Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady's SuPETvisor of the Year went to Orland Park pup, Siren, and his owner, Michelle Leddin. (Supplied photo)

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady's SuPETvisor of the Year went to Orland Park pup, Siren, and his owner, Michelle Leddin. (Supplied photo)

Pets rule at Orland Township’s Palooza

In 2010, Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, with the help of his own family, expanded the Orland Township Food Pantry and created the Orland Township Pet Pantry. He called it, “Crashy’s Closet,” which was named after O’Grady’s beloved rescue cat.

Today, “Crashy’s Closet” has helped many residents ease the burden of owning a pet, maintaining its funds through the generous donations of fellow residents and businesses. It is the primary backbone of the township’s annual Pet Palooza, held at the end of every September for the past 12 years.

Benefiting “Crashy’s Closet” was the township’s annual Pet Palooza that was held on September 22 on Orland Township grounds, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park.

“Pet Palooza plays a crucial role in assisting residents in need,” O’Grady said. “Thanks to the support from the food pantry, many clients no longer have to worry about giving up their beloved pets due to financial constraints.

The donations not only help in keeping our Pet-Pantry well-stocked but also enable numerous local organizations participating in Pet-Palooza to offer valuable resources, such as aid in veterinary care and grooming. These initiatives truly showcase the wonderful sense of community in Orland Township. Without the generous donations and support from our vendors and sponsors, hosting Pet-Palooza annually would not be possible.”

Pet Palooza featured more than 60 local vendors, ranging from pet boutiques, animal hospitals, rescue organizations with adoptable pets on-site from partner with Animal Welfare League, As Good As Gold Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois, Cache Creek Rescue, Fido’s Landing 501c3, Illinois Shorthair Rescue, NAWS Humane Society, South Suburban Humane Society and St Sophia’s Forgotten Felines.

Admission to Pet Palooza was free, however a donation of a 5-pound bag of pet food or a cash donation to the Orland Township Pet Pantry was strongly encouraged.

“Personally, I like that Pet Palooza partners with local animal rescues,” said Alexandria Shipyor, public relations coordinator at Orland Township. “Supporting local animals in need is vital to our mission. The event also brings in a lot of support for the Pet Pantry, which is always needed. We collect a lot of pet food donations at the front gate.”

Fun Halloween costumes for pets and their owners, alike, were encouraged but not required by township officials. All of the beloved canines in attendance were able to participate in one of the several different pet contests that returned once again this year, including Best Voice, Best Dressed, SuPETvisor of The Year.

The title of SuPETvisor of the Year went to Orland Park pup, Siren, and his owner, Michelle Leddin.

“This event brought plenty of opportunities to see what kind of organizations are in Orland Park,” said Shipyor. “Attendees had the opportunity to browse their wares, collect information, check out all of those adoptable pets, try some food, and listen to live music. Not to mention take part in our fantastic pet contests, where pets had the opportunity to win some awesome prizes.”

All participating pets were required to have up-to-date vaccinations and had to display proper tags. Owners were responsible for cleaning up after their pets, and all pets had to be on leashes no longer than six-feet.

However, Pet Palooza was not just for pets.

The event offered a fun day out for entire families. Children would take part in an interactive Kids’ Zone that included inflatable bounce houses, train rides, games, and prizes. They also had the opportunity to meet some of their favorite characters, who were walking around mingling with attendees, from Spiderman to Disney Princesses.

Food and beverages were made possible from local area restaurants, Papa Joe’s, Rock Bottom, Joey’s Red Hots and Andy’s Ice Cream.

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