Chicago Area Cats And Dogs Up For Adoption (11/25) (PHOTOS)

With the holiday season officially kicked off by the long Thanksgiving weekend, there is no surer sign that winter is right around the corner and who would want to spend the darkest, bleakest time of year in Chicago without a home?

That's exactly the predicament all too many Chicago area pets are in. Continuing our partnership with several shelters in the Chicago metropolitan area, HuffPost Chicago is featuring another group of cats and dogs ready for adoption this week. Like last week, we're happy to report several success stories spotlighting animals previously featured in the series who have found their "furever" homes. But despite this fantastic news, the majority of the pets we've included in the series still need homes. Be sure to check out previous galleries linked below this week's gallery.

Also, if you're in the Evanston area Saturday, be sure to check out C.A.R.E.'s annual holiday faire at the Unitarian Church at 1330 Ridge in Evanston from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is an important fundraiser for the shelter and features a silent auction, pet pictures with Santa, a cookie walk and pet-related crafters and vendors.

Photos appear courtesy of the Evanston Animal Shelter's Community Animal Rescue Effort, Felines Inc. and Famous Fido Rescue and Adoption Alliance. To our knowledge, all animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped and up-to-date with their tests and vaccinations.

If you have an adoption shelter success story you would like to share, be sure to send a note (and a picture) to [e-mail] and we will be sure to feature your tale.

Comments

[lisakaz2]

04:03 PM on 11/26/2011

Seeing how I am partial to torties, I am especially rooting for Amy, too.

[Karena RiveraHorner]

11:56 AM on 11/26/2011

Yes, ALWAYS adopt, do not shop!! Pets do cost alot even after you adopt, but you are saving a life. Keep them their whole life! Owner surrenders 98% of the time are killed as soon as they are dumped!!! It is a lifelong commitment! ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED (1,100) are KILLED every hour in the US every day!!!!!! SPAY AND NEUTER!!!! ALWAYS!!!! Donate and foster, they need help!!! Alot of states in the US use gas chambers to kill pets dumped and unwanted!!!! It is a awful awful awful death!!!! Some use heartstick, another AWFUL method! ONE Pitbull in 600, only ONE ever finds a home. :(

[teaberry43]

11:18 AM on 11/26/2011

Why won't the pictures move onto the next???? can't ever to get them to work.

[sewfun350]

09:49 PM on 11/25/2011

I wish people would be more informed prior to getting a pet of any kind. I have 1 rescue dog -- a Great Pyrenees, and 2 rescued cats. The dog was microchipped before I got her, so I only had to pay the $25 transfer fee. I did pay to have both cats microchipped in case they got out. All 3 were spayed and neutered prior to adoption. So, that leaves food, treats and health care. Doesn't sound very expensive, but, I have paid $300 per cat per year to have their teeth cleaned. I just paid about $350 for 6 months worth of heartworm, flea and tick prevention for the 3 animals. They each have an annual checkup, never less than $100, depending on the tests, and whether or not the dog needs a rabies shot (every 3 years for the dog, every year for the cat.) Then, there are boarding fees should I decide to take a vacation. $15 per day per cat, $18 per day for the dog or $216 per week. Taking proper care of a pet is not an inexpensive proposition. If you can't afford it, don't do it. If you can afford it, take a couple or three.

[gavrielle]

07:32 AM on 11/26/2011

I'm poor and live in the projects. They were all spayed and neutered for free because I'm on Medicaid. I have 9 of them. I can't afford the very best of medical care, but they are loved and taken to the vet when they need to go. And they have plenty of food and clean litter, even if I don't eat very well, or have to do without things like cable tv and vacations.

If you think having pets is all about having money, then I pity you. Taking in cats and dogs off the street and loving them in a safe environment, even if it isn't the wealthiest household, is better than leaving them to die alone, unloved and in misery.

My cats would die for me. A few years back when someone tried to push their way into my apartment and I was trying to fend him off, they leaped on him as a group and began growling, clawing and biting him savagely. He kicked at one of my darling defenders, which gave me the courage to fight back and the time to push him out the door. All I could think of was that he might hurt one of my loves. He's in jail now thanks to them. So please keep your elitist yuppie nonsense about money to yourself. Money helps, but isn't absolutely necessary to provide a loving, stable home for a pet - or several. That takes love and sacrifice.

[sewfun350]

12:33 PM on 11/26/2011

I probably did come across as elitest, which certainly wasn't my intent. There are plenty of people like you, who do without in order to give your pets a good home, and I applaud you for that. My post was directed more at the people I see on Animal Planet who think a good home is to tie them up in the back yard and throw food and water at them occasionally, maybe. There are people who allow their pets to roam free, and get them no vet care when a car hits them. There are those who don't bother to get their pets the appropriate vaccinations, and then allow them to die of feline leukemia, or don't give their dogs the monthly heartworm treatment, and allow them to die of that. As a foster mom for abandoned and abused animals, maybe I see the dark side more often than not. I sincerely hope that there are many more people like you out there.

[sjcarl]

09:01 PM on 11/25/2011

I hope they will all find a home for the holidays! We have a cat and dog rescued from our local shelter. Great pets. The 10 pound cat bosses the 75 pound dog, LOL.