Pet Adoptions, Low-Cost Vet Clinic and Lost & Found Pet Services in Chicago Ridge, IL 02/28/2025
Don’t be fooled by misinformation from the “FreeLady”; the stray dog named “Lady” was saved and adopted.
Over the past few weeks, there has been misinformation about the stray dog “Lady” in multiple erroneous posts under the banner “FreeLady” started by Kristen Adamiak. The misinformation involves how Lady’s adoption was handled.
In her posts, Ms. Adamiak misunderstands the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act when it comes to stray animals. She has misinformed the public about her father Paul Buck’s adoption process for Lady at Animal Welfare League (AWL).
Lady was found by the police on the street and brought to AWL in early February. The dog had no chip, no license tag, and no rabies shots. Ms. Adamiak and her father, Mr. Buck, went to AWL claiming Lady as Mr. Buck’s dog. Mr. Buck stated he had found the dog along the side of the road and had brought it to his home in Oak Lawn in November. He had no vet records, no license, and no proof of rabies shots. He had pictures of a dog that looked like Lady but no records.
Illinois law requires a shelter like AWL to release a stray to an owner who has proof of ownership. AWL reunites up to a dozen strays a month immediately with owners who have proof of ownership—i.e. a chip, a license, and vet medical records. Indeed, AWL is a charity looking to unite strays with owners. For example, earlier this week, in two hours’ time, AWL put a different stray from the streets back into its owner’s hands.
As mentioned, Mr. Buck advised AWL that he had taken the dog Lady in November from the side of the road while he was out of town. Under the law, he was saying he had taken it, it was not his dog, and he now had no license, microchip, or veterinary medical service records for the dog.
AWL told Mr. Buck that, because he had no proof of ownership, he should submit an adoption application and would be considered first in line to adopt Lady, which would require a stray and medical hold and no one else claiming ownership. Sometimes there are multiple claims of ownership for stray dogs, and the law requires a stray hold period to sort out ownership claims.
Ms. Adamiak demanded the dog immediately. She screamed and made threats in AWL’s lobby, and the police had to be called. At first, Mr. Buck refused to submit an adoption application, but finally, a week later, he did so. After a vet exam, rabies shot, microchip, and the stray and medical hold, and after Lady had gained three pounds at AWL, she was adopted over to Mr. Buck.
The Animal Welfare Act requires the stray hold on a stray to give the owner, or all claiming to be the owner, a chance to make claims. The law requires immediate searches for a microchip and notice to the owner if one is found. It also requires proof of proper shots before a stray is released. If no proof of ownership is provided, a stray must be held for 7 days, after which the shelter can adopt out and transfer title to the adopting person. Through AWL’s adoption process, Mr. Buck is now the owner of Lady.
AWL would never intentionally prevent an animal from going home to its legal owner. We are in the business of saving animals from the streets, including saving them from becoming homeless, unwanted, and abandoned and preventing cruelty and abuse toward them. We do our very best to find animals good homes. It so important for us to educate the public on proper animal care and safety.
We encourage all pet owners to take the responsibility of providing proper care to their pets. Spaying/neutering your pet can prevent many cancers and medical conditions, as well as pet overpopulation. Proper vaccinations also prevent many serious and deadly diseases, such lepto, distemper, feline leukemia, etc. Rabies vaccines are required by law.
AWL recommends that all your pets have a microchip, which is a very useful tool. It can help reunite a pet back with its owner immediately if the pet runs away, becomes a stray at a facility, becomes separated from its owner during a disaster, etc.
AWL also encourages owners to take their pets to a veterinarian at least once a year for their annual vaccines and wellness check. Remember that it is always helpful to keep your medical records together and in one place.
