The Northside Chronicle
APRIL 2018 Est. 1985
Your Community Newspaper
Volume 34 Issue 4 - FREE -
How the aviary got its ‘national’ groove, page 10 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Newsletters – Page 3 AGH Cancer Center – Page 4 Garden Theater Block – Page 5 Badamo’s Pizza – Page 6 Community Briefs – Pages 9 & 14 National Aviary – Page 10 YINZBURGH! Comics - Page 13 Riverview Park – Page 14 Homebuyers Guide– Page 15 Garden Cleanup Q&A– Page 20 Real Stats– Page 26 St. Paddy’s Day – Page 28
Photo courtesy of the National Aviary
Guests visit the Pittsburgh Aviary, now known as the National Aviary, circa the 1950s
By Atiya Irvin-Mitchell Sometimes no matter how much pet owners love their animals, they lack the resources to give pets what they need. That was the case for Kris Wilkes. She adored her pets and took care of them as best she could, but sometimes timing and finances got in the way – at least until a friend recommended Ani-
Pet care program provides affordable vet services mal Friends for Life to her. “I didn’t have an income and there were a lot of [feral] cats outside and they helped,” Wilkes said. “With my dog, I couldn’t take her to a vet so Kaley brought the veterinarian here and she got her shots, gave her a check-up, and fed her meals. I really appreciated it.”
Coordinated by the aforementioned Kaley Kaczynski, Animal Friends for Life is a community outreach program with one goal: helping pet owners care for the animals they love. The 26-year-old’s journey to the program began after college while working as the manager of Petsmart. Despite having studied
ceramics art as a student, the idea of in working animal welfare appealed to her. She began her career at what was once Pets for Life, scheduling spay and neuter appointments for low-income families and worked her way up from Continued Pets, Page 7