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Sunday volunteer days are busy times at the Animal Welfare League intake facility on Chicago’s south side. Animal lovers fill the halls, walking dogs or cuddling cats. Outside, dogs romp happily by the new dog runs, enjoying the sun and the human company. The dog runs and the increase in volunteers are both thanks to the Trio Animal Foundation (TAF).

Sue Naiden, TRIO Founder/President and Jill Cahr

TAF is a nonprofit organization that helps pay the medical bills of homeless pets and promotes animal welfare awareness. But the organization’s impact extends beyond this mission statement. TAF also wants to unite the animal advocacy groups of Chicago.

“We’ve done a lot of good, and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short time. Not only do we pay bills, but we bring together a bunch of groups that otherwise would not have worked together,” says Jill Cahr, the Vice-President and Co-Founder of the Trio Foundation.

TAF wants to promote resource sharing between animal shelters and other nonprofits, but it’s not always an easy job.

“People are incredibly skeptical in Chicago. There is not a lot of collaboration between the animal groups. There is a lot of animosity…We’re really about bringing groups together to get animals healthy and adopted,” says Cahr.

In the divisive world of Chicago animal welfare, collaboration is key. This is the principal that brought the AWL and the Trio Foundation together. Diane Spyrka, director of the AWL intake facility says she’s grateful for the partnership with TAF.

“I’m just elated people want to give their time and resources,” says Spyrka. “Being a nonprofit is not an easy thing, and we don’t get resources from the community. Our outlook is that it’s all about the animals; it’s not about the politics. It’s about putting egos aside and staying true to your passion. The animals should always come first.”

That’s the philosophy the TAF volunteers bring with them when they come to work at intake facility. From holding a timid kitten, to walking (or being walked), by a boisterous mutt, it’s clear the people who come to volunteer at the intake facility love animals.

“They give me more than I give them,” says Jaque Sabian, a volunteer at AWL. “The most rewarding part is that I might have made a difference in a dog’s life.”

Getting the message out there is the first step to bring the different groups together. Using social media such as Facebook, TAF promotes animal awareness and offers ideas and opportunities for people looking to make a big impact on the lives of animals without a big time or money commitment. For more information, check out the website at TrioAnimalFoundation.org.

—Axie Navas