The Friends Blog |
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In 2018, our Champions helped improve the lives of animals in our community. Each individual contributed in a BIG way!
We could not do this without our community of DuPage Animal "Friends" who are united together with one goal: Help all homeless animals get the medical care they need and the loving homes they deserve.
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This November DuPage Animal Friends celebrate all the champions that support the DuPage County Animal Shelter. Even though November 27 is Giving Tuesday, we want to "give back" all November and thank everyone who has done so much this year! Our generous donors, volunteers, rescue, fosters, forever families, and the dedicated staff of DCAS all helped improve the lives of shelter animals. This month we cheer our champions and remind us all of the amazing 2018 we shared. Animal Adovates, Birthday Besties, Cat Crusaders, Dog Defenders, Guinea Pig Guardians, Human Race Heroes, Furever Families, Rescue Rangers, Vehicle Victors, and our VIP Volunteers. You are Simply the Best!
Plan ahead and make the most of your 'Clear the Shelters' day!  Clear the Shelters DuPage County Animal Services Saturday, August 18, 2018 • 11am to 4pm 120 N County Farm Rd in Wheaton • Website
 DuPage County Animal Services is excited to announce we are teaming up with Telemundo and NBC 5 to Clear the Shelters! Visit DuPage County Animal Services between 11am-4pm on August 18th to find your new BFF (Best Four-legged Friend)! View all adoptable animals available at DCAS. Join us in our mission and help us clear every cage and find every homeless pet in our care a loving forever home. Together we can save more lives! What You Need To Know To Adopt Clear the Shelters on August 18th will be a very BUSY day at DuPage County Animal Services. To help facilitate the adoption process and to make the adoption process as quick and as enjoyable as possible shelter staff have put together the adoption checklist (see below or download the PDF above) and have created a few helpful tips for potential adopters. Hopefully this helps you enjoy Clear the Shelters day and finds all our homeless pets the homes they have been dreaming of! See the "Clear The Shelters Pre-Adoption Checklist" below to make sure you have everything you need to adopt a furry family member!
Clear the Shelters Pre-Adoption Checklist Clear the Shelters will be a BUSY day. Fill out an application the week before to help facilitate a smooth adoption process. Applications can be found on the DuPage County Animal Services website at: bit.ly/DCASadoptables. Things to know before you adopt: You must be 18 years or older. Your dogs and cats must be current on their vaccinations or you must have a letter from your veterinarian for medical exceptions. Everyone in the household must be present to complete a same-day adoption. Our adoptable animals can be put on hold for 1 business day if an adopter has completed an application and has participated in an interaction with an animal. Waived and reduced adoption fees for Clear the Shelters will be honored the next business day for animals placed on hold that day. If you are adopting a dog: A dog to dog meet and greet is required. This meeting can be done on the same day as your interaction or could be completed the next business day. If bringing your dog to the shelter on Clear the Shelters: Have a family member or friend with you to hold your dog while you look at a adoptables or leave your dog in the car with the AC running. It will likely be HOT so plan accordingly, water will be provided for guests and animals. What you'll need to bring: Driver’s license with your current address o If your license does not have your current address, bring a utility bill (electric, gas, cable, home, phone- sorry no cell phone bills) in your name with your current address. Renters: The name and address of your landlord or property owner. Please bring a copy of your lease. Townhome/Condos: Your association by-laws showing you can have pets. Proof of rabies vaccination of other cats/ dogs in the home and/or the name and phone number of your veterinarian. Adoption Fees  DuPage County Animal Service is located at 120 N County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.
 Your generous donations to DuPage Animal Friends have been put straight to work to start a new enrichment program at DuPage County Animal Services (DCAS). Under Dog to Wonder Dog is a pilot program designed for select dogs that need extra support for a successful adoption placement. We thank YOU for allowing DuPage Animal Friends to have funds available to allocate to this life-saving and life-changing adoption program. Along with a personalized training program for each dog, the Under Dog to Wonder Dog program helps set-up the "Under Dog" for success with pre-adoption counseling for the potential adopters, three in-home training sessions with a certified professional dog trainer, and 3 months of post-adoption consultation. Other enrichment tools the adopter and "Under Dog" receive include A Sound Beginning book & CD set, Freedom harness and leash set, a Kong Wobbler enrichment toy, 6‘ foot leash, Martingale collar, and Nylabone. "Under Dogs" go on an outing with Orange Paw volunteers. The Under Dog to Wonder Dog program makes it possible for animals formerly available for rescue-transfer only to be made available for direct adoption from DCAS to qualified adopters. The program also creates awareness of the challenges DCAS faces with securing placement for hard-to-place animals. If successful, Under Dog to Wonder Dog pilot program has the potential to become a standing program providing a greater number of options for hard-to-place animals - especially those with minor behavior issues - while also solving the problem of few dogs available for adoption. The progressive efforts shown in the Under Dog to Wonder Dog program set DCAS apart from some other open admission facilities. Thank YOU for making it possible for DuPage Animal Friends to participate in this unique and life-saving program. "Under Dog" Craig receives much-needed laser and massage therapyLong term DCAS resident and "Under Dog" Craig developed lameness due to an injury he sustained during his time at DCAS. It is also believed that he suffers from general discomfort in his lumbar spine as a result of the way his legs are naturally formed. Craig has been receiving massage and laser therapy to help his recovery. Craig has not only benefitted from these treatments and is showing less signs of lameness and stiffness, but is also benefitting behaviorally from the calming treatments and the enrichment of “getting away” from the shelter - thus decreasing his general anxiety and behavior issues. Volunteer Susan recently took Craig to his "Spa Day." The first stop was Physio Pet Massage with Katie in Glendale Heights. Craig worked on stretching using an exercise peanut and then had all his tight muscles gently massaged. Next up, Susan drove Craig to his K-Laser treatment at Animal Medical Center in Wheaton. Dr. Zollinger did acupuncture laser on pain points and anxiety points, too. Craig was relaxed the whole time. What a good boy! "Under Dog" Craig loved his therapy sessions last week! Craig is still available for adoption through the Under Dog to Wonder Dog program. You can read more about Craig on DuPage County Animal Service's website.
