This past Sunday, September 15, Advocates from “Chicago: Sit. Stay. Speak” and other concerned citizens held a memorial service and silent protest in front of the Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) building.

Chicago’s NBC 5 News interviewed our spokesperson and national No Kill Equation Advocate, Nandia Black, and broadcast our memorial/protest on the 5 PM news the same day at 5PM!  To see the broadcast, it’s posted on FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/tj6gmqsrRFJezWUk/?mibextid=K35XfP

We began the event with the words, “We grieve because Grief affirms value.  We speak their names, not because they died.  We speak their name because they lived.”

We carried signs with photos of some of the animals who’ve died this year and different participants read lists of their names, or the ID numbers for the ones who never got a name.

We had musical interludes and we sang songs of peace and love. Several people told stories of  painful experiences they’d had at CACC: 

Patricia recounted an experience she had with staff at CACC who treated her rudely and disrespectfully when she attempted to help some cats and even told her they wouldn’t help.

Danielle shared Honey’s story, a dog she tried to save but who was killed the same day by CACC.

Cynthia related her negative experience at the hands of a verbally abusive staff member when she was trying to adopt a dog at CACC.

Jenny admonished CACC field personnel and office staff for not doing their job.

Luanne cited the substandard medical protocol at CACC.

Many people cried as they read out the names and numbers of the healthy and treatable animals who had died unnecessarily at Chicago ACC  

This Memorial and Peaceful Protest called for No Kill shelter reform for Chicago ACC.  News coverage is giving us the momentum we need. The people of Chicago are ready for the life saving programs of the No Kill Equation and our shelter animals deserve No Kill.

Let’s make Chicago a leader for other cities to follow!  Only 135 more signatures needed to reach 15,000 and we will present this petition to the Mayor and the City Council as well as to the Governor!