Thanks to PAWS Chicago, the lives of 76 pets (51 dogs and 25 cats) have have been rescued from tornado-torn Oklahoma.

Volunteers with the no-kill shelter set out Friday on the recovery mission to alleviate overcrowding at The Oklahoma City Animal Care & Control (OACC) which had experienced an influx of pets following the devastating tornado that ripped through the area Monday.

After the eight-car caravan departed Friday for Oklahoma, the shelter gave an update via Facebook Saturday afternoon:

"Each pet that is coming to Chicago was a part of the shelter's pre-existing population of homeless pets. By transferring these pets to PAWS Chicago, we are enabling the shelter to take in and care for the more than 150 animals who have been displaced as a result of the recent tornado and will give them a chance to be reclaimed by their owners."

The PAWS Chicago volunteers now plan to head back north to prepare the animals for adoption.

All pets rescued from Oklahoma will be available for adoption at PAWS' 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. shelter in River North on Monday, Memorial Day.
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