Our end of the year, Home at Last 2016 video. Thank you to our supporters – we couldn’t have done this without you!
Patience, setting up a feeding station, creating a safe zone and luring Minnie to safety!
Minnie was what we call a “Kentucky Stray”. She was transported from a high kill shelter in one of the states south of Illinois and brought up to a rescue. Minnie went into a foster home but unfortunately escaped. Dogs who are used to being out on their own take time and patience to get them comfortable with a home environment.
Flyers were posted when Minnie first went missing. Calls were coming in and her foster mom would rush to the location but she would be long gone by the time anyone got there. Minnie was figuring out where to find her necessities; food, water and shelter.
After she was missing for about a week and a half, a group of volunteers offered to start mapping the sightings, doing more flyers, and doing “driveway drops” hear sighting locations. She was very, very, close to her home but a busy street was between the area where she was living and her home.
With the flyers and drops, more sightings came in and a pattern of location and time started to emerge. She seemed to travel at night, which is very common for dogs in survival mode. It keeps them safer from predators, including humans. It’s quieter at night…
While looking at her pattern, we noticed a few houses on Caton Farm that had pole barns. One of the volunteers knocked on a door and asked if she could look around the property. The owners were eager to help and let us do whatever we needed. The volunteer found a pole barn, with an opening in the back. She also found several canine prints that were Minnie’s size, along with some dog poop. The home owners had dogs but said theirs did not go back to that part of the yard. The back of the pole barn was alone a fence line, and on the other side of the fence was a subdivision of town homes where there had been sightings of Minnie. She was definitely there. We thought maybe staying in the pole barn for shelter.
Signs that a dog was living there.
Minnie’s safe place.
Using a crock pot of smelly food to keep Minnie in the area. It was very cold out.
Since the flyers were doing their job, the next step was food and a game camera. A camera was put up on Friday and food was trailed into the subdivision and along the fence where we thought she was traveling. Saturday morning proved what we thought. Minnie showed up the night before and was eating the food. That night a trap was deployed, more food trailed and within a half hour of setting it all up she was back. It took a short time for her to decided she wanted the yummy chicken legs in the back of the trap and she was safely caught!
Minnie checking out the trap
Minnie trapped safe!
After a week and a half of trying to catch a glimpse of her when the sightings were called in, more flyers went up on day 13, driveway drops done on day 14, sightings mapped on day 15, camera and feeding station on day 16 and safely trapped on day 17. Following the advice of Lost Dogs Illinois and Helping Lost Pets make this a textbook rescue. Minnie was eventually adopted by her foster family and is now known as Lucy and is loving life.
Minnie now called Lucy
Thank you, Elaine, for sharing Minnie’s story.
Why is Cook County Animal and Rabies Control a Secret?
Two years ago, Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey requested an audit by its Inspector General of Cook County Animal and Rabies Control (CCARC). Eight months later on August 21, 2014, Cook County Inspector General Pat Blanchard presented the summary of Operational Review of the Department of CCACC. This was just a 15-page summary of an 80 page report.
On September 25, 2015, Lost Dogs Illinois’s (LDI) director filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the President of the Cook County Board and the office of the Cook County Inspector General (IG) to receive the full and complete Operational Review of the CCARC from which the summary was prepared. The LDI Director was denied the full and complete report by the Inspector General’s office. The President’s office said they did not have the complete report in their possession. The LDI Director then filed for a review of the denial to the Attorney General’s Public Access Officer. The Public Access Officer upheld the denial.
On December 8, 2015, the LDI Director along with a LDI adviser, met with Martha Martenez, Cook County’s Director of Administration, who oversees the department of Cook County Animal and Rabies Control. A discussion was had concerning several issues and solutions in regard to the report.
A year after the IG released the Summary Report, the LDI Director made another FOIA request of the Cook County Board President’s Office and the Inspector General’s office to find out the outcome of all the recommendations in the report. Both sent back denials. The LDI Director then sent a request for review of the denial to the Public Access Officer who then contacted the President’s office. After several contacts, the President’s office sent the Public Access officer the 10/2015 letter that was sent to the Inspector General’s office (standard 90 day follow-up letter).
It has been two years since Commissioner John Fritchey asked for a complete study of CCARC. It took the IG department 8 months to do this operational review. Nothing has really changed.
Lost Dogs Illinois believes in change for the better for Cook County residents and their pets. As stated by our Director at the Cook County Commissioner’s Budget Committee meeting (11/3/2016) “I am not discounting the importance of rabies and public safety but I really believe it is time to reexamine the mission of this Department and reorganize CCARC to provide better services. Cook County is the 2nd largest county in the US, we should be proud to offer an efficient way for owners get their loved family members back.”
