paws-chicago-magazine-2011-winter

PAWS CHICAGO SPOTLIGHTShannon GillenSaving the lives of thousands of animals is allin a day’s work for Shannon Gillen.HinsdaleAnimal Cemeteryand CrematoryEstablished 1926Superior Cremation & Burial ServicesOffering peace of mind during your difficult time,by providing ethical after death care.As the manager for PAWS Chicago’sLurie Spay/Neuter Clinic, the Midwest’slargest low-cost sterilization andvaccination clinic, Shannon ensures thatthe owners of animals most at risk ofreproducing and having litter after litter,have access to an affordable resource.“Everyone understands the importanceof adopting shelter animals to help reducepet overpopulation and homelessness, butsterilizing just one pet can lead to savingthousands of lives,” said Shannon. “Spay/neuter is not talked about as often asWhat other jobencourages hugginga kitten or playingfetch with a puppyon your lunch break?Hinsdale Animal Cemeteryis the oldest pet burial grounds inall of Illinois, located in theChicago suburb of Willowbrook.- just 3 miles north of I-55We provide superior cremation andburial services, as well as stock a wideselection of the necessary items,including caskets, headstones, & urns.You are welcome to come and visitanytime during daylight hours. 7 daysa week...Simply call for our officehours. Or, at any time, feel free tocontact us with your specific needs orwith any questions you have.CREMATION ASSOCIATIONOF NORTH AMERICAadoption because the idea of surgery isn’tas cute and cuddly as bringing a new petinto a home. But, spay/neuter is the mosteffective tool in ending pet overpopulationand the killing of unwanted animals.”In her role as the Clinic manager,Shannon oversees the daily operations ofthe Lurie Clinic, which performed 17,147surgeries in 2010. She also assists in theplanning of other successful programssuch as the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)neighborhood cat program and thenew GusMobile Spay/Neuter van. Fromstaffing and supplies to returning the500+ calls and messages received eachday, Shannon’s team is dedicated tomaking a difference in the lives of animalsin our community.In 2011, Shannon’s team was integralin launching the GusMobile mobile spay/neuter van which provides residents in