2010 Holiday Appeal

Menie

The day started out like any ordinary day, but then again, there is no such thing as an ordinary day at A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter. Animals are always in need and we are here to serve them, particularly those having special needs and requiring extraordinary care. For those animals we are truly their last hope.

On this particular day, a call was received from a repair man who had stumbled upon four very tiny newborn kittens under the porch of a homeowner. The homeowner said she would discard of the kittens after he left. But the young man had a kind heart and this solution was unacceptable to him; he could not just leave the kittens behind. He called several shelters but they did not have the resources to care for such helpless creatures and he was running out of options. He then called A.D.O.P.T.

Like most shelters, this entire year we have been overwhelmed with cats and kittens in need of loving homes. But when these lives are at stake, we cannot just turn away, and we know that you, our supporters, would not want us to do so.

Although caring for newborn kittens is an enormous commitment, one of our dedicated volunteers stepped up to save these four-ounce kittens who were barely alive. All seemed to be going well until the kittens became very ill. Sadly one of the little girls lost her battle, passed over the Rainbow Bridge, and we mourned her loss. Her siblings continue on their road to recovery and are expected to be healthy normal kittens, available for adoption late December. Are you able to open your heart and home to these kittens, or any of the many cats and kittens currently seeking forever homes?

Preston

We at A.D.O.P.T. are grateful to our passionate volunteers and staff who provide the skills and commitment to allow us to accept such special animals into our programs, provide them with the care they need, and sometimes even accomplish the near-impossible! It is because of your continued support that we are able to accept such high-risk animals and provide the extraordinary and compassionate care that they need to survive. It’s because of your support we are able to save lives every day!

Preston is one such boy who is currently in need of special care and a special family. Preston was found as a stray and was transferred to A.D.O.P.T. from a high-kill shelter. He had a bad case of mange along with an eye infection, both very treatable conditions. After these problems were resolved and Preston was ready for his forever home, kennel staff noticed that he was not walking quite right. Upon examination by an orthopedic vet, it was discovered that Preston is in need surgery on not one, but on both of his hips. As in the case of any animal who enters our programs, we will do whatever is needed to improve the quality of Preston’s life and allow him to live the rest of his days has a happy healthy pup!

Preston is currently seeking a family who can provide him with a quite place to recover and who will nurse him through both of these surgeries. Could this be you?

Madelyn and Millie

While not requiring specialized medical care, Madelyn and Millie are two special-needs girls who entered our program this past summer. Madelyn was found in a home with multiple cats after it was discovered that her owner had passed away. Madelyn is 10-12 years old and suffers from a severe heart murmur. No question she is a very cute girl, but finding a home for an older dog with such special needs could prove challenging. However it did not deter us from accepting her into our adoption program! Putting her sweet personality and adorable appearance to work, Madelyn was able to find her perfect family and now lives like the little princess she deserves to be.

Millie, a ten-year-old English Pointer, came to us from a high-kill shelter in downstate Illinois. Prior to her arrival at A.D.O.P.T. she had suffered a very serious eye injury and required eye removal surgery. As if that was not bad enough, after arrival at A.D.O.P.T. she was found to have Masticatory Muscle Mysositis, an immune-mediated disease which causes deterioration of the muscles responsible for chewing of food. While we will never know the pain and hardship that Millie experienced during the ten years prior to her arrival at A.D.O.P.T., we knew that she deserved a chance to live the rest of her life as part of a family who would give her the love and attention that she deserves. We know that you too would want the same for Millie and all the other older and special-needs animals whom we have a chance to save.

This year like last has been very challenging due to the downturn in the economy and the resultant downturn in donations, experienced by all nonprofit organizations. We have had to work very hard to contain expenses and be very creative in maintaining the quality of care for our animals. Cutting back on the number of animals accepted in our programs, while an easier solution to making ends meet, is not an option for us! No question it has been a difficult year but we have done very well in stretching ever dollar received and using innovative i deas to expand our programs.

Gizmo

This year we have continued to improve upon our medical protocol in order to minimize the spread of diseases such as kennel cough or upper respiratory. We have created separate dog intake and isolation rooms to help prevent new residents from becoming ill by being housed near sick ones. In addition, we have recently expanded our dog intake room to allow us to accept more dogs into our program – and to save more lives – than previously possible. Stringent protocol have been set in place to minimize any spread of disease, reduce the number of sick animals, and curb unnecessary medical expenses.

