C.A.R.E. for the Evanston Animal Shelter

If you adopted from CARE and would like to share your story, please send an email to:Stories e-mail.

Hurley

Speck
(C.A.R.E. Name: Speck)

Marguerite

Lady

It is hard to believe that two years have gone by since we adopted Lady. We found her on the CARE website January 2005 when we started looking for a dog to adopt. I will always remember Lady’s picture posted on the website; she was squatting in mid-pee because that was the only way to capture her being completely still according to the staff at CARE.

I remember Steve’s concern about letting Lady go as she had been adopted and returned twice. So we went through a two-month trial adoption at Steve’s urging. All has worked out and we have survived a couple of back yard escapes, a pit bull attack, ear infections and many carpet stains, but it has all been worth it. I am happy to report that Lady is happy, healthy and enjoying a good life in Rogers Park.

As we turn in to bed each night we are reminded of how much joy this little dog has brought us as she curls in to a ball at the foot of our bed. We would like to thank Steve Scheiberg and CARE for all of your support.

Tahiti

We adopted Tahiti from your shelter in February of 1999. She was 9 months old at the time and had tested FIV positive. As soon as we saw her we fell in love with her and decided that we were willing to take a chance on her, even though the staff at CARE and our vet warned us that cats with FIV often do not live more than a few years. Well, as you can tell by this letter and by the picture I've attached, Tahiti is still alive and doing very, very well! I don't know if she is a good example of a cat with FIV because she hasn't been sick once in the 8 years since we've had her. People often comment on how beautiful she is and how lovely her fur is, and I must say I agree. I think she's one of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen. Furthermore she has been a loving, sweet cat ever since we brought her home. She has always been a bit shy with strangers but with us she is a complete lover, always looking for a lap to crawl into or a hand to stroke her. We love her very much and are very grateful to the staff at CARE for helping out with the adoption. Thank you so much!

Clay and Sugar

We adopted Clay 2 years ago. We got him when Clay Aiken was in the finals of American Idol and since we thought he should win, we decided on that name... of course the red hair had nothing to do with it. Clay is now getting use to his new sister and they love chasing each other. He thinks he is a dog. His favorite place to lay is within the catnip. Here is a photo of Clay enjoying the catnip in the back yard.

Sugar was adopted last week and is getting used to the cat and her new home. She gives us big french kisses and loves to fetch. She immediately filled the void when we had to put our lovely "Lassie" down. Lassie had a tumor on her heart that bled into her heart sack. She went so quickly. The same day we went to McCormick Animal hospital to drop off some treats as a thank you and Dr. Crabbe told us about Sugar and we went straight to the Shelter for a visit. The following day we went back and began the process. Here is a picture of Sugar on her first day home with us. As you can see she made herself at home and looks very happy.

Luis and Roy

Hannah

(C.A.R.E. Name: Hannah)

I am writing to share the story of a girl (terrier- mix dog) who chose her owner. In December of 2002 I filled out some paperwork to become a foster parent for C.A.R.E. I very quickly recieved a phone call saying there were two little pups that would need a home after Christmas for about 8-10 weeks. The day came for me to pick up the pups who I had named Hannah and Luna. We went home and they, like 8 week old puppies, began to play and pee all over the house!

As the first week progressed I realised that something was not quite right with the less dominate of the two pups, Hannah. She had real squinty eyes and developed a rash on her belly. Well, C.A.R.E. and McCormick Animal hospital did everything to find out what this rash was, treament after treatment found no cure. Hannah's face, ears, tail and body was becoming thick with scabs. She was hard to look at and people everywhere were afraid of what they might "catch" from her.

It came time for Hannah and Luna to be spayed and put up for adoption. I cried as I drove them to the vet as I had grown attached, especially to Hannah who loved to cuddle and was so sickly with a face only a mother could love! When I arrived at the vet I was told Hannah must be weaned off of the meds she was on before her surgery...this would take a month. I knew when she came back home with me that day there was NO turning back.

