Before & After

Agnes

TAF was contacted about a dog in need at our local shelter. The bulldog had a wobbly gait and seemed to be shutting down. We went to meet her, named her Agnes, and headed to the vet. Once at the vet, it was very obvious that our girl was completely deaf and had been bred many, many times. She had some very abnormal bloodwork, and her neurological exam was also abnormal. Ultrasounds and x-ray's showed nothing obvious, so the vet's advised that Agnes was most likely suffering from a brain tumor. The tumor probably led to her being deaf, her sunken in head, her wobbly gait as well as the way she swung her head from side to side. Agnes also suffered from some skin problems that often left bald patches.

Amazingly, despite all of her medical issues, Agnes was extremely happy, friendly, loved other dogs and was completely house trained.  At this point, we knew Agnes was going to be a hospice dog until her quality of life started to suffer. A friend of TAF adored our squishy, friendly bulldog and offered to foster her. Agnes loved the other three dogs in the house, and quickly became a regular at daycare, at training class, and all over town. She even passed her Canine Good Citizen test! 

Over a year later, Agnes started to show signs of slowing down. She was sleeping a lot, began to appear disoriented, and her gait was more and more wobbly. She fell down a few times and couldn't figure out how to get up. We all knew her disease had progressed, and her loving foster mom gave her an amazing week of fun, love, cheeseburgers and ice cream (her favorite!)  Agnes passed in the arms of the best mom she had ever known.

We are extremely grateful that we had Agnes with us for as long as we did. She had a great year and we hope it made up for the years of neglect and abuse she suffered earlier in her life. We are indebted to her foster mom Natalie for all the love she gave to our girl. She was one in a million!

Quinn and Griffin

Quinn and Griffin were at the Animal Welfare League's Intake facility when VERY few shelters were pulling from them. The Trio Animal Foundation offered to help out this little white fluffy female that was ill and soon found out that she had a brother too. Needless to say, both of these wonderful pooches came into my home and my Trio and I cared for them, took them to their vet visits and nursed them back to health.

Soon thereafter, these adorable dogs found themselves the most loving family that took them in.

The Trio Animal Foundation is so proud of moments like this. YEAH Griffin and Quinn!!!!!

Melissan

TAF came across a young puppy at a shelter. She was too pathetic looking to leave behind and TAF loaded her up into our car when we left for the day. We got to know Melissan over the next few days, and had an appointment set to have her spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and prepped for adoption. However, three days after taking her from the shelter, Melissan stopped eating. She had diarrhea once, and we took her to the vet to be safe. Sadly, she tested positive for Parvovirus, and had a 50-50 chance of surviving. After two days of intense hospitalization, Melissan needed a blood transfusion. Our lead therapy dog Sophie bravely donated several cc's of her healthy, strong blood to our weak puppy. The next day, Melissan had bounced back and was on her way to recovery.

6 weeks later, Melissan was spayed and quickly adopted by a wonderful family who adores her!

Leia

For those of you who don't remember, Dixie was used for experiments in a medical laboratory. Her soul was broken down and you could see the anguish in her eyes. Dixie had a blank stare and her eyes looked empty from the torture that she had endured.It was discovered that Dixie had experiments performed on her uterus and there were multiple incision marks on her belly. God can only imagine what this poor baby went through.

To add insult to injury, Dixie had pneumonia, double ear infection, bronchitis and worms.

The Trio Animal Foundation spent thousands of dollars to nurse Dixie back to health. Our very own Trio never left Dixie's side and cleaned her ears and face daily. Trio also helped to teach Dixie how to trust again and kept her warm when she slept.

Once Dixie received a clean bill of health she was spayed, fully vaccinated, heartworm tested and microchipped.  

Then, Dixie found the best forever home possible. DIxie now has a big fenced in backyard, 2 new siblings and parents that loved her unconditionally. Dixie was one of the lucky ones and has earned a place in my heart forever.

