Local businesses fund dog adoptions

MACON, Ill. (WAND) — Serving seems to run in the Williams family.

"It's just pretty much every day of our life — give back," said family patriarch Matthew Williams.

He and his daughters, Mattie Williams and Hallie Baum, know hard work inside and out. They run multiple businesses together ranging from a lawncare company to Mattie's bar in Macon.

If their business provides them with the means to serve, their love of dogs provides the mission.

"We've been doing it for years, but we decided since [the shelter] is so full, why not do them all?" Hallie said.

The Macon County Animal Control and Care Center was nearly overflowing with stray dogs — each one looking for a permanent place to call home — each one now getting a much better chance thanks to Mattie and Hallie. The Williams family and their various businesses covered the adoption fees of all 40 dogs in the shelter before Christmas.

"We just thought we could help out the community by helping dogs find homes too," Mattie said.

The shelter appreciates the support — especially this time of the year.

"This does take a village and the more community partners we have and the more help we can get with marketing and sharing these animals' posts and things like that, it makes a huge difference," said shelter manager Amanda Fisher. "It is literally what makes this job worth it."

Family is what makes this all worth it to Matthew and his daughters. They have nine dogs between them and are planning to open a sister location to Mattie's in the Longcreek area — appropriately named Hallie's.

"I think we forget those dogs way too much," Matthew said. "Since [my daughters] were little, we've been picking up dogs off the roads — saving them."

The family said they plan to continue saving — and serving — as they pour their hearts into what they love.

"It's not just the dogs who have good things happening," Hallie said. "It's the people too."