Pets and Self Storage Facilities -- An Unlikely Combination

As the holiday season approaches, many self storage owners host charitable projects that reach out and help those in need. LifeStorage Bridgeview is reaching out to a little bit different demographic - homeless pets.

LifeStorage Bridgeview, a Chicago self storage provider for homes and for businesses that need a records management facility, is hosting a Pet-A-Palooza tomorrow, Saturday, November 19. It will go from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.

It will be held indoors and will have private play areas where people can play and get to know the different animals before adopting one. It is also a drop off site for pet supplies or donations if anyone wishes to help out in that way instead of adopting a pet.

Self Storage Bridgeview Store Managers and pet lovers Nancy Warrer and Jeffery Helms started hosting Pet-A-Palooza as a way to place homeless pets. "It really just started as two pet owners here in the office talking and it took on a life of its own from there," Helms said. "We've reached out to different agencies and the reception has been positive."

The People's Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.), Forever Friends Great Dane Rescue, and the Forest South Animal Hospital are participating in the event. P.A.W.S. is a no-kill shelter that places over 1,000 animals a year. Forever Friends specializes in finding homes for neglected and abandoned Great Danes. Forest South Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital.

"Our thoughts and goals on this are to hopefully to get as many pets adopted out to families and to possibly acquire new tenants either at our location or possibly one that is closer to where they might live. The event is two-fold, but as a pet lover, it's hard not to focus on the animals involved. I do not have any kids, so to me, my doggies are my children. They require the same attention and love. My dogs go everywhere with me," Warrer said.

Helms agrees with Warrer. He also feels that holding the pet adoption is good for their self storage facility because it will bring people into their facility. These potential customers can learn a little bit about what Self Storage Bridgeview has to offer in addition to finding a pet to adopt.

Pet-A-Palooza was created by Joe Sowerby, a successful real estate agent. His pet adoption event has become a nationwide event where humane societies, pet shelters, and business owners come together to host an event for pet adoption.

Sources Used:

"LifeStorage, Self Storage in Bridgeview, IL Holding PetAdoption EVent." Yahoo News; 15 2011.

LifeStorage Bridgeview.

Pet-A-Palooza.