Bloomingdale says pet shelter can stay for now
A Bloomingdale animal shelter once ordered to close for operating without a permit can remain open for now, after village officials reached a temporary compromise this week with shelter operators.
The no-kill PACT Humane Society — or People and Animals in Community Together — operates a dog and cat adoption service in the back of the Petco store at 412 Army Trail Road. The shelter opened in October, but village officials first learned of it late last month in a Daily Herald story.
The following day, officials issued a citation to Petco for housing the shelter without a special use permit. The notice included orders to vacate some animals by this week, long before PACT could complete the permit process that can take three to four months.
Bloomingdale officials agreed to meet with Petco attorneys and PACT Director Cherie Travis in hopes of avoiding the move. Travis said the meeting was productive and allowed Bloomingdale to gain a better understanding of the shelter's operations.
“The village had a lot of questions that we were happy to answer,” Travis said. “I think we have a clear idea of what they expect of us and came up with a very reasonable plan together.”
Petco's business permits are in order, but Village Administrator Martin Bourke said PACT is independent and must obtain its own permit. Bourke said PACT must meet certain guidelines to stay running until its expected permit petition — which has not yet been filed — comes before the village board.
“Their attorney will submit in writing the parameters of their operation, including the number of pets and volunteers,” Bourke said. “With that, they can stay as long as there is a good-faith effort in the zoning process. The operation would also have to stay the same, with no expansions or changes than what their attorney submits.”
PACT is staffed completely by volunteers and rescues animals from other euthanizing agencies such as Cook County Animal Control. The group is serviced by several vets, only adopts out and does not accept animals given up by owners.
Currently, about 75 volunteers rotate in shifts to help care for the 20 cats and 10 dogs at the Bloomingdale site. Just a few weeks ago the site had only about 25 volunteers, but recent publicity has drawn extra support, Travis said.
Volunteers walk the dogs, clean kennels, socialize the animals and prepare them for adoption. Some also foster dogs or cats until they find a permanent home.
Other PACT shelters for cats are inside two Schaumburg PetSmart stores and another in Darien. The group rents space at all its locations for a reduced fee.
Bloomingdale initially voiced concerns beyond the missing permit, including whether the shelter setup complied with building code restrictions. Bourke said officials are still looking into those concerns and some minor building code violations may need to be corrected.
A Petco spokesman said the shelter was opened with good intentions, making use of space that formerly housed a doggy day care. The spokesman said several Petco stores throughout the country offer adoptions and called the Bloomingdale violation “an anomaly.”
The Petco violation came just after the village finally closed the book on a years-long conflict with Pet Rescue, a no-kill shelter that had a special use permit but ultimately was stripped of its license.
Pet Rescue operators Dale Armon and Penny Horak faced misdemeanor charges after they were accused of mistreating and overcrowding hundreds of animals. Horak pleaded guilty last April, and charges against Armon were dropped in January after Horak signed an affidavit saying Armon wasn't involved in day-to-day operations.
After dealing with such controversy, Travis said she understands why Bloomingdale is stringent in enforcing its ordinances. But she argues fervently there is “absolutely no comparison between PACT and Pet Rescue.”
“We take very good care of the animals, have a plentiful supply of volunteers and several vets in the area that we work with,” she said. “Pet Rescue billed itself as a sanctuary, while we are always looking to adopt out. Clearly, our interest is to keep these animals healthy and find homes for them as quickly as possible so we can save more.”
She also said the shelter will be good for Bloomingdale business, attracting volunteers and adoptive families who will spend money on pet supplies, gas and food in Bloomingdale.
To learn more about PACT or to volunteer, visit pacthumanesociety.org or e-mail bloomingdale@pacthumanesociety.org. Adoption hours at the Bloomingdale Petco, 412 W. Army Trail Road, are from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and by appointment.