With live entertainment provided by The Band Sundance, free food samples, the ever-so-popular Kids Zone, and 40 different vendors present, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
This celebration of our furry friends is immensely popular with pet owners and animal enthusiasts — and it reaches a new height every year. Guests support the Orland Township Pet Pantry while enjoying the company of pets including dogs, cats and exotic animals like reptiles and arachnids. Combined with exciting competitions and other attractions, this event has become a hub for our pet community.
Pets delight in all the attention while their owners gather valuable information regarding pet care, health, and well-being. Numerous local vendors attend, offering a wide range of pet-related products, from trendy accessories to nutritious pet food, and services. Pet lovers from all walks of life come together, sparking an environment of joy and companionship.
Partnerships with local animal rescues are vital to the Pet-Palooza mission. Animal Welfare League, Cache Creek Rescue, Feline Fine Cat Rescue, Illinois Shorthair Rescue, P.A.W.S. Tinley Park, One Goal Animal Foundation, St. Sophia's Forgotten Felines, and Traveling Tails Dog Rescue all were on site with adoptable pets and other invaluable resources.
Of the many adoptable animals present, five from Cache Creek Rescue found their fur-ever homes, as did another eight pets from St. Sophia’s Forgotten Feline’s. Additional animals attending Pet-Palooza are pending adoption through their respective rescues. All of us at Orland Township are happy to have played a part in helping find new homes for so many loving animals.
“Pet-Palooza offers a helping hand to local pets in need through the Orland Township Pet Pantry,” said Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady. “We always strive to go above and beyond with opportunities to connect local rescues to members of the community looking to add a furry friend to their family.”
All proceeds from Pet-Palooza benefit the Pet Pantry, which operates within the Orland Township Food Pantry. The Pet Pantry, founded by Supervisor O'Grady, is named "Crashy's Closet" after a beloved O'Grady family rescue cat.
Generous local donors provided approximately 450 pounds of donated pet food for the Pet Pantry. We appreciate all contributions to Pet-Palooza, the Pet Pantry and the Food Pantry, from the food for pets and local individuals in need to monetary donations and pet services.
“All the guests came together with local businesses, pet rescues and other organizations to make a positive difference for our community,” Supervisor O'Grady said. “We truly are grateful to live in such a strong community.”
Central to Pet-Palooza’s family-friendly fun activities are the pet contests. The most notable winner this year was Zeus Pohl, a 5-month-old Maine Coon cat that was formally announced as Orland Township’s 2023 SuPETvisor on stage before the beginning of six additional contests.
Zeus succeeded last year's first-ever SuPETvisor, Copper LaPrairie, with over 600 votes. Residents can enter their pets in the SuPETvisor contest via the Pet-Palooza Facebook page a month before the event.
“What the Township does here is really nice,” said resident Barbara Mackey, who attends the event annually with her now 11-year-old dachshund, Baxter. “We like giving back when we can. The event gives us a reason to get out and do that while getting to enjoy ourselves, and we get to include Baxter. It’s a real treat for us.”
Her husband, Bob, agreed. “Sometimes people forget how much our dogs — our pets — mean to us,” he said. “They’re a part of the family like they’re our children. It’s great to have a local event where they’re welcome, and where we can receive support if we need it.”