by Cathy Stillwell, Paulie's Journey  Paulie's Pet Parents, Cathy and Rich It was a beautiful day on April 28, 2018 for the 7th Annual DuPage Human Race. There were nearly 2,000 walkers/runners who were supporting 58 non-profit organizations serving Dupage County. I was supporting DuPage Animal Friends with my fundraiser, “Paulie’s Journey”. Between me and 9 individual fundraisers and 7 adoptions animals with their own fundraiser page, we raised over $35,000 for the animals! We also had 90 runners/walkers that participated in this event. Prior to the race, we had a very generous anonymous donor who matched all the donations 2-1! Due to this, DuPage Animals Friends were able to exceed their initial $10,000 goal. It was a wonderful and rewarding day had by all and we all appreciated those who donated to the cause of the DuPage Animal Friends. We look forward to next year! Cathy Stillwell is a volunteer with DuPage Animal Friends. She and Rich adopted senior dog Paulie in 2014 from DuPage Animal Services. Ever since, Cathy passionately advocates for senior dog adoptions. Check out her Facebook page, Paulie's Journey.
 We hope you will be joining us at the Human Race in Downers Grove on Saturday, April 28th. It’s going to be our best race yet! DuPage Animal Friends hopes to set a new PR with 100 participants and a fundraising goal of $10,000. As a friend of DuPage Animals, you might have already heard about the new 26-foot Specialty Veterinary Vehicle. Through an incredibly generous donation from the Brooks McCormick Jr. Trust for Animal Rights Law and Policy and a single anonymous donor, the vehicle hits to road in May. The vehicle will provide essential and affordable spay/neuter and veterinary services to the animals fostered with the rescue partners, expand humane education efforts, and improve medical care for shelter animals by reducing the costs to administer their care. But the work doesn’t stop there. Through your race participation, fundraising, and donations, we want to raise $10,000 to purchase ongoing medical supplies. So, spread the word about this game-changing Specialty Veterinary Vehicle.
We are here to help with social media graphics and templates to take the guess-work out of fundraising. Other important race participant details:
Did you know? The DuPage Human Race is a wonderful family and dog-friendly event. (Strollers are welcome.) Bring the whole family to participate or to cheer you on! AND HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES If you haven't already, please consider taking a few minutes to call and email your State Senator and State Representative to ask them to support SB2280 and end the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits in DuPage and Will Counties. Join us in speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves! From DCACC's website: SB2280 if passed, will prohibit the retail sale of animals (dogs, cats, and rabbits) in DuPage County and Will County that are obtained from commercial breeders. Louie's Law is a joint effort between Senator Michael Connelly, DuPage County Animal Care and Control Committee Chairman Brian Krajewski, Will County Legislative Chairwoman Suzanne Hart, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, and representatives from the Humane Society of the United States, The Puppy Mill Project, and the Naperville Area Humane Society and other local animal welfare representatives. You can find your representatives here: Here's a great resource to learn about the proposed legislation and how it, should it pass, will benefit people and pets in our community. Read the full text of the proposed legislation and see the bill's status here.  You can make a difference in the lives of homeless pets by supporting this family-friendly and dog-friendly event! by Catherine Stillwell  April 28th will be an exciting day for DuPage Animal Friends. DuPage Animal Friends' supporters will be participating in a 2-mile walk or 5K run to raise funds for those who are unable to speak for themselves…the animals! If you would like to join as a DuPage Animal Friends' supporter, please read below on how you can help! We would love seeing you at the race in Downers Grove on April 28th and other events that are held during the year! My name is Catherine Stillwell and I’ve been one of their supporters since 2014. I’ll be raising donations and awareness to senior/special needs animals. As of right now, there are three other fundraisers that are participating in this event. To donate to one of these fundraisers or to start your own, please click here:  Paulie Supporters also have the option to sign up to participate in the 2-mile walk or 5K race, too. This family-friendly and dog-friendly event is held at Esplande at Locust Point in Downers Grove on April 28th. For the race this year, DuPage Animal Friends is raising funds to help supply the new DuPage County Animal Care & Control's new neutering van with much needed medical supplies and equipment. Due to concerns of pet overpopulation, this van will be able to cater to low-income residents who are unable to commute to the animal care facility in Wheaton. The goal is to keep as many animals as possible from entering the shelter system and provide support to Animal Care and Control partners who assist in these efforts. To learn more about this special vehicle, read this recent article from The Naperville Sun.
Catherine Stillwell is the editor of Paulie's Journey. Follow Paulie's Journey on Facebook.
If you believe DuPage County’s unwanted and abandoned animals deserve the medical care needed to quickly change their status from “homeless” to “adopted”, then we have the perfect opportunity for you to help on November 28th.  You can make a difference on Giving Tuesday.
DuPage Animal Friends is raising funds for medical equipment used to provide DCACC onsite veterinary services. Only possible with your help, we aim to raise $10,000 to invest in life-saving medical equipment for DCACC and its resident animals. |
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November 2018
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