State of the Art Pet Adoptions

Rochelle Michalek explains the features that make a state-of-the-art adoption center and why someone would want to adopt a pet from a no-kill shelter like PAWS Chicago, rather than buying one from a pet store or breeder. She explains how cage-less shelters work for both cats and dogs.

The Basics of No-Kill Shelters

No-kill shelters are a fairly new development. Rochelle explains how they differ from traditional shelters and where their animals come from. She also explains the adoption procedure, and their system that tells prospective owners in advance about the pets personality.

How the Adoption Process Works

Rochelle explains what a pet owner needs to know if they are forced to relinquish their pet to a shelter. She also outlines the steps in the adoption process and talks about the huge importance of spaying and neutering. She also talks about the crucial role that foster homes play for no-kill shelters.

Look While You Listen!

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Rochelle Michalek

When "Charity Navigator" ranked PAWS Chicago as one of the Top 10 charities in the nation this past December, it was no surprise to PAWS supporters who know the organization is managed more like a business than a not-for-profit. The woman behind the budgets and operations, Rochelle Michalek is so stranger to business.
After a 20-year tenure in the corporate world, 17 of them with Motorola, Michalek joined the PAWS team in early 2004 and has managed PAWS programs during the organization's intense period of growth. As Executive Director of Operations, Michalek works closely with the Board of Directors. She is responsible for implementing the Board's vision for the organization, and she is accountable for managing a wide range of departments, from the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic to the adoption program to volunteers to humane education.

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