OP_062217

opprairie.com Life & Arts
the orland park prairie | June 22, 2017 | 21
Families gather at Township’s Pet-Palooza
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
Anyone who has ever welcomed
a four-legged friend
into their home knows how
important pets are to their
families.
As such, the Orland
Township provides for dogs
and cats – as they do for all
members of the community
– throughout the year, but
the annual Pet-Palooza gave
human residents a ​“​paws​itively
purr-fect​”​ opportunity
to celebrate their beloved
pets while raising money for
local animals in need.
The Saturday, June 17,
event was free of charge;
however, attendees were encouraged
to provide a bag of
pet food or cash donation to
support the Orland Township
Pet Pantry.
“It’s a fun day for pets,”
said Kathy Passafiume, a
youth and family services
clinical director at Orland
Township. “It’s a fun day
for families and a nice summer
event. We love serving
the community. We love being
with people and working
with each other.”
Pet-Palooza offered fun
for the whole family with
face-painting, food vendors,
bounce houses, live entertainment,
bingo and much
more. Also included in the
festivities were dog training
seminars, micro-chipping
and nail clipping for the ​“​
paw-some​“​ guests of honor.
“Our volunteers, workers
and staff have been tremendous
in putting this together,”
said Township Trustee
John Lynch. “It’s a lot of
work, and they’ve done a
great job.”
On top of all of the fun
activities, the event also provided
folks with the opportunity
to meet pets looking for
a forever home.
St. Sophia’s Forgotten
Westmont-based nonprofit St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines brought a few kittens to Pet-Palooza for adoption. Photos by
Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Mackinzie McCraw, of Romeoville, gets her arm painted
by Marie Ryan, a senior services coordinator at Orland
Township, on Saturday, June 17, at Orland Township’s
annual Pet-Palooza.
Felines – which is based in
Westmont but serves much
of Chicagoland – was on
hand with adoptable kittens
and cats.
“We pull animals from
high-kill shelters, and we
do a lot of transfers from
the south,” volunteer Danielle
Alessi said. “When we
get the kittens and cats in
our care we fully vet them.
They’re fixed, they’re vaccinated,
they’re micro-chipped
and dewormed – the whole
shebang.”
The nonprofit organization
is also always recruiting
foster families to look after
cats in need.
Folks interested in bettering
the lives of local animals
also had the opportunity
to donate to a number
of pet-focused organizations
including Minnie’s Memorial
Fund of PAWS of Tinely
Park.
The special fund was
founded by Tinley Park
couple Wayne and Joan Hochwarter
after they lost their
beloved pet Minnie to cancer
and learned of the great expenses
that come with medical
care.
“So far we’ve raised
enough money to pay the
medical bills of 42 special
needs dogs,” Joan said. “The
fund has helped pay for leg
amputations, knee surgeries,
eye removals, skin conditions
– everything.”
Orland Park resident Anna
Alder and her sons, Aiden,
5, and Adam, 3, enjoy coming
out to Pet-Palooza every
year to pet the animals and
take part in the activities.
“Orland Park really does
go all out to support the pets,
and the kids and the whole
community,” Anna said.
“There’s just so many wonderful
things here.”
The Orland Township Pet
Pantry was founded by Supervisor
Paul O’Grady and
his wife in honor of their
cat, Crashy.
“When the economy bottomed
out, a lot of people
were forced to give up their
pets because they couldn’t
afford to feed them, so that’s
when the pet food pantry
began in honor of Mr.
O’Grady’s cat,” Mary Hastings,
Orland Township administrator,
said.
All proceeds from Pet-
Homer Glen couple Terry and Cathy Poia pose for a photo
with their Great Dane, Diesel.
Palooza directly benefit
the Orland Park Pet Pantry,
which helps to provide food
and supplies for pets and
families in need.
Later this summer, the
township will be hosting its
annual Back to School Health
Fair, which offers school
physicals, various exams, immunizations
and a whole lot
of fun on Saturday, July 29.
More information about
services and events can be
found in The Orland Township
Focus newsletter or online
at www.orlandtownship.
org.