Faces of P.A.W.S: Happy 40th Anniversary!

Two hundred volunteers sharing love with 125 animals on a daily basis. In 40 years, 23,000 homeless pets connected with new owners. 

Tinley Park P.A.W.S, you're something special, and Patch readers agree. 

P.A.W.S. will soon celebrate its 40th year of uniting orphaned pets with their new families, and Patch wants to do a little something special in its honor. We asked our fans to send us photos of the pets they received from your care, and the response has been overwhelming.

"Nine of those '23,000 dogs and cats', about which you wrote yesterday, found their way into our hearts and home," wrote reader Michael Venna.

"We adopted our dog Vinny in November 2010. He is the best family dog and our lives wouldn't be complete without him. We are thankful for P.A.W.S every day," wrote the Fitzgerald family.

One reader shared a heart-wrenching note of how her "son" Buster (formerly known as "Jackson") changed her life after she adopted him on Sept. 9, 2009. 

"Sixteen days after we adopted him, my husband passed away unexpectedly and it was Busters turn to rescue me," wrote Lisa Kemetick. "This little mutt has brought me so much joy and got me thought the worst time in my life. Buster is forever home!"

Amazing how four decades ago, "a small group of compassionate women sitting around a kitchen table realized the need for a safe haven for the community's unwanted animals. They began with a shed that housed a mere six animals, a handful volunteers, an extraordinary amount of courage and the support of the community."

Well done, P.A.W.S. Families and their furry friends thank you. 

This week, we're asking you to send us photos of the pets you've adopted from P.A.W.S. Send a photo and a brief description to lauren.traut@patch.com, including the pet's name, date of adoption and age at the time. Or post the photo to our Facebook page. Each contributor will receive a Patch t-shirt.