She continued to be a well behaved pup that had endless love for me. She cuddled when I needed it, was house trained by 4 months old and had the run of the house and didn't ruin a thing. She even weaseled her way into my bed. As the month passed and her meds wore off Hannah became sicker and sicker. We landed at the "Dog Dermatologist" in Buffalo Grove as a last resort. It was there that the answers were finally given. Hannah has "DM," a disease that is common in shelties, which Hannah is not.

After a little trial and error and new meds 2-3x a day for the rest of her life, Hannah's condition is now under control. She still has a face only a mother could love as the scabbing caused scaring where hair will never grow back. Hannah came from C.A.R.E. and chose me as her owner. C.A.R.E. helped me to be able to keep Hannah by helping with the medical bills since she was a foster pup at the time. We now live a happy life together going to the dog park, driving in the car with her head out the window (we get many comments!) and riding on the boat, with her sunscreen on the bald spots of course. CARE is great and Hannah and I have a love that I never knew I could have for a little ugly 40 pound dog who I now call my child!

We both thank CARE for helping us find each other!

Lucas

We're writing to provide an update on Lucas, an adult adoption of a liver-and-white Springer that we made from the Evanston Shelter on July 16, 2002.

Lucas probably was an outdoor dog until he came to the Evanston Shelter. He didn't know too much about being a pet or a house dog when we adopted him, but he tried very hard to learn everything about his new role.

Lucas quickly won the heart of everyone in our extended family. He is attentive, gentle, and loves to be with people. He also loves his food, maybe too much - but he had started to watch his weight and is now only a little too heavy. As an older dog, he has a few health problems and has needed a few surgieries, but mostly he is happy and healthy!

About a year after Lucas joined our pack, we relocated to San Diego CA. The change to a warmer climate has made it easier on his joints than the Chicago cold. Best of all, in San Diego Lucas can go to the park everyday, and swim whenever he wants. Lucas

The other members of Lucas' pack include two humans and an adopted Spaniel-Collie mix named Sojourner. While Sojourner is an alpha-wannabe, Lucas is content to be an ever-faithful beta. He is about nine or ten years old now, with his brown eyes turning blue and his hearing not quite as good as it once was; nonetheless he is a happy, active boy who loves nothing better than a good long swim.

Thank you, Evanston Shelter and Springer Rescue for giving this wonderful dog the chance for a full and active life, and for giving the Demuth pack a faithful friend!

Ron and Sylvia DeMuth

Katie

(C.A.R.E. Name: Katie)

Here is my favorite former C.A.R.E. resident celebrating Valentine's Day. Thank you for all you do for the animals and the people who love them.

Cheri

Sandburg

(C.A.R.E. Name: Sable)

Just wanted to let you know how grateful we are to the Evanston Animal Shelter for allowing us to add Sandburg aka Sable to our family.

She has adapted very quickly – and so has her BIG brother Wrigley. I have even caught Sandburg kissing Wrigley on his ears after a special treat that my husband has them hooked on. Although there are still a couple late night play fights that I believe Sandburg is instigating both are getting along well! As you will find from the attached photos Wrigley has even shared his perch a couple of times and both eat side by side in their designated dishes.

I will most certainly recommend your shelter to any family or friend in search a pet.

Thank you again!

Best regards,

Christina & Scott

Galen

(CARE name: Cookie)

Bonjour from Paris, where Cookie (we renamed her Galen) is now living. We adopted her in October 1999 and we lived for 6 happy years in Boystown/Lakeview, where she went on daily walks/jogs to the lake and played with her dog friends. She was the sweetheart of Roscoe Street and enjoyed oohs and aahs and daily treats from neighbors and staff from local bars and businesses - quite a nice life, I'd say. This summer, we moved to Paris for work, and while Galen still barks with an American accent, she is adjusting to beautiful Paris quite well. She enjoys long walks and goes over the Seine river to the Rive Gauche via the Austerlitz Bridge. And she has learned to peer over the bridge and gaze at the flying buttresses of Notre Dame in the distance (okay, so I am the one who looks at Notre Dame but Galen does put her front paws on the stone railing and peers over the bridge). And she recently came down to the French Riviera with us and spent two weeks in sunny, lovely Villefranche-sur- Mer, where her dad Steve was taking a French immersion course. While Steve was in class, we worked up a daily sweat going up the hill and enjoying a stunning view from an old fort. The picture below shows a bit of the scenery. Galen even got to visit San Remo, Italy, with us - people there kept stopping us to pet her and admire her. She says bonjour to everyone at Care and sends a big merci for taking care of her and letting us adopt her. She is a loving, smart, and beautiful dog and we are lucky to have her.