We can't thank Dixie's adoptive family enough for giving this once broken down girl a second chance at life.

Leia, now named Dixie, is doing great and loves to play in her new backyard with her new brother and sister. Her adoptive parents say that she is a blessings to their family. It never ceases to amaze me how these dogs that have been abused and tortured can find a way to forgive and love humans again. TAF is so happy that we could help Leia on her journey.

Kermit

Just days after our beloved Trio passed away, we went down to our local shelter to transfer some needy dogs into our program in her honor. As we were about to leave, a man brought in this tiny puppy with a cast on his leg. He had jumped off the couch and broken his leg, but his family didn't have the means to provide surgery and the care required. We took him immediately, and named him Kermit.

After recovering under the watchful, loving eyes of TAF's Geiger, Kermit found his forever home with a doting mom and a wonderful family! 

Brandy

TAF came across a beautiful red husky at a local shelter. She was depressed, not eating, and was not going to last very long....she left with us that afternoon. After spending several days hospitalized at our vet for a severe upper respiratory infection, Brandy went to a foster home to recuperate. Just a few weeks later, she landed herself an amazing adoptive home with some great kids, a couple other dogs to play with, and amazing parents!!

Schmoo

On a cold January 20th, poor Schmoo was left tied to the outside door of an open access shelter… she was cold, scared and TAF took her right into our program.

Soon after, Schmoo came down with an upper respiratory infection and became quite ill. This week, Schmoo was finally given the ok by her vet and was ready to start the next chapter of her life.

When Schmoo came up from the back room to meet her new family, she started wiggling her little butt and went crazy when she saw the kids. They had brought her some new toys and she ran right over to sit on their laps. During the whole intro, Schmoo never left the boy and it was obvious that she had chosen him as her own. This was the first that we had ever seen her act that way and it was truly heartwarming... such a delightful ending to such a sad beginning.

Wolf and Midnight

Wolf and Midnight are littermate Australian Shepherd mix girls who were surrendered to a local shelter by their tearful owner. She was dying of end-stage kidney disease, was checking into the hospital for the last time and had exhausted all options for her beloved dogs. 

We never got to meet her but when the shelter called us about the girls, we vowed to keep the very bonded pair together and find a home who would love both of them. 

For 8 months we tried to find their new family. The girls went through training, got to socialize with other dogs and lots of people, and had their vetting updated. 

Finally in early December we received the best application for both of the girls. Angela and her fiancé came to meet them, and it was love at first sight for everyone! After a few visits, we are happy to say the Aussie girls have gone to their new home!!! They have a giant fenced in yard to play in, lots of room to sunbathe and lounge around, a mom and dad who are devoted to them, and they are together!!!

Mavis

Sitting at an open access shelter for months, Mavis never gave up hope or lost her will to live. This brave senior girl must have known that her luck was about to turn around.

When TAF first met Mavis, formerly known as #196, she was stoic and trusting. Even though she didn’t catch the attention of many of those around her, she stood proud and her resilience proved the test of time. By the time that TAF was able to pull her into our program, she was ready to go and never looked back.

We are happy to announce that Mavis has finally received her happily ever after and has a mom and dad to call her own.  

To honor their beloved 13-year-old female pittie that has recently passed, Mavis’s new parents have chosen to love another grey-muzzled girl. When Mavis’s new mom first walked in the door and laid eyes on Mavis, she started crying and simply said… she is perfect.

We couldn’t agree more and are so thankful that Mavis has found her forever home and that her heart is complete.

Missy

On January 20th, TAF pulled neglected Missy into our program after she was dropped off at an open access shelter. This tiny frail little girl had been kept in the backyard of her owner's home with another dog. It is nothing but a miracle that she didn't freeze to death in this freezing cold Chicago weather. 

We are happy to announce, on this record breaking cold night, that Missy is snuggled up in a nice warm bed and has a new forever home with a mom that adores her... such a wonderful beginning for this once forgotten pup.