Chicago Cats Celebrate: Tree House Begins a New Era

Tree House Humane Society, the no kill cat shelter on Chicago’s north side, has a long history of being the first. And a new history is about to begin.

For starters,  being no kill was a first for an all cat facility in Chicago; the idea of cats living in community environments inside the facility (not in cages); the idea of adopting cats with FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus); taking a national stand against placing adult feral cats in a shelter setting, and instead doing trap-neuter-return (outdoor cats who are not socialized to people to be spay/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, micrcochipped and returned) and using community outdoor only cats to control rat populations (Tree House Cats at Work Program). And there’s much more.

So much Tree House has done first, and done right….and now after 20,000 cats (and some dogs, rabbits, chickens, and other small animals) have passed through the doors, Tree House breaking ground is June 2 at 10 a.m. for an all-new building, 7225 N. Western Avenue, in Chicago’s West Rogers Park. This will be a media event, while no brass band is expected, there will be all the Tree House brass, Alderman Debra Silverstein (50th ward) and Illinois Representative Sara Feigenholtz (12th district). I will serve as the emcee (I’ve been on the Tree House Board of Directors of 10 years). Most importantly, announcements regarding what this facility will mean for Rogers Park, for Chicago, and most importantly to save more cats – and how you can help.

Tree House has experienced nothing but support from local community leaders on up to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  These days government officials are starting to understand, the more lives saved, the less dollars spent on euthanasia; also Tree House will support the community with a pet food pantry, low cost spay/neuter, and a variety of humane education programs.

Arguably, most important is what this state-of-the-art facility will do for the cats in residence. It’s what often occurs in the shelter world, everyone wants to be the next big thing, to outdo the most recent effort. The animals only benefit.

This facility will also features a store (where you can buy toys and pet food), and Chicago’s first Cat Cafe.

The next big thing for cats. Come to the ground-breaking – see for yourself.

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