Before & After
Ranger
Add another stocking to the fireplace… Ranger has found his forever home, just in time for Christmas!
Ranger was found as a stray and brought to an open access shelter. After sending a letter and calling for weeks, his owner never came for him. The stresses of the shelter soon became too much for him and he came down with an upper respiratory infection. He would go on to spend a week at the vet undergoing treatment and resting.
We are so happy to announce that Ranger has made a full recovery and has found his forever home! Ranger now has a sibling and a new mom and dad!
Even better, with Ranger’s adoption, this means that we can go and pull another dog from the open access shelter!
Jingle
GREAT NEWS... OUR ITTY BITTY SENIOR JINGLE HAS FOUND HIS FOREVER HOME!
Jingle is one of the dogs that TAF reached out for help to pull from an open access shelter. Being a neglected senior, he had multiple medical issues that needed to be addressed. This is why he was continually passed over at the shelter.
Besides wanting to mark everything that he walked by, Jingle needed surgery to remove 14 teeth. He also had an impacted mass on his back, that was likely caused by a prior untreated injury, and it needed to be removed. In addition to this, Jingle had giardia. Giardia is a nasty parasite that lives in the intestines of infected dogs, among other things. It can cause violent diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.
With some top-notch medical care, and a little TLC, Jingle made a full recovery. To keep Jingle from communicating with his urine, TAF fashioned him with a belly band to keep him honest. He looked like a tiny present with a bow wrapped around his waist.
TAF is now thrilled to announce that Jingle has found his forever home! Jingle’s new mom and dad are cool with Jingle wearing a belly band for as long as it is needed. They love everything about their little senior and their other pups love him too! Jingle's new family is truly great and will spoil him throughout his twilight years. This is a big win for everybody that stepped in to give Jingle his second chance… thank you to all of you!
Oso
AFTER SPENDING 3 LONG MONTHS AT AN OPEN ACCESS SHELTER… OSO WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
When TAF saw Oso looking up from his bottom cage at an open access shelter, it was troubling to find out how long he had been there. For three long months, for one reason or another, Oso had been looked over. At times, it was iffy if he was going to make it.
TAF reached out to our supporters for help to bring Oso into our program. In the Christmas spirit, that is just what these wonderful people did. Whether it was by financial support or by sharing Oso’s post, we were able to draw enough attention to his story and Oso was saved.
After Oso’s medical issues were addressed and we had a better understanding of his true personality, we set out to find the home that best fit Oso.
We are so happy to announce that Oso has now moved to Wisconsin with his new German Shepherd sister and a wonderful mom and dad that adore him. Oso’s new parents are not only experienced shepherd owners but their female shepherd and Oso get along marvelously. It is truly a match made in heaven.
Instead of spending Christmas in a shelter cage, Oso will be sleeping by the fireplace. Truly a happy ending for such a beautiful boy!
Merry
It is going to be a very MERRY Christmas for one special puppy!
Once quivering in the corner of an open access shelter from fear, Merry is now in the loving arms of her new mom!
With the help of TAF’s therapy dogs Miller, Antler and Hazel Grace, Merry started to come out of her shell and trust people. When she didn’t want to come by you, all that you had to do is call over Hazel Grace and Merry would follow. It was then that she would crawl up next to you to have her neck rubbed. When it was time to eat, the same would apply. If you put her food bowl next to Miller, she would eat. If it were just you and Merry, she would not eat.
It would take some time but with a little encouragement from her friends, Merry became more confident and learned that the world is not such a bad place.
Merry’s new mom is a lovely woman who lost her beloved 14 year old pup a year ago. Seriously questioning if she could ever go through that kind of pain again, it was Merry who opened up her heart and home again. This truly will be a Merry Christmas for the both of them!
Nestor
EARS SO SPECIAL, THEY EARNED NESTOR A ONE WAY TICKET OUT OF AN OPEN ACCESS SHELTER…
When TAF visited an open access shelter, we couldn’t help but notice a scared little puppy woofing at us from the back of his cage. Once we stepped closer to get a better look we noticed something wondrous… ears, wondrous ears that didn’t quite fit Nestor’s body! Just like his namesake, it would be Nestor’s ears that would change his life forever.
In the coming days, Nestor ended up coming down with an upper respiratory that put him out of commission for awhile. It would take antibiotics, nebulizing/breathing treatments and some rest and relaxation before he finally made a full recovery.
As it should be for any puppy named after a Christmas donkey, we are so happy to announce that Nestor has found his forever home for Christmas! Nestor now has a big brother who can show him the ropes and a mom and dad that are over the moon for him!
