Full Speed Ahead - ADOPTED

I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there about the size of a dog and how they fit into a certain lifestyle.  It is easy to think: Big Dog = Active Dog, Little Dog = Calm Dog.

Let's look at Lola for example.  She is definitely a small dog.  She is definitely a lap dog (she LOVES to sit on your lap).  She can definitely be tucked under your arm and carted around.  But she is not what I would call "a princess" and she isn't a wall flower either.

She loves to run, loves to play and loves to be outside.  She would be the perfect dog to take camping, hiking, or fishing.

She is curious and inquisitive and likes to do things at full speed.  She hates to miss out on things.  Last night she was almost sleeping standing up, because she was afraid that if she relaxed something would happen without her.

But once she is sure that the fun is over for the day, she shows her much softer side.  She loves to nestle in and sleep in the crook of your legs or arms.  She is the perfect mix of fun and snuggliness.

For more information on Lola, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Chocolate Lovers Unite!

Wow.  I think we've found something we all love almost as much as dogs - chocolate!

We'd like to say Thank You to a tonne of amazing volunteers who have been out selling chocolates to their friends, neighbors and co-workers.  We have no boxes left to distribute and that only took 3 days. Truly amazing.  You guys are great!

Purdy's Chocolate Fundraiser

Any chocolate lovers out there?  If so, you are in luck!  The Windy City Canine Rescue is selling Purdy's Chocolate bars to help raise money to help the dogs in our care.  Each chocolate bar is only $2.00 and they come in Milk or Dark.  And if you've never had Purdy's before, trust me, you are in for a treat!

If you'd like to volunteer to sell a box at your office or in your neighborhood, please e-mail us at info@windycityrescue.com and we'll arrange for a box of 20 bars to be delivered to you.  If you are a business that will be selling them in your front office (i.e. to customers, not just co-workers), let us know and we'll list you on the side of the blog so people will know where to go purchase some if they'd like some.

For more information, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Jace in Action - ADOPTED

Here is a video that Jace's foster mom put together for your viewing pleasure.

For more information on Jace, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

One Smart Cookie

Mya (ADOPTED) wasn't exposed to a lot of different situations when she was a pup, and it shows.  When we first met Mya, a car driving by, a dog barking and seeing strangers was enough to send her into a bit of a frenzy.

But with just a little work, she is learning that everything is not quite so "mind blowing".  She was never afraid of these things, just so over stimulated she didn't know what to do with herself.

She used to struggle and strain at the leash, barking the whole time when a car went by or when she heard a dog barking inside a house, but after seeing these things just a few times, she has figured outthat they aren't things she needs to worry about.  She is still learning that bikes, rollerblades and other fast moving objects can also be ignored, but we don't believe it will take her long.  Mya is one smart cookie.

For more information on Mya, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

There's An App for That

Do you have any iPhone?  Do you want an iPhone?  Well now there is one more reason to LOVE an iPhone.

It's the Petfinder App!

Petfinder is an international website that allows rescues to inform the world about pets they have that are looking for homes and allows people who are looking for pets to find them.  They have incredible search features - you can look for specific breeds, or in specific locations, or you can even narrow it down further than that, if you know exactly what you want.

The Petfinder App, will help you find your perfect match no matter where you are.  You'll be able to show all your co-workers and friends all of the amazing dogs we have at Windy City at just the touch of a button. So be sure to download it today!  (It's even FREE!)

Our Amazing Foster Homes

We have some amazing people helping us at Windy City Rescue and I was reminded of that today. Organizing foster homes and their dogs is very time consuming and can be somewhat stressful - today was no exception. Technically I'm supposed to be on holidays, but I found myself running around doing non-rescue errands, getting attacked by two cats, visiting the walk in clinic, getting irrigated, vaccinated, having a rabies scare, and picking up antibiotics.....but I digress. Near the end of the day I was in the area and decided to help out another volunteer by driving little miss Lola back to her foster home. Tired and sore, and after blocking the ER doctor in his own driveway on his way to the hospital, I'm sure he was impressed, I carried the little pug cross to the house and was greeted by her young human foster sister Lauren. She told me she had something for me. This is what she gave me, isn't it awesome!

This is a sculpture of our very own pug/minpin cross Lola, with her name and her leash!

The bottom picture is a bit hard to read from my horrible photography skills, but it says "To:Windy City Rescue

age:9 From Lauren"

And it reminded me how lucky I am to be able to do what I do. Without our foster homes we couldn't help these dogs find a better life. Not only are they giving the dogs their time, they are opening their homes and hearts. I think it's a great experience for children to see that pets are not disposable and when some people treat them as such, someone has to step up. They learn compassion, forgiveness and letting go.

