Chicago River Architecture Cruise to Benefit City’s Abused, Neglected Stray Animals May 16, 2010

Chicago, IL—Chicago’s First Lady and Chicago Architecture Foundation are supporting Chicago’s most sick, injured, abused, and neglected animals with the donation of a cruiseline vessel and architecture docent to benefit Tree House Humane Society, Chicago’s 39-year-old cageless, no-kill shelter. This “Puss ‘n’ Boats” architecture cruise on Sunday, May 16th, boasts a complimentary light breakfast, a family atmosphere, and a 90-minute narrated Chicago River architecture cruise with commentary on famous lakefront architecture including 17 bridges, and 82 buildings and landmarks.

With spring just around the corner, and at the height of ‘kitten season’, many animals are being born outside. This benefit cruise is taking place to raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering cats and dogs. The event, following Mother’s Day (May 9th), also honors and raises awareness of those mothers of sometimes hundreds of kittens and puppies who desperately need to be spayed and neutered. Chicago is on its way to becoming a no-kill city, and with the support of local companies, organizations, and individuals, it brings us one step closer to becoming a no-kill nation!

There are many benefits to having your pet spayed or neutered. Not only does it reduce the number of homeless companion animals, it can also give your pet a longer, healthier life. Spaying or neutering eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer in females, and testicular cancer in males. It also reduces the chance your cat or dog will sneak outside or roam, not only keeping him or her safe, but also preventing the contraction of other diseases. A spayed/neutered pet is also less likely to have temperament or behavioral problems. Most importantly, with millions of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies being euthanized in shelters every year, getting your pet spayed or neutered is the most humane thing to do for everyone. Tree House encourages the public to not only spay/neuter their pets but to practice TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), the only effective and humane way to manage feral cat colonies. With an estimated 700,000 stray and feral cats in Cook County, this has to be a priority if we are ever going to reduce these numbers.

This benefit cruise departs on Sunday, May 16th, at 9:00 a.m. (boarding at 8:30 a.m.), from the southeast corner of Michigan Ave. & Wacker Ave. in downtown Chicago. Children 4 years and under are FREE; children 5 – 12 years are $20; and adults 13 years and older are $35. 100% of ticket proceeds benefit the sick, injured, abused, and neglected strays at Tree House Humane Society. For further details and to purchase tickets, please contact [email protected] or 773-784-5488 ext. 238. More information available at TreeHouseAnimals.org.

About Tree House Humane Society
Tree House was founded in 1971 and has since expanded and enhanced our programs and services to become the largest, cageless, no-kill shelter specializing in the rescue of sick, injured, abused and neglected cats in the Chicagoland area. To date we have found homes for nearly 15,000 cats. In addition to our focus on the rehabilitation and adoption of stray cats, we offer many other valuable programs and services, including our Low-cost Spay/Neuter Program for cats and dogs, Feral Friends TNR Program, Pet Loss Grief Support Group, Humane Investigations Team, Youth Volunteer Program, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Behavior Hotline, Pet Food Pantry, and Education Outreach Program.

Official Website: http://treehouseanimals.org