Thank you for visiting my fundraising page for West Suburban Humane Society (WSHS)!   WSHS is a no-kill shelter, which means we don't euthanize less-adoptable cats and dogs to allow cage and kennel space for more adoptable cats and dogs.  It is a non-profit organization, and funding relies completely on donations.

Homeless cats and dogs come to us from many sources. Animal control facilities and the public bring us dogs and cats of all ages that have been abandoned, abused, injured, neglected and orphaned. A dedicated volunteer base and the service of several veterinarians has allowed us to save the lives of and place over 600 homeless animals each year into new homes. Every animal that is brought to our shelter receives whatever type of veterinary care that is needed, including surgery and hospitalization for trauma cases, long-term care and medication for viral and bacterial infections, and treatment of parasite infestations such as heartworm. Orphaned kittens and puppies as well as the infirm receive loving care in our foster homes until they are ready for adoption.  

In a recent case, an already overcrowded animal control facility that was providing assistance to another animal control facility that had had a fire earlier this year was in critical need of licensed rescue groups to help with many kittens and nursing mother cats. If they didn’t get immediate help, these homeless souls would all be euthanized.  Many of the kittens were too young yet for adoption and would have to go into foster homes.  Many of the mother cats were ill and would also have to go into foster homes.  Because of its dedicated volunteer base, WSHS was able to step in and rescued 40 cats and kittens from this facility that are now in foster homes or in the shelter and on their way to better health and permanent homes.

Here's where the fundraising (and YOU) come in.  In addition to food and shelter for all our four-legged visitors, WSHS pays for veterinary care for any animal in need.  This includes our animals in foster care.  Many of our animals are on special diets due to health issues, and many of you know that special diets aren't inexpensive.

Barkapalooza is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and will be held on Sunday, September 26th.  We hope for a gorgeous day and a great turnout.  I'd really like to continue to help WSHS as much as possible even after the event by keeping this webpage open until December 26th so that we can continue to help all of the cats, dogs, kittens and puppies that keep coming in.

Please help us continue to care for these guys.  No donation is too small--every penny is valued and appreciated.  Whether you're a current or previous pet owner, you know that their love and loyalty is unconditional and priceless, and the return on your investment is huge!

Donating through this website is simple, fast and secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.  If you're not comfortable donating online, you can send a check made out to "West Suburban Humane Society" or "WSHS" and send it to me at my home address at 2230 Westfield Drive, Downers Grove, IL 60516.

Many, many thanks for your support -- and please don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!