Governor Quinn Encourages Illinois Residents to Consider Rescuing a Pet

CHICAGO – Governor Quinn today was joined by Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka at Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) Chicago to encourage all Illinois residents to consider adopting a pet this year. Today’s event is a part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to protect pets and their owners, while ensuring that all animals in Illinois are treated ethically and responsibly.

“Pets are part of our families and we want to make 2014 the Year of Animal Rescue,” Governor Quinn said. “It is important that we try our hardest to find loving homes for these displaced animals and make sure they get the care and attention they need. Rosie – the first dog of Illinois – came from PAWS and the other animals here today would make fine additions to many families.”

"I thank Judy Baar Topinka for her lifelong commitment to protecting pets and promoting animal rights. She is one-of-a-kind,” the Governor added.

“I am thrilled to have Governor Quinn as a partner in finding homes for these pets and thank him for all his efforts,” Comptroller Topinka said. “I also love that he personally rescued another animal through the adoption of his new dog, Rosie. And that’s what this effort is all about – introducing critters to the right people.”

In 2011, Comptroller Topinka created the Comptroller’s Critters Pet Adoption Program to find good homes for rescue animals and save taxpayer dollars by avoiding the costs associated with overpopulation and animal control efforts. Around 100 shelters have partnered with “Comptroller’s Critters” and through an online database and pet adoption nights, there have been over 2,200 adoptions since the program began. For more information about how “Comptroller’s Critters” brings together rescue animals and families, visit http://www.ioc.state.il.us/index.cfm/about-our-office/comptrollers-critters1/.

The Governor and Comptroller were joined by Rosie, the Governor’s new dog. Rosie – a Yorkshire Terrier mix – is a rescue dog and was recently adopted from PAWS. This was her first public event.

Four dogs and four kittens were looking for loving families at today’s Adopt-a-Pet adoption event at PAWS Chicago, the city's largest no-kill humane organization, focused on solutions to end the killing of homeless pets. Since the organization’s founding in 1997, the number of homeless pets killed in the city has been reduced by nearly 70 percent, from 42,561 to fewer than 14,000 last year. Animal rescue spares animals from this fate and provides them with a forever home. For more information about PAWS Chicago and pet adoption, visit http://www.pawschicago.org.

Governor Quinn has long been a pet lover and advocate for the humane treatment of animals. Last year he signed the “Puppy Lemon Law” to give buyers protection for pet purchases and to help reduce the possibility of emotional trauma that comes from losing a pet. He also signed new laws to help ensure that all dogs in Illinois are treated humanely when tethered outside and to provide humane options for stray farm animals such as adoption or placement in a sanctuary.