DAVID DUFFIELD - PAWS Chicago

[ Shelter Medicine ]
Fifi & Chloe
PAWS CHICAGO SPOTLIGHT
Lauren Novak
Treating
Puppies &
Kittens
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have limited the number of animals
that could be taken in, healed and
adopted to new families.
The creation of an internal
shelter medicine program that
provides medical treatment and care
for each individual animal while
establishing medical protocols that
optimize the treatment of highly
contagious and deadly diseases has
been essential to ensuring a continuous
flow of treated, healthy animals
to the Adoption Center. With growing
demand for PAWS Chicago
animals, more than 5,000 animals
will flow through PAWS Chicago’s
shelter medicine program in 2012,
and that number is expected to grow
each year.
Buster
Puppies and kittens have the weakest immune systems and the highest risk of
contracting highly contagious and deadly diseases. The shelter medicine program
at PAWS Chicago is saving 1,000 of these babies each year, providing them with the
significant medical care they need.
But shelter medicine has not only
helped get more animals treated and
healthy for adoption quicker – it
has shortened the treatment cycle
and improved medical care. Shelter
diseases are not always common in
private veterinary clinics, so there
is improved care for the animals
that come through PAWS Chicago
today. Not only does PAWS have the
capability to treat immediately upon
detection, but there are better results
for saving animals with virulent
disease. Partnering with Purdue University
and Maddie’s Fund, PAWS
Chicago has been able to develop
best practices in medical treatment
and care that maintains the health
of the shelter population and is able
to turn healthy animals through the
system to maximize adoptions.
“We use the information and
research that is available, along with
the resources from our partnership
with Purdue, and put it into
practice at the shelter level so that we
are able to look for the best options
for each pet and continue to evolve
our treatment protocols for those
who are sick or injured,” said PAWS
Chicago Executive Director Rochelle
Michalek.
Julie Mazzola is Senior
Editor of PAWS Chicago
magazine. She received
a graduate certificate in
Animal Studies. In her
free time, she serves the
lavish demands of her
beloved cat, Clover.
As a Certified Veterinary Technician
(CVT) at PAWS Chicago’s Rescue &
Recovery Center, Lauren Novak fulfills
her dream of helping animals by giving
homeless pets a guarantee of life and
providing them with individual, handson
medical treatment and care.
“I have always had a passion for animal
welfare and an affinity for animals so
it seemed natural for me to work with
them,” says Lauren. “When I got my first
pet at age nine – a guinea pig – I knew
that I would dedicate the rest of my life to
helping animals live healthy, happy lives.”
Lauren is a part of PAWS Chicago’s
Shelter Medicine program which is
responsible for the health of every animal
in its program – whether at the Rescue
& Recovery Center, Adoption Center
or in foster care. Rather than
categorizing sick or injured pets
as ‘unadoptable,’ PAWS Chicago
veterinarians, with Lauren’s support,
provide each animal with the care and
rehabilitation needed for a fresh start at
life.
In her role as a CVT, Lauren assists
the veterinary team with examinations,
medication administration, supportive
medical treatments and care for critically
ill patients. “I serve as a second set of
eyes to ensure that every pet receives the
best care,” says Lauren. “Giving animals
the gift of health and seeing them pull
through sometimes dire situations is so
gratifying.”
Lauren finds inspiration for the work
that she does through the people and
animals who have been touched by the
mission to create a No Kill Chicago. “I am
inspired by the passionate people at PAWS
who are so deeply committed to helping
homeless pets,” says Lauren. “Every rescue
animal I have ever met – including my
own adopted dog, cats and cockatoo –
brings me inspiration through their love
and mission to find a loving home.”
Treating
Rock Star
When 17-week-old Rock Star arrived at PAWS
Chicago, he was suffering from a broken leg, likely
after being hit by a car. Injured pets like Rock Star
are often the first to be euthanized at traditional
“open door” shelters or simply left on the street to
suffer alone. At PAWS Chicago’s Rescue & Recovery
Center, veterinarians set and cast his leg and gave
him back the use of all four legs. Rock Star healed
perfectly and lives up to his name as a happy, frisky
kitten in his new home.
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