Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pooches: On Animal Rescues

 Knowing how many dogs are in shelters, we are always amazed that someone took a chance on gangly, mangy Miss M. The same Miss M who became tolerant Miss M of many costumes, well-trained Miss M who can put her own toys away on command, and social Butterfly Miss M who charms everyone she meets. And I am forever grateful to her rescue group who saw something special in her and pulled her right before she was set to be euthanized. Here is vintage Miss M:
 As adorable Mayzie is having rescue week on her blog, it really made me think about how proud we are to have Miss M as a New Leash on Life alumni, and why we've returned to the group as both volunteers and foster parents with foster dog SuperLevi. Here are a couple of reasons why we love her rescue group:

Rescuing the "Undesirable Dogs":
 New Leash seeks to help Chicago's overpopulation problem directly by rescuing nearly all their dogs from Chicago's Animal Care and Control (ACC) in the pavilions where the pooches are slated for euthanasia. They have rescued and adopted out several Senior dogs, dogs with physical limitations, shy and scared dogs, deaf dogs, bonded pairs, and pitbull-type dogs which ACC cannot adopt out to the general public. Several years ago there was a pup who had been shot in the face and despite his sweet nature and eagerness to learn, he was being continually passed over because of the medical care needed to fix his jaw. New Leash welcomed them into their family, where he was quickly adopted.Years later we met this very same pup, Dude, in our SociaBulls group. He has become a therapy dog, and he is one of the happiest, well-trained pooches we know; his Dad couldn't adore him more.

Becoming a Family:
 Once New Leash pulls a dog from ACC, their commitment is unending, and they are 100% committed to keeping it safe and healthy for their lifetime and finding them a forever home no matter how long it might take. The dogs are welcomed back with open arms if they ever need to return in the future. They just had a situation where a doting adopter, who adopted his dog 6 years ago, suddenly had to move to another country to care for his sick mother. While he was heartbroken that it was impossible to bring his dog with him, New Leash welcomed the pup with open arms...and the dog was just as quickly scooped up by previous adopters in the New Leash family!
The group even has "Adoption Counselors" that work with families to make sure each dog and family is a great fit. Each family goes through a 2-week "Foster-to-Adopt" period where the dog will live with them and the family can realize if it is a good fit before officially adopting the dog. I knew nothing about pitbulls, and when I had Miss M in Foster-to-Adopt her Adoption Counselor was so helpful giving me advice. With this program, the group actually has very few returns.

All Donations go Directly to the Dogs:
 New Leash on Life operates solely on donations, and every cent they raise goes directly to the dogs for medical care, food, supplies, and boarding.  They are able to do this because they have no facility and rely on foster homes and partner boarding facilities. As a volunteer-run rescue, they have no paid employees; the Board
of Directors is comprised of four women who each have full-time jobs, but who are committed to the rescue.  They also rely heavily on a huge band of volunteers who help with all aspects of the rescue – fostering dogs,handling and transporting dogs at weekly adoption events, and helping with PR and marketing.

We know there are so many amazing rescue groups in Chicago, and other locations, and we'd love to use the comments section to hear about these groups and maybe some things that make them so amazing!

16 comments:

HoundDogMom said...

This looks like a great organization. I love it when they can keep the dogs in foster homes instead of cages. Basset Rescue does this as well and I am so working on my husband to let me foster a basset. He just isn't as ready as I am after losing Cleo, plus he thinks it would be to hard on the dogs. Blah Blah...We love all the work you do with your foster dogs and your organization. And we hope we win the camera from the raffle. :) Sniffs, The HoundDogs

Two Grad Students and a Pittie said...

What a great post, Ive learned so much about NLOL over the past year and am quite jealous!

Road Dog Tales said...

We know NLOL has to be awesome because they helped Miss M and you find each other. We featured a pup from NLOL today, too, in honor of Miss M :) Kudos to them and you for helping the pups find their furever homes!

The Road Dogs

Unknown said...

We could REALLY use a group like NLOL here. They sound amazing :)

In Black and White said...

When I was first looking for a dog I heard some great reviews of NLOL - seems like they're a wonderful group! I love One Tail at a Time for many of the same reasons - I'm so happy they took a chance on my big-headed loon, they definitely have a soft spot for the hard-to=sell pooches.

Unknown said...

This organization seems to be on the right path. Anything to keep these poor animals from euthenization is the way to go. I would love to be apart of something like this!! My boyfriend and I plan on doing something after I graduate from college. We love animals, and the thought of any of them being mistreated or being putdown is a hurtful thought for either one of us. But I am glad to see we are not the only ones who want to stand up for animals, who can not stand up for themselves. Good luck with it all. And I look forward to reading more. I have added you to my blog list. I would love to help you gain as much attention as you deserve with your search in finding these animals homes.
Kimberley
www.hatethedeed.blogspot.com

Christine said...

We are a Project Rescue Chicago family and love them for all the same great things NLOL does. They adopt out dogs who are seniors, deaf, three-legged, one-eyed, you name it. Check out this tearjerker about a recent adoption that shows how amazing they are - http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=222187317848626

Kristine said...

Thank you for sharing more information on this amazing organization. It's impressive - and inspiring - what a small group of dedicated people can accomplish. The world of animal welfare can be a fractured, frustrating place. It sounds like New Leash On Life cuts through all that and gets to the core of what it's all about: saving lives.

Froggy said...

Love that old pic of Miss M! Great post. I am a One Tail at a Time girl although Maize was not through them. Working with a good rescue makes such a difference!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Kudos to New Leash on life
Benny & Lily

Corbin said...

You're involved with such a great rescue! I love how they help their dogs for their entire life - Homeward Bound is like that, and I think every rescue should be. Rescues euthanizing dogs (which happens sometimes around here) because they take too long to find their forever home defeats the purpose of rescue! Thankfully, we live in an area with great shelters that have high adoption rates and low euthanization rates. Homeward Bound pulls their dogs from areas in the south (KY, TN & GA mostly) and an area 3 hours north of our home that have very high kill rates. Dogs can remain at the shelter there for weeks and never get a second glance... they arrive in NY and are adopted within a week! We're so lucky to live in an area that understands the value of a rescue dog and that has so many people willing to adopt. We love all the work you guys do for your rescue!
-Corbin

Anonymous said...

What would doggies like me and Miss M do without rescues like New Leash on Life? We're awful lucky that there are such Most Wonderful peoples like them in the world.

Ferris & Nick are both SO super handsome! I hopes they both get foster homes and then FOREVER homes real, real soon!

Thank you, thank you for pawticipating in Rescue Me Week! That makes me happy all over!

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

PeeS. Me and mom entered Levi's raffle for the overcoat. I sure hope you raise lots of green papers and well, I hope I win cuz I HATE to gets wet!

jet said...

you guys are amazing being able to foster with the limited living space you have in the city.... our place is a lot bigger and we even have a bit of a yard (but no secure fence), and I haven't been able to take the leap to fostering yet.... I just have too many reservations about the combination of a foster, my two dogs and the two kitties... and being away from the house 9 hours a day :P

Brenda said...

Great post... I wonder if this essay could be featured in one of the local publications there? Or maybe everyone in Chicago already reads your blog! :) This rescue you describe seems like an organization that deserves the media attention. Love the happy ending story for the pup that got shot in the face.

Anonymous said...

A fantastic organization for certain! Paws crossed all our adoptable furkids find their furever homes very soon!

Waggin at ya,
Roo

Kirsten (peacefuldog) said...

That's so wonderful--I love hearing about rescue groups that pull dogs from the direst of circumstances. The foster-to-adopt program is brilliant--makes so much sense.

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