Sapna and Steve

Sonny

(CARE name: Chewie)

I adopted Sonny, a two-year-old chow golden retriever mix, from CARE on August 23, 2005. I hadn’t planned to take a dog home that night, but when I met Sonny, he immediately placed his front paws on my shoulders and began licking my face. When I brought him to my apartment, I was really overwhelmed, and though he slept with me in my bed the first night, I think both of us were pretty nervous.

Soon however, Sonny and I developed a rhythm. In general, he is a very easygoing and mellow boy. As a graduate student, I do a lot of work from home, and Sonny is content to lie under my desk and keep my feet warm while I write. Everyday we play with other dogs at the park, and he has transformed from indifferent towards other dogs to friendly and playful. Sonny especially likes girl dogs; he is very submissive to them, and will immediately rollover on his back when playing with his favorite girlfriends.

I also see why Sonny was named Chewie while at CARE: just give him a bone and he won’t stop until he’s devoured it, usually in one sitting! And speaking of sitting, one of the cutest things Sonny does is that he usually lies down like a frog, sticking his back legs out so that his big belly can rest on the cool floor.

I call Sonny my “Sonny Bunny,” because he is so cuddly and fluffy and happy. I love waking up with him every morning, and coming home to him at the end of a long day at school. Thank you CARE, and especially Sandy, for bringing me and Sonny together!

Mary

Hoagie

(CARE name: Hoagie)

I'm writing to let you all know (any of you who would have been around 10+ years ago that is) that Hoagie the Beagle is alive and kicking. We adopted him in late January or early February of 1995. Dr. Roberts estimated his age then at 6, so we figure that he is at least 16 now. He is still spry, but has cataracts, and a few lumpy bumpies - growths related to old age.

Hoagie (his CARE name, and name to this day) was found at the corner of Dempster and Dodge in January of 1995 with no collar. He nearly had frostbite in his paws, tested positive for heartworm, and some cruel person had cut notches in both of his beautiful beagle ears. Hoagie is a lovely beagle you may recall had to be treated by Dr. Roberts for heartworm 3 times before he came up clear. He lives in Silver Spring , MD for the past 8 and 1/2 years, and is still a very happy mellow guy. His current vet just loves him, and says that he shows no signs of having problems related to either the heartworm or the arsenic treatments at this time. He only recently developed a slight heart murmur, he thinks just related to old age, but the cardiologist cleared him for anesthesia for his most recent teeth-cleaning and so he is all groomed and handsome as ever.

We thought we were going to lose him in September of 1999, when he got very sick, and we took him to emergency, and they detected a very large spleenic tumor. That is when we found his current doctor, who removed it, and to his surprise it was benign. He says he has done very well since then, it is his 6th anniversary of surviving that ordeal. His only problems now are old-age related, the small sebaceous growths that the vet says is common in old beagles, and a little bit of urinary "leaking". But he is such a good boy, or good old man I should say, and very well house trained, and does his best to always make it outside. His favorite thing is to sleep on the futon, and beg for food like every beagle you ever knew. His big bug eyes still make him a favorite, and his quiet and sweet disposition make him friends wherever he goes. We had a few things to learn about beagles, since he's our first, but we have loved having this sweet spirit soul to nourish our lives. Thanks to Dr. Roberts and all at McCormick for helping spare his life. I think Bill Andrews (the Animal Warden) will remember him too, with his distinctive ear notches.