In spite of such strict protocol, issues do arise. Gizmo, an adult long-haired Chihuahua mix, arrived at our shelter from a local animal control. As is typical he was provided a warm and pleasant kennel in the intake room. After a day or two, something seemed wrong. It was discovered that he was infected with the parvovirus.

This deadly disease is quite rare among adult dogs. Most shelters would immediately euthanize such an animal and in many cases all other animals with whom he had come in contact. Because we have had much experience in treating parvo at the shelter over the last year or so, our veterinary staff immediately contained the situation and began intense treatment of Gizmo. After four weeks of close monitoring and extraordinary care, Gimzo was on the road to recovery and to his new home. We are very proud of our veterinary and kennel staff for having immediately recognized the problem, contained it, and treated Gizmo’s illness while allowing him to rest and recover surrounded by his A.D.O.P.T. family.

We try to turn such negative situations into positive learning experiences, educating our volunteers and the public. Although very challenging to treat, parvo does not have to be deadly. We have demonstrated this repeatedly over the last year

Kermit

When animals enter our program, it is our policy to do whatever is necessary to care for them and to find them the best homes possible. With many of our animals this is no easy feat. Kermit is one such cat. We typically are not able to accept cats with feline leukemia or FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) due to the difficulty of finding homes for them and because these illnesses can be transmissible to our general cat population. However after accepting Kermit into our program, we learned he has FIV. Cats having FIV can live long, healthy lives with the proper care. Kermit is currently seeking a special home where he can be an only cat, or where he is able to reside with other FIV-positive kitties.

Once again this year we find the problem of animal overpopulation to be completely overwhelming. We try to accept as many animals as possible into our programs but there are simply so many animals in need! In spite of the economy and challenges faced by many families, we have been fortunate in that our adoptions have remained at the same levels as in previous years. Through our volunteers’ efforts - and your contributions - we are on track to place approximately 1,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens in forever homes this year. Yet so many others are left behind.

We know that we cannot solve all the problems of the animal world, but we continued this year to expand our efforts to address animal overpopulation in our own community. Early this year we initiated a low-income low-cost spay/neuter program for the pets of qualified families, offering such individuals this essential service for their pets. In addition, we continued to build upon our spay/neuter program offered to area rescues for their animals.

Again this year we saw an increase in owner give-ups, as people lost their jobs and/or their homes. Most of these animals are wonderful pets and their families are devastated to lose them. We found that in many cases, these people were in a very difficult situation with hopes of turning things around in a few months. If these pets can be returned to their families at a future date, why should they be surrendered to a shelter?

Recognizing this, we were recently given the opportunity to incorporate a temporary foster-home program into our operations. The Blessed Bonds program, founded in 2004, provides care for animals during times when their families are in crisis. Disruptions, such as loss of a job, foreclosure, illness, hospitalization, and rehabilitation, often mean that families temporarily cannot care for their pets and often find their only option is to give them up to shelters. In most cases, these disruptions are only for a short period of time, and the families expect that their situations will return to normal within a few months. Not only will the incorporation of this program help to maintain the important human-animal companion bond by preventing the permanent loss of a beloved four-legged family member, it will help preserve limited shelter space for those animals truly in need.

In spite of the challenges of this year, we have indeed made the most of every dollar using creative means to raise funds, expanding our programs, and making A.D.O.P.T. the first choice for adding a new four-legged family member.

While no one knows exactly what the coming year will bring in terms of economic challenges, rescue needs, and the need for our services, particularly for special-needs animals, one thing is clear: We need your help and support to continue to carry out our mission and continue to expand our programs.

Our volunteers work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our animals but without your support, we cannot help all the many animals who need us. As we begin the new year, we hope we can count on you to stand with us in support of the animals and ask you to open your heart to provide for the voiceless creatures of A.D.O.P.T. the most generous gift you can afford. It is only with your support, that we can make a difference in the lives of animals today and tomorrow.

Donation Options

We now offer two options for donating, either by mail or online.

• Click the Download button to download a PDF form that you can fill out and send with your payment.
• Click the Donate button to donate online via PayPal.

Donate Online Click the button to donate using your credit card, debit card or Paypal account.

Donate by Mail Mail your check to: A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter 420 Industrial Drive Naperville, IL 60563