In the beginning
Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter was founded in 1928 by the world-renowned dancer, actor, and entrepreneur Irene Castle and her friend Helen Swift. Irene named Orphans of the Storm after her favorite silent movie by the same name, in which two orphaned sisters are reunited. It was Irene’s hope to provide a happy ending to lost and abandoned dogs and cats in the Chicago area.
Irene Castle and her first husband, Vernon, were famous ballroom dancers portrayed in the movie The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. After Vernon passed, Irene married Major Frederick McLaughlin, founder of the Chicago Blackhawks. They settled in Lake Forest, and Irene found an abandoned kennel in nearby Riverwoods, the site of what would become Orphans of the Storm.
Orphans of the Storm is conveniently nestled between the North Shore communities of Deerfield and Buffalo Grove on nine acres, just 1.5 miles off I-94. The buildings include three dog wings with outdoor access, cat housing, office space, and a small clinic. Outdoor facilities include numerous kennel runs, dog meet-and-greet spaces, the Jim Farmer Memorial Dog Enrichment Park, and a wooded nature trail. It is a beacon of hope for stray and abandoned cats and dogs in Northeastern Illinois and beyond and has found loving homes for nearly 150,000 pets. With the help of dedicated staff and volunteers, Orphans of the Storm takes responsibility for every orphaned, abandoned, abused, or neglected cat or dog who reaches its doors, providing the best medical and physical care possible and placing them into loving, adoptive homes.
A change in leadership
After Irene Castle’s passing in 1969, the shelter’s board sought a successor to continue its mission. Thelma Zwirner, a dedicated animal welfare advocate, stepped forward to lead Orphans of the Storm. Thelma had a long history of working for animal welfare causes, including founding and running a clearinghouse for lost pets and serving as the President of the Westchester County Humane Society.
Under Thelma Zwirner’s leadership, the shelter expanded significantly, accommodating more dogs and providing indoor and outdoor runs. By the time of her death in 1994, Orphans of the Storm had become one of the largest animal shelters in the country.
Richard Zwirner, Thelma’s son, took over the shelter’s leadership in 1994 after serving on its board for 25 years. Richard continued to build on the shelter’s founding mission, including adding a large cat room and beautiful wooded nature trail, which provides a peaceful reprieve for dogs, shelter dog walkers, and potential adopters. He served as President until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a lasting legacy of compassion and unwavering dedication to the shelter and its animals.
Donna Heggie served as Volunteer President for seven years, during which she played a pivotal role in advancing our shelter’s lifesaving legacy, which began over 95 years ago. Under her leadership, the foster program saw significant improvements, and she initiated the important work of building our new shelter. Donna was instrumental in positioning Orphans as a vital community resource for pet adoption, while also strengthening Orphan of the Storm’s position as a leading institution for stray and abandoned dogs and cats throughout Lake County and beyond.
Today
In 2024 Michelle Shields was asked to serve as our Volunteer President. Michelle has been a dedicated volunteer at the shelter for many years, wearing many hats including dog walker, foster, photographer, and social media manager. Her connection to the shelter began at age five, when she got her first dog from here, and she has adopted many more since then. She has been instrumental in assisting the Board as we explore options for building a new shelter and is excited to use her many years of experience as a business owner to bring new ideas to Orphans of the Storm as we plan for our next 100 years.