Nestor is living proof that being different is a very awesome thing... for this dear little pup’s ears are as lovely as Rudolph’s nose is red.
Nutmeg
ANOTHER HOMELESS DOG HAS FOUND A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!
When TAF came across Nutmeg at an open access shelter, he looked so sad in his cage.
TAF reached out to our supporters for help to bring Nutmeg into our program. In the Christmas spirit, that is just what these wonderful people did. Whether it was by financial support or by sharing Nutmeg’s post, we were able to draw enough attention to his story and Nutmeg was saved.
After being neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and a couple days of boarding, Nutmeg came to stay with us. It wouldn’t take too long before he grabbed a family’s attention.
Nutmeg's new family had recently started looking for a nice, easy going small male to be a companion to their puppymill rescue girl Kelly. Her last buddy passed away about a month ago and Kelly had been lost without him.
When Kelly and her dad came in the room she was so nervous and cautious about everything. The second Nutmeg walked in her tail went up, she was smiling and you could tell she knew she was meeting her new best friend.
They hopped onto their dad’s lap and posed for the photo before all but racing out the door… undoubtedly, Nutmeg was ready to start his new life!
Holiday
LITERALLY, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY!
When TAF came across 1 year old Japanese Chin, Holiday, at an open access shelter he was beyond miserable. His owner had just left him, and his one eye was full of purulent fluid. We rushed him right to the vet where it was determined he had a congenital eye issue known as Microphthalmia where the eyeball is tiny, underdeveloped and non-functional. In order to prevent ongoing infections and discomfort, the only treatment was enucleation, or removal of the affected eyeball.
Holiday did very well through the surgery and recovered nicely. We were thrilled to receive an application from a family who already had a Japanese Chin and was familiar with the breed. They came to meet him and it was a perfect match. Holiday will have his sutures removed early next week, and we are happy our sweet boy was able to get into a home with a family who will love, cherish and care for him for the rest of his life!
Thank you to the people who donated towards Holiday's surgery and made it possible for him to find immediate relief and his forever home by Christmas!
Eggnog
Eggnog came into an open access shelter as a stray. He was afraid and a bit unsure of the people that were trying to help him. After a week or so, he decided that it was in his best interest to let people hold him. Soon thereafter, he was back to a happy, wiggly pup who loved to sit in peoples’ laps and play with other dogs… it was a complete 180 from the first time that we met him.
From living on the streets of Chicago to living in the lap of luxury with his new forever family… Eggnog’s Christmas wish has already come true! Eggnog’s new boys already love him so much and cannot wait to open their Christmas presents with their new pup by their side.
For those that might not remember, Eggnog is one of the dogs that TAF asked for financial assistance in pulling him from an open access shelter. Because of your donations and sharing of Eggnog’s post, this little guy was saved and now will live happily ever after... thank you just doesn’t seem enough… you are the best!
Tinsel
BANDONED UNDER A PORCH & 6 MONTHS AT AN OPEN ACCESS SHELTER...TINSEL HAS BEATEN THE ODDS...
For the past 7 months, life has been pretty rough for Tinsel. Before being brought to an open access shelter, Tinsel was found tied under a porch of an abandoned building on the southside of Chicago. It would be her cries for help that would save her from starving to death.
Tinsel would go on to spend the next 6 months behind the bars of her cage at an open access shelter… her future was starting to look pretty grim.
When TAF found out about Tinsel’s story, we put out a plea for help. Within 48 hours, generous donors contributed funds to help save Tinsel and others shared her story on facebook. Before long, Tinsel was safely in our care and on her way to the vet.
Well, we are happy to announce that Tinsel is done with the city life and is moving to Michigan! Both Tinsel’s parents work from home and will have so much time for her. They can go for walks on their 7 acres of land or, in the summer, take a swim in the pond. Quite simply, her life will never be the same... no more abuse and neglect, only love.
This was a big win for everybody that rallied to save this girl’s life when all others failed her… it is a proud day for all!
Wookie
WONDERFUL NEWS... our little Wookie has found his forever home!!!
After being left at an open access shelter, this little guy was confused and frustrated. With the help of some very thoughtful TAF supporters, Wookie was able to be pulled and brought to the vet.
After some vetting and a surgery to be spayed, Wookie was ready for his new lease on life. Luckily, a wonderful family saw him and couldn't wait to give him a forever home. Finally... a second chance with a family that will love him unconditionally... forever!
Once again, a big thank you goes out to Kay, from Zulu Dog + Cat Boutique, for volunteering her services to groom Wookie... it made a HUGE difference!
