Before & After

Jose

After being dumped at a kill shelter as a baby, Josè was transferred into TAF's adoption program. He was only 3 months old, under-socialized, scared of everything and very thin. Within weeks this puppy turned around and was adopted by a good friend of TAF. We have watched him flourish and now he gets to help other dogs come out of their shells by pairing up with rescue pups in TAF's adoption program!

Lancaster

On January 20, 2015 TAF pulled Lancaster from an open access shelter. The next day his vet called to let us know that Lancaster was running a high temperature and had bloody diarrhea. To be cautious, a parvo test was performed given his young age and symptoms, but thankfully that was negative. Lancaster was diagnosed with HGE (hemorrhagic gastroenteritis) which is a condition where the lining of the stomach leaks blood and fluid, and it's known to be more prevalent in small breed and young dogs. It can be a very dangerous condition and Lancaster was hospitalized on IV fluids and antibiotics for over a week before be cleared for discharge.

Soon after finishing up his antibiotics and medications for the HGE, Lancaster came down with a terrible upper respiratory infection that sent him back to the vet to be hospitalized for a few days on IV fluids and antibiotics.

Well… we are happy to announce that Lancaster has found his forever home this past weekend! His new mom adores him and will even be able to take Lancaster to work with her! This poor boy will never have to be alone, again... such a happy ending for a truly wonderful pair!

*The photo on left was taken at an open access shelter.

Barkley

On August 5th, TAF was contacted about an emaciated, 4 lb., horribly neglected male pup. His name was Barkley and he was suffering from massive hair loss due to the weight of severely matted fur being torn from his body along with urine burns up and down his legs.

We were able to give Barkley an emergency grooming but had to stop once we saw what was beneath his matted fur…while working on is face, two of his toenails were found growing out of his ear. We could only surmise that Barkley must have tried to scratch through some of his matted fur and became stuck…his two toenails must have just ripped out from the constant pressure. This was, by far, one of the most disturbing things that I have ever seen and really put in perspective the abuse that this pup had endured.

In addition to this, Barkley’s gums were pale and his legs began to come out from underneath him. He was just too tired to go on. It was then that Barkley was hospitalized until his medical condition stabilized.

Two days passed before Barkley was able to go back to the groomers and it was at that time that the true gravity of Barkley’s condition became horrifically apparent. Barkley, by far, was the most emaciated little dog that I have ever seen in my 20 (+) years of rescue… even thinner than Elsa. The pictures in my album don’t begin to show the extent of the abuse and torture that this poor pup has endured.

Barkley’s toes were so tightly fused together by mats and dried puss that it was near impossible to separate them without physically using your hands to forcefully pull them apart. It was like there was a rubber band around them cutting off the circulation. In fact, there were more toenails that had fallen off and were entombed in the urine stained matted fur.

Once the matted fur was finally shaved from Barkley’s legs, the carnage underneath was so bad that it literally took our breathe away… before us stood a tiny little skeleton that had oozing sores up and down his legs and black masses of dead tissue. His urine burns were so severe that they resembled cigarette burns. I honestly do not know how this 4-pound dog had survived that long. You could see every side of his each vertebra and his hipbones, pelvis, ribs and prosternum all prominently protruded from his body. It was so disturbing that I have a hard time putting it into words.

It was at this point that Barkley was taken right back to his doctor and started on pain medication and antibiotics.

Well, after weeks in foster care and some very special attention from TAF’s therapy dogs, Barkley has gone from 4.2lbs. to 11(+)lbs.! 

Better yet, I am proud to say that Barkley has found his forever home! Barkley now has the most adorable little brother and a mom that adores him! We went to visit Barkley this weekend and he couldn’t have been any happier to see us… it was the best gift that anybody involved in animal rescue could have received. The pup that had once emotionally brought me to my knees was thriving, hearty and beaming with joy… such a miracle… such a gift. 

Barkley’s will to live allowed him to beat all odds and reminded many of us that being strong has nothing to do with your size but your heart.

Elsa

Wearing only an over-sized metal chain-link around her neck, Elsa was found tied up in the backyard of her owner’s home on the south side of Chicago. It was just after July 4th and she was emaciated, defeated, terrified and had lost any sense of hope… she was truly somebody’s leftover. (*Elsa’s owners were never charged.)

Knowing the severity of her medical condition, TAF pulled Elsa from Chicago Animal Care and Control and brought her straight to our vet. Elsa was hospitalized on IV fluids/antibiotics/pain medication and continued to receive supportive care for quite some time. For weeks… we just waited and prayed that Elsa’s medical team could get her through her darkest hours.

For the last six months, TAF has worked to build up