Shawn and Mike Klupchak

SEPTEMBER 2020

Meet Shawn and Mike, the September Volunteers of the Month! Both are always helping us with special transports and adoption center transports. Shawn also spends time walking pups at our Medical Center. Thank you Shawn and Mike for all you do to help at PAWS. Read more about their volunteer experience with PAWS in the Q&A below! 

1. How long have you been volunteering with PAWS Chicago? What originally drew you to the organization?

After hearing about the work Paws has does, and the animals they have rescued, we wanted to volunteer and be part of this group.  That was 10 years ago.  

2.  Which PAWS Chicago programs/areas do you volunteer in and why?

We started off by fostering-so far about 45 pups/dogs- and have branched out to driving the transportation van, and volunteering at the Medical Center. 

3. Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your time volunteering?

 Our happiest experience was adopting one of our fosters who was just too cute to turn back in (Michael called to find out where I was, and I replied that ‘we’ were on our way home-Amy was now ours).  

4. What motivates you to continue volunteering with PAWS Chicago?

Knowing that many of these animals have had a hard time, you just feel good about helping them—and in return, receive a lot of free licks.  Volunteering is the best and there’s a special job for everyone:  be it picking up feral cats for medical treatment; helping the community via the GUS mobile with vaccinations/neutering; walking dogs; trekking to Arkansas to bring dogs/cats back to PAWS; and my favorite, fostering. 

5) Do you have any advice for someone who is considering becoming a volunteer? 

 Try it, you’ll like it