LEAD Rescue, NFP

Removing a dog no longer in need of a home off our website is so gratifying.

I literally can’t wait for when the first adoption app comes in for a brand new LEADer. The thrill of reading an app to see who will be granted the privilege of one of our precious royalties. The excitement of hearing all the good things from peoples’ references and setting up the home checks, wishing we could live in that adopter’s castle. The gratification of scheduling the meet and greet knowing someone is about to possibly find their soulmate in dog form. And then bundled all together is the beautiful moment the actual meet happens, a family and dog falls in love, a contract is signed, a notification of the adoption fee has been paid, and the best saved for last-the adoption photo is taken, and the second best saved for last, clicking the dropdown menu and selecting, “Adopted”.

It’s even better when it’s for a dog we weren’t too sure what was going to happen. Gorda, not knowing how she was prior to foster care, worried me. She needed much more decompression time than most especially compared to her siblings/mom, Vaca aka Jane and Canela. While those two embraced foster care, Gorda cowered in her corner trying to be as small and invisible as possible. She needed to be muzzled to go to the vet as you could guess and even outside, she tried to stay as far away from people. But even though she needed to be muzzled to receive veterinary care, it really benefited her. She was missing a critical component towards her health which was making her feel extra cruddy: thyroid medication. With a prescription in place and her amazeballs foster mom, Gorda wasn’t that sad, invisible, hairless potato sack anymore. She blossomed into the chunky, fluffy dog who now finally embraced the good foster life. And ultimately was ready to find her new home.

But our worry was still, where are all the adopters? Gorda had like 5 months to transform and while other pups were taken off the site or added, I kept scrolling past her thinking is she ever going to leave us? The internet reaches millions but maybe Gorda’s code was like a number or letter off. Like if i wrote Pi wrong.

After I decided to repost her looking so fresh and so clean, well 3 more apps were sent our direction. Adopted in JULY, I patiently have been waiting to show off her new family to all of you. But Gorda had to reset and get used to her new family after 5 months being with her fosters.The family by the way is going above and beyond for her and I don't want to keep pestering for a family picture if Gorda hates it. Although you guys don't get to see these wonderful people, here's Gorda sitting upright and proud on a cozy rug, in the place she calls home. There's no rule what an adoption picture has to look like. As long as the dog is happy, we're happy! Congrats to Gorda!

"I got my Peaches out in...Illinois"~Justin Bieber

Ok, so yeah Georgia is famous for peaches. Idaho, potatoes. Cali, w**d. Chicago, crime *sarcasm*. No, but seriously, Chicago, Illinois should really be famous for dogs. We have a list of delicious Chicago style hot dogs. You can literally take your dog to so many places including boat tours and allover Michigan Avenue. We even have dog breed park meetups and a dog beach dedicated to your pooch having a splashing good time. And one of the best, adopting from your local Chicago based rescue!

In June, Simba and Mabel came into LEAD when their owners' children sadly were too allergic for them to be around. Having to live in the garage for 6 months was the only solution to keeping them. However, one day they had to make the roughest decision as they knew they couldn't possibly leave them outside any longer. They were going to end up at the shelter had we not intervened. There is nothing wrong with shelters by the way, well the good ones. But dropping your beloved pets there does not come easy if there are better solutions just a phone call away.

We were that phone call.

Mabel, as this is what the post is about (sorry Simba), and Simba were not bonded at all. We placed each in their own foster home and it went about as good as it could be. Mabel with her stumpy potato body and tater tot legs, was happy and excited to live with a bunch of kids and another dog. But a couple weeks passed and Mabel became territorial or defensive towards the other dog if her people were around. They squabbled a few times and it was just better to find Mabel a foster home that she could be the only dog.

We received many applications for Mabel and picking someone was not easy. Some dogs get all the best applications and some get absolutely no content except, "I had a dog once, so I want this one." Obvi, we didn't go with that one. But we found this couple, from the burbs, who applied to our smol city rescue. Although not local to us, they were committed to do foster to adopt as we all didn't want Mabel to be bounced around while we waited for her to become available.

So while Simba is off hobbling missing a toe bean, Mabel had been relaxing comfortably in her new home. After waiting almost 2 months for a spay appointment (vets are still backed up), which she eventually went into heat and we had to pay 3 times more for might I add, Mabel is now an official Illinois Peach! Congrats to Peach!