We also would to state that according to the Fiscal Year 2017 Preliminary Budget – Special Purpose Fund Outlook Cook County is showing approximately $8.6 million fund in the Special Purpose Fund. What is the purpose of the fund and how is it helping Cook County residents and their four legged family members?
If you are as concerned about this issue as we are, please contact your Cook County Commissioner. You can find out who your Commissioner is by clicking on the link below. Tell them that you want an Animal Control Department, which better serves the community and their pets.
List of Cook County Commissioners
Further reading
Where Oh Where Could My Lost Dog Be Held in Cook County
Part-2 – Where Oh Where Could My Lost Dog Be Held In Cook County
Inspector General Report Cook County Animal and Rabies Control
Action Alert – It is Now or Never
Action Alert – Cook County animal and Rabies Control
Bowser, come home – Why lost pets stay lost in Cook County – Chicago Tribune Editorial Board
Chicago Reader – Welcome to the Cook County Animal Maze
Follow-Up – Cook County Commissioner’s Budget Meeting – November 2015
Follow-up Meeting with Cook County President’s Staff
\
When Every Thing Goes Right – Capture of Leia
When a good friend and someone I have learned much from, Katie C, reached out to me to help with another loose rescue pup name Leia. I said yes. We followed our usual routine and started a group message with volunteers and the rescue. The rescue was totally engaged in doing whatever was needed and as was the foster family. This in itself helps the whole process in general. Sometimes we use the word “textbook” loosely because when helping with a lost dog anything and everything can happen. But , I do know this. There are some steps that have proven to make the journey easier. Leia went loose on a Saturday and was safely trapped by Tuesday morning
Steps taken:
- Flyer. Flyer. Flyer. (This was done immediately for Leia)
- Sightings start coming in
Leia being sighted in a backyard.
- Speak with callers and get better details. Leia was seen several times in yards where flyers had been given to homeowners. Guess what? They called.
- We established a good area for a feeding station and camera and trap. All the meanwhile still flyering.
- Learned and saw for our own eyes Leia in the area and actually engaging the zip tied trap baited with irrestable food. We knew she was comfortable and….
- Set and watched the trap.
- Safely trapped Leia
Leia checking out the trap!
Gotcha Leia
To say this went like clockwork is true. Flyers generated sightings. Sightings told us areas where she was. Homeowners were willing to allow us to use the tools we needed. Finally, patience and observation helped us capture Leia safely.
Thank you, Rosanne, for sharing Leia’s story.
Not All Stray Dogs Are Homeless
Two weeks ago, my brother started to notice a skittish shepherd running loose in his district at night. He began to leave food for her when he figured out her route. This smart girl was going through a hole in the fence of a trucking lot where she likely bedded under a trailer for warmth and safety. Any attempt to approach her was met with her fleeing.
FiFi at her feeding station. Using a rubbermaid container to protect the food.
FiFi laying next to her feeding station.
Last week I came to try to trap this sweet girl with my brother. I set the trap up under the trailer where she usually darted under. She’d be hungry and it would be quick. Not so fast! She didn’t even touch a morsel of the warm food trailed in. The trap was new in her spot and spooked her. So, we placed a camera and bungeed the trap open-ended with food in the middle.
Fifi getting use to the trap.
Within 2 nights, it was evident that she was comfortable with the trap; she walked in and out to eat with ease. Last Wednesday night, before the snowfall, we baited and set the trap just at about 1:15am. Like clockwork, she showed up. We pulled away, shut the car off and silenced our phones. Within MINUTES, she was caught! Our patience prevailed!
Fifi caught in the trap.
FiFi trapped.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have a microchip. She was thin, matted and covered in burrs, but walked beautifully on leash and was used to being in a car. I posted her to Lost Dogs Illinois and took her for a check-up and to get cleaned up at the vet thanks to Trio. She was then transferred to a local open-access shelter for her stray hold.
5 days later, I received a phone call, text and email- someone thought it may be their lost dog, Fifi. Fifi went missing on 11/19/2016. After exchanging pictures, it was evident that this was her! Fifi traveled over 4 miles from her home when her gate was accidentally left open. She likely traveled a long running route her owner takes with her that lead her to where we trapped her.
Her owner hung flyers near their house, not realizing the far distance she had traveled. He was then looking through the ‘Is This Your Lost Dog’ album on LDI’s Facebook page when he saw my post. She was missing for 3+ weeks!
Fifi is now microchipped and safe with her owners. She cried out in delight and coated them in kisses when they were reunited at the shelter. It was truly beautiful.