Mara and Brian

Peachfuzz

(CARE name: Hi)

We've had Peachfuzz for over a year now and she's become a member of the family. She was a shy girl at first, and in those first few days we found her under the bed sheets when we'd arrive home from work, curled up in a little ball. But, she is such a brave kitty, too, and she quickly warmed up to us and our new home. Since then, she has been so incredibly appreciative of our love and very affectionate and loving in return. She's five now, but she loves to pitch around her tiny toy mouse, and has a bit of a sweet tooth sometimes =). We would like to encourage people thinking of adopting to take in an older cat because they are so grateful for the home you will give them. We feel truly blessed with our Peachy girl.

Serena and Andy

Tybalt

Teena

Rocky

It was on April 20, 2000 that I adopted Rocky. I can still remember vividly how you all explained that this dog 'Rocky" that you were going to introduce me to was a little wary sometimes. He was a shy guy because he had survived an abusive first home. Then, as soon as he walked in the room, this guy darted straight at me, jumped up on my lap and licked me in the face. He was the first dog I saw and also the last. I knew had to take him home.

Rocky is doing very well! Since I adopted him I have been a Residence Director at Loyola University and now at DePaul. He has LOVED living in the residence halls with me. He has hundreds of students to play with daily and they shower him with affection. I also think they sneak him treats when I'm not looking because he has started to put on a little weight!

But anyway, I just wanted to give you an update and sincerely thank you for what Rocky has added to my life. Whenever I talk about him to others, people think I am speaking about my son. He means that much to me. You all are wonderful and I have recommended you to every person I come in contact with who wants to adopt an animal. Keep up the great work!

Mulligan

Kevin and I would just like to send a very special “Thank You” to everyone at C.A.R.E – especially Beth.

Mulligan (Honda) has only been with us for a few days, but it seems like he’s already feeling very much like part of the family. He enjoys going to work with Kevin and socializing with Kevin’s colleagues and clients. When he gets tired he has his own side of Kevin’s office where he can sleep.

He continually amazes us with his curiosity and willingness to learn. We both feel really lucky to have found such a loving pup.

We plan to start obedience training after the holidays once things have quieted down a bit. I’m attaching a picture for your enjoyment.

Kaluha

It has been about 3 years since I adopted Kaluha (aka G.I. Jane) from the Evanston CARE shelter. She is a 14-pound Maine Coon monster! When I adopted her I was attending grad-school in Evanston, since then Kaluha has moved with me to Tifton, Ga., Dothan, Ala., and now, Panama City, Fla. She is a trooper and the best pet I have ever had. Everyone who sees her, falls in love with her instantly. Her upbeat, playful personality, not to mention her beautiful face is totally addicting! I want to thank everyone at the Evanston shelter, especially Polly, who helped my roommate and I decide on Kaluha.We went into the shelter thinking we wanted a kitten and came out with a 1-year-old jewel.

Panache was brought to the shelter by the Evanston Police, who were concerned about her condition. It seemed that she had no eyes. After one of our volunteers took her to the veterinarian immediately, it was determined that she indeed did not have eyes. We're not sure if it was caused by a bad infection, congenital defect or foul play, but the poor kitten was definitely in need of help. Our volunteer Mitzie took her home to offer her a quiet place to recuperate instead of the noisy, chaotic shelter. Well, it didn't take Mitzie long to fall in love with the little kitty. Panache has a new home and a new name: Cookie. She gets around very well by sense of smell and hearing. Cats truly are amazing!

Seamus

Sir Speedy (left) was truly a character at the shelter. He was happily adopted by Jean in June of 2004. He is shown here with his big sis, Miranda (on the right), who was adopted from CARE in September of 1989.

Kopi

The photo above was taken about two weeks after Kopi came onboard. He's in the foreground, Carbon in the rear. They look alike, they sleep alike, fortunately they have enough physical difference for us to tell them apart. And then, of course, there are their distinctive personalities and Kopi's verbal fluency in Cat, Human and Swahili.

Happy Tails!

Hurley

Stella
(C.A.R.E. Name: Starlette)

Speck
(C.A.R.E. Name: Speck)

Arthur

Brutus

Marguerite

Lady

Tahiti