Oak Park's Animal Care League celebrates four decades of care

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 10:00 PM

Amber pulled out all the stops when she met a prospective adoptive family. The Rovito family, which includes Enzo, 10, took her home.

Dr. Mary Eisenlohr carries a dog out of the Animal Care League operating room after spaying her. Vet techs Sean Elliott and Jane Barker prepare another dog for surgery.

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Forty years ago, a group of people in Oak Park opened their homes to stray dogs and cats. Today, the Animal Care League operates a 9,000-square-foot shelter that houses 50 dogs, 100 cats and various other animals with 24 staff members and more than 200 volunteers.

As the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary, staff members continue to look for ways to grow.

"The organization needs to grow because the number of animals needing help is higher than we can meet," Executive Director Tom Van Winkle said. "We want to be able to help all homeless animals with a safe place until they get a home. Until we can take every single one of them in, we need to do more."

Last year, the Animal Care League found new homes for 779 animals and returned 152 lost animals to their owners.

Reader Comments

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Pat D. from Oak Park

Posted: March 13th, 2013 3:35 PM

As dog & cat lovers we've been supporting them for several years in different ways. One of the best charitable organizations around.

Terry Mueller

Posted: March 13th, 2013 12:54 PM

ACL is getting all my charitable donations this year. Yeshe ended up there one cold night when she escaped the yard and they took very good care of her and me. Stayed late on a holiday weekend to help process the paperwork so I could get her back. I will never forget their kindness. Thank you!

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