Our Policies & Positions

PACT takes a firm and educated stance on many issues facing humane societies and shelters today.

• Spaying and Neutering
  As an organization, we require the spaying or neutering of all animals who go through our organization to ensure that no additional unwanted animals are brought into the world, contributing to the 4-8 million pets euthanized every year in the United States, because there aren't enough homes for them - over 100 pets each and every day in the city of Chicago alone.

• Declawing
  Declawing is a surgical amputation of the cat's first knuckle and is considered inhumane by the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the Humane Society of the United States, and many other pet organizations.  Declawing is actually outlawed in 20 countries throughout Europe.  Therefore as an organization, we will not declaw cats. We strive to educate prospective adopters on ways to maintain the cat's claws by trimming the nails every few weeks, providing an appropriate clawing post, and using humane training methods such as a water spray bottle.

• Euthanasia
  PACT has made a decision to be a no-kill humane society. We will consider euthanizing an animal only in cases of extreme aggressiveness or extreme poor health - conditions which cannot be assisted by medical intervention. We do not euthanize an animal due to old age, costly health care needs, or for the making of cage space. In addition, we actively work with veterinarian offices, county facilities and other shelters to retrieve animals slated for euthanasia so that we can offer them a new life through our system. 

• All Cats Should be Indoor Cats
  PACT educates owners on the dangers of allowing cats to go outside unsupervised. Cats face numerous hazards such as poisoning, human cruelty, or getting hit by a moving vehicle. In addition, cats allowed to go outdoors tend to pick-up more diseases and illnesses due to their contact with other cats who are outdoors and not properly inoculated. For the well-being of your cat, please keep them indoors. With a little attention to your cats needs and likes, you can create an indoor environment that keeps your cat healthy, safe, and happy.

• All Animals are Basically Adoptable
  PACT believes that (with the exception of extremely poor health or extreme aggression) every animal is adoptable. There is a home out there for all animals if we look hard enough. This means that we work hard to place older cats and dogs, those with diseases such as feline AIDS or feline leukemia or cancer, cats that are missing teeth, an eye or a tail, cats that are deaf or blind. We have placed all of these cats in wonderful homes.