitten season impact WSHS? According to our Animal Care team, we get an average of 500 emails per week requesting intake for cats and dogs that need a place to go. While we always operate at full capacity, focused on rescuing as many animals as possible, the above-average numbers we see during kitten season can be overwhelming!
| Newborn kitten born March 2025 | |
Our Foster/Intake Coordinator, Lexi Vitale, said "We can only pull what we have room for, and as many foster homes we have is the number of animals we can save. The only way to save more lives is by people stepping up to be Foster Volunteers."
We are always in need of caring volunteers to foster pregnant or nursing cats, bottle babies, and orphaned kittens. Newborn kittens stay in a Foster home until they are ready to be adopted, usually 2-4 months. Foster homes help to keep newborn kittens healthy when they are most fragile and susceptible to illness.
Our Foster program provides all the supplies and assistance you need to be a Foster Volunteer. If you are considering fostering, please apply here or contact our Foster Coordinator, Lexi, at animalcare@wshs-dg.org to learn more.
| Knox the cat nursing her newborn kittens | Above and Beyond Volunteers: Ashley Swaiss and Tim Dempsey | |
Ashley's nomination: I would like to nominate Ashley Swaiss as an Above and Beyond Volunteer. Ashley is an incredible advocate for the animals in our care, dedicating her time and energy to both the kennel and the cattery.
Her compassion and dedication are evident in everything she does. Whether she’s ensuring the dogs receive the exercise and enrichment they need or providing the cats with socialization and comfort, Ashley goes above and beyond to make a difference. From the moment she started volunteering, she has looked for opportunities to do more when she is with the animals. She knows how to feed and medicate in the kennel and cattery, she quickly became a STAR volunteer in the kennel so she could take care of all the dogs, and she has fostered for WSHS. Ashley also serves as a buddy to the cats and dogs struggling with stress and needing extra attention by spending time with them outside of her regular shift. Ashley loves working with the animals that need a little extra time and socialization. Her calm and gentle nature allows them to relax and learn to trust.
Ashley’s commitment, kindness, and unwavering passion make her truly deserving of this recognition. She is an invaluable part of our team, and we are so grateful for everything she does.
| Tim's nomination: Tim Dempsey has made the most of his volunteer service at WSHS in the past two years. Ever since joining the Sunday morning kennel shift, Tim has gone above and beyond in the care of our dogs. Tim looks at each dog as an individual and adjusts his care based on their needs, so they get the best of his time. Tim appreciates that as a volunteer he can make a difference in the adoptability of the dogs. He knows that what they learn while they are here affects how they act when meeting potential adopters. Not only does Tim actively work with the dogs while he is here, but he also invested extra time by taking Petey to obedience training. Since Petey was adopted, Tim has been fostering puppies, giving them the best chance at adoption to new families. Tim's passion and understanding of dog behavior is an asset to our organization! | |
Grab your friends and test your knowledge with our Trivia hosts, Baig of Tricks Entertainment!
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 6pm - 9pm
American Legion | 4000 Saratoga Avenue
Want to be a sponsor? Contact us at events@wshs-dg.org
| WSHS is funded entirely by animal lovers just like you. Become a Paw Pal by signing up to give monthly, every dollar helps! | | March Pet Spotlight: Meet Mitzi | |
Mitzi is a 3 year old Calico-Tabby mix with a spirited personality.
She came to us from an Animal Control that was filled with dogs. Because of that experience, she needs some time to warm up to a new location. Once she gets comfortable she is a very social cat, and she can be around older kids.
With a little patience, we know she will thrive. She likes attention, playing with feathers and wand toys, and cuddling with her person. She will be happier as the only pet in a household, she wants to be the queen of the house!
If you have been looking for a new fun friend, you've found her. Send in an application today!
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WSHS went Platinum!
Great news, the West Suburban Humane Society has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid! This achievement is the highest level of recognition awarded by Candid, which is considered the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.
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Girl's Night Out
Our Girl’s Night Out event at Clara’s was SOLD OUT! We are so grateful to everyone who participated and helped to make this fundraising event a success.
Thank you to our sponsors: Friendly Vet, The SmartMove Team, and McNees & Associates.
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Join us for pictures with the Easter Bunny on April 5th, 2025.
Humans and crowd-friendly pets are welcome.
Photos will be available online to download. Reservations required.
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Upcoming Humane Education Activities & Classes:
| Buddy - pitbull mix, 6 years old | |
Urgent Foster Needs
We are currently in need of foster homes for several dogs at WSHS. Will you help these dogs find a comfy place to land?
If you are able to volunteer to provide temporary care in your home, please contact our Foster Coordinator, Lexi, at animalcare@wshs-dg.org or call 630-960-9602.
| Delilah - redbone coonhound, 2 years old | Muriel - beagle mix, 3 years old | Maple - pitty mix, 2 years old | | | Addison Public Library hosted a program for community members to make rope toys for WSHS on MLK Day of Service. | This class at St. Mary of Gostyn Parish hosted a donation drive and donated over $500. | Instead of presents for her Birthday, Catherine collected donations with her friends and family for the cats and dogs at WSHS. | | The Clarendon Hills Daisy Dash Foundation made a donation of $1,000 in recognition of our work. | Valdes Architecture & Engineering hosted a pet supply drive. | | | |
Are you a WSHS volunteer?
At WSHS, we believe in going Above and Beyond in our support for the rescue dogs and cats we bring into our care. We believe our amazing volunteers demonstrate this in large and small ways every day. Nominate a WSHS volunteer teammate to be recognized for going Above and Beyond!
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MISSION
Because of you, we are able to provide shelter and love for homeless dogs and cats!
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The West Suburban Humane Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
EIN: 23-7355420
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