FiFi’s reunion pic!
When shy/skittish dogs are lost, they travel a lot at night, when there are less people out to notice. I am truly thankful for my brother and other CPD officers who spotted her. Without a feeding station being set, she may have left the area. Fifi also reminded us of the importance of patience with lost and stray dogs. She went into the trap on her own time and comfort level. Fifi’s owners never gave up looking for her 3 weeks after she went missing. They were persistent!
Huge thank you to Lost Dogs IL– without your group’s existence, Fifi may have never made it home. Your network has such a large and wonderful impact, and truly made a family whole again. Thank you for continuing to preserve the human-animal bond and helping us remember to think lost, not homeless.
Thank you Katie Campbell for sharing your most excellent trapping and reunion.
How are we doing???
Free Health Canine Clinic – North Chicago
Lost Dogs Illinois has been busy the last few months participating in Free Health Care Clinics throughout the Chicagoland area. The North Chicago Free Health Canine Clinic for Chicago sponsored by the Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation was a huge success!.
Over 300 dogs received Free engraved ID tags from Lost Dogs Illinois which were attached to their collar before their families left the clinic. Collars and leashes were donated by Realtors to the Rescue and Lost Dogs Illinois. The Bickell Foundation donated all the vaccines and microchips.
Pictures are worth a thousand words…..
Busy making ID tags
Attaching an ID tag onto a new collar!
The line was a block long.
Patiently watiing…….
Organizations Working Together To Keep Families and Pets in Their Homes
Another busy Saturday in Englewood for Lost Dogs Illinois, Chicago Wolves, Realtors to the Rescue, Barriers Against Repeated Cruelty, Pals with Pawz and others. Over 380 dogs and cats received free vaccinations, food, toys, free microchips, free collars, harnesses, leashes and a personal engraved ID tag. This summer 1,616 dogs and cats in Aldermen Raymond Lopez’s 15th ward received these much needed free services.
Lost Dogs Illinois, Chicago Wolves and Realtors of Rescue joined forces this summer to help those who live in underserved areas. We believe in preserving the human/animal bond and with these Free Health Clinics it has given families and their four legged members hope.
In order to keep those momentum going, LDI needs your help. A small donation of $10.00 will purchase an ID tag and a collar/leash. You can donate by clicking here. https://www.lostdogsillinois.org/support-ldi/donate/
Pictures tell it all…….
Chip, LDI’s mascot. waiting for the event to start.
Chicago residents lining up for the clinic.
This pretty girl left with a new pink harness, martingale collar w/her ID tag attached and two new leashes.
Oh those ears!!!!
Cats even received microchips, collars and ID tags.
Waiting to be size for a harness and collar.
Volunteer putting an ID tag on the dog’s collar.
Paving the way to keep Pets in their homes!
At the Brighton Park Area Free Pet Health Fair (Saturday, 10/1) approximately 390 dogs, cats & bunnies received a personally engraved IG tag donated by Lost Dogs Illinois. As each dog left the clinic, their tag was attached to their collar or harness. They also received free vaccines and microchips which were registered to the owner at implant. Food and toys were also donated. This event was generously sponsored by the Chicago Wolves organization. Lost Dogs Illinois would like give a special shout out to Realtors to the Rescue who have generously donated over $6,000 to LDI this year to allow us to provide ID tags, collars, harnesses and leashes. Thank you to staff and volunteers of City of Chicago Animal and Control who came to help. The new face of sheltering is prevention and preserving the human/animal bond. Lets keep these pets in their homes!
For us to continue this kind of program, a small donation of $10.00 will purchase an ID tag and a collar/leash. You can donate by clicking here. https://www.lostdogsillinois.org/support-ldi/donate/
These series of photos say it all……
Paving the Way to Keep Dogs with their Families
At the Pullman Area Free Pet Health Fair (Saturday, 9/24th) approximately 356 dogs and cats received a personally engraved IG tag donated by Lost Dogs Illinois. As each dog left the clinic, their tag was attached to their new collar. They also received free vaccines, microchips which were registered to the owner at implant. Food, toys, collars and leashes were also donated. Thanks to the Chicago Wolves organization for sponsoring this clinic.The Chicago Wolves . Lost Dogs Illinois would like give a special shout out to Realtors to the Rescue who have generously donated over $5,000 to LDI this year to allow us to participate in these events. These various free services reached over 380 dogs and cats.
For us to continue this kind of program, a small donation of $10.00 will purchase an ID tag and a collar/leash. You can donate by clicking here. https://www.lostdogsillinois.org/support-ldi/donate/
These series of photos say it all……