So thank you so much Lauren for turning a terrible day into an amazing one that I will never forget!

And now I will enjoy my holidays!

Fun, Sassy and Lovable - ADOPTED

Sandy mentioned the other day on the blog that she was drawn to Missy when she first met her.  Yeah, Missy has some issues - she shouldn't be unsupervised with young children and she probably shouldn't be left home alone with a cat or another dog, but these are not insurmountable hurdles. In fact they are pretty minor (assuming you don't have young children or other pets) - she doesn't have separation anxiety, she doesn't bark a lot, she doesn't dig holes in the yard, she doesn't destroy things in the house.  But enough about what she doesn't do...

She is FUN.  From the moment I arrived to take pictures, until the moment I left, she made me laugh and smile with her spirit and love of life.  She had never met me before but within seconds she had convinced me that she was ready for a good time and that I needed to come along for the ride.

She is SASSY.  This girl has personality and is not going to sit by meekly and watch the world go by.  She wants to be a part of things and isn't going to take no for an answer.  I like sassy!  Sassy gets you motivated to get out and enjoy life more. Missy would not only be an amazing companion to do things with, she would be the one convincing you to get out and do things.

She is LOVEABLE.  Once you finally wear this girl out, she wants nothing better than a warm body to cuddle up with.

Missy is not for the faint of heart. She'll expect you to keep up with her, not the other way around.  But if you are up for the challenge, she will make sure that you have fun along the way.

For more information on Missy, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Jenny {Golden Retriever} - ADOPTED

Jenny is a 3 year old golden retriever who is used to all the good things in life.  Her owners were extremely sad to surrender her, but due to their health, they knew it was in her best interest.

Jenny loves to play fetch, so much so, that she even rests with a ball in her mouth.  She is very sweet and gentle and loves to play with children.  She also loves to swim and of course, eat.  :)  She has been spoiled in the past, and that suits her just fine.

Jenny would love a home where there are lots of people coming and going because that would mean more people to give her pets and throw her ball.

For more information on Jenny, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Jace {Border Collie} - ADOPTED

Jace is a 10 month old border collie who has had a fairly unstable start to life. Amazingly enough though, you'd never know it. He loves people and dogs and acts like one of the best socialized dogs around.

And like most border collies, he loves to play. He'll play fetch for as long as you are willing to throw the toy and he also loves to play tug. Even though he is quite playful, we wouldn't describe him as hyper.

Jace is house trained and crate trained and loves to go for car rides. 

This boy is going to be breaking hearts and turning heads. If you are looking for a fun, smart, handsome dog, consider adopting Jace.  He promises you won't regret it.

For more information on Jace, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Lola {Miniature Pinscher/Pug Cross) - ADOPTED

Lola is a young (a few years old at the most), miniature pinscher/pug cross.  She has a very slight build and probably doesn't even weigh 10 pounds but she is a feisty girl who loves to play.

She loves other dogs and might be a bit bothersome to cats that aren't interested in playing with dogs, because she really, really wants to play with them too.  She isn't mean about it, just persistent.  :)  She is not at all shy with people and she greets everyone with a very enthusiastic wag of her tail.

She is quiet in a crate and is great in a vehicle.  She is also excellent on leash!

When she isn't playing wither one of her foster sisters, or playing fetch in the backyard, she is content just to sit nearby and chew a bone. She love to cuddle and will definitely join you on the couch in the evenings for some TV time.

For more information on Lola, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Little Miss - ADOPTED

When you're involved in rescue you see all types of dogs come through the system. I think it's inevitable that some people are drawn to certain dogs more then others. It may be their personality, their breed, or they may remind you of one of your own dogs. I think little Missy the terrier pulls at my heartstrings because she reminds me of my own terrier so much. That, and I love terriers. They are a perfect combination of sweet and sassy and I know it sounds cliche, but they really are a big dog in a small body. Missy is so much fun and has adjusted remarkably well for all the changes she has endured in the short while we have had her. If your looking for a spunky, confident girl, Missy is waiting.

For more information on this dog, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Hazards of Fostering

Have you thought about becoming a foster home for the Windy City Canine Rescue?  If so, it is important you know the pros and cons.

Pro:  You will get to meet some incredible dogs. 
Con:  You will fall in love and it will be hard to say goodbye when it is time for them to go off to their new home.


Pro: You will be helping out dogs that truly need a helping hand and a second chance at happiness. 
Con: You will fall in love and you may not be able to say goodbye.


Pro: You'll be the proud parent to another dog. 

Con: Your partner may divorce you for adopting another dog. :)

Seriously though... Fostering a dog can be extremely rewarding and a lot of fun. It will bring new laughter into your life, but also new tears. Saying goodbye is the hardest part and most people who have volunteered for a rescue have failed to say goodbye at least once. But rest assured, when you are able to say goodbye the dog that managed to charm the pants off you, will also do that to his new family and they too will never want to say goodbye either.

If you are willing to accept the risks and want to help out fostering please contact Sandy at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

See the smile on Missy's face? She loves her foster home, but she sure would like a "real" home.  If you are interested please let us know!

Mya {Little Miss Playful} - ADOPTED

Mya is an energetic dog who is always ready to play.  She is very curious and wants to be involved in whatever everyone else is doing, no matter what it is.

Her foster home is a very busy place with two teen-aged kids and she is really enjoying all the attention the visitors give her.

She is learning commands very quickly and easily and is obviously very, very smart.  She is also very eager to please and once you show her what you want, she does her best to do it right.

Oh and she likes to play fetch.  Have we mentioned that?

For more information on Mya, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Roxee {New Do} - ADOPTED

Roxee got a much needed groom this past weekend.  Thanks Jo for doing such a great job.  She is looking cuter than ever!

I think she felt good after she was all tidied up!

Roxee got all gussied up and then promptly adopted... by her foster parents!  Yay for Roxee!

One Month In....

Thanks to all of your support, in our very first month, we've already had 4 dogs adopted (one of them never even made it to the blog!) and are currently helping 4 more find their new home!

And that isn't all that we've done. We have:

1. Met 8 amazing people who are willing to open up their hearts and their homes as foster parents.  This has to be the hardest job in rescue and generally has the highest drop out rate, usually because they end up adopting one of their foster dogs.  :)  In fact, Max (our very first dog) was technically only going to be fostered by his new mom but I think it only took her 3 days to decide he had already found home.
2. Made friends with businesses all over town and they are helping us spread the word about the great dogs we have looking for homes.
3. Rescued 3 amazing dogs out of a "kill-shelter" and given them a second chance at life.
4. Helped out 5 families who were desperate to find a safe place for their cherished pets to go. Unexpected life changes is one of the biggest reasons that dogs are surrendered to rescues and shelters.
5. Had Kaity, Luna, Cougar and Max spayed and neutered, vaccinated, microchipped (and adopted!) and Mya, Roxee, Missy, and Sammie all have appointments coming up.  
6. Purchased basic start-up supplies for our foster homes such as dishes, collars, leashes and of course food for the pups.

We hope to be able to purchase more supplies in the near future. We'll be buying more little things like DAP diffusers which can help relax dogs during the stressful transition but we are going to have some bigger expenses too.  Roxee is going to be getting a dental while getting spayed and if any of you have had to do this for your own pets, you know it isn't cheap.  But it is a worthwhile expense, especially if you are Roxee!

We couldn't have done all this without your support.  

Thank You  

  

Your donations in both time and money make a huge difference to us and we are truly grateful for all that you have done.  Please keep spreading the word about the great dogs we currently are helping - Roxee, Mya, Missy, and Sammie.

For more information on the Windy City Canine Rescue, please contact us at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Sammie {Hound} - ADOPTED

Sammie is a 10 year old hound who came to us from a shelter down in the states.  She is so sweet and amazingly quiet for a hound.  She is also completely unfazed by any of the changes going on in her life.  She is taking everything in stride and was instantly at ease at her foster home.

She loves to cuddle and is a nice calm dog, both inside the house and out.  She is great with other dogs and is already fast friends with her two foster siblings.

None of these pictures do her justice.  She is simply stunning with the most gorgeous greying muzzle.  She is in great physical shape and if it wasn't for the grey on her face, you'd never guess she was a senior.

For more information on Sammie, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.

Missy {Jack Russell Terrier} - ADOPTED

Missy is a 6-year old jack russell terrier who will keep you laughing with her antics and boundless energy.  She'd be a great dog for agility, disc dog or flyball but would also be a great companion for an active person or family.

Missy was surrendered to us because she was nipping at their newborn.  She is fine with older kids, but the unexpected movements and noise from newborns and toddlers, make her uncomfortable.  She is very friendly to adults and is not at all afraid of strangers.

She is a typical terrier and like many of them, she doesn't have great dog social skills and would be better in a home without another dog or one with a submissive male.  If you are used to terriers though, with a little work, she could get along with other dogs. We've introduced her to a volunteer's cats and she did great.  She just sniffed the cat and moved on.

For more information on Missy, please contact the Windy City Canine Rescue at info@windycityrescue.com or by calling 403-359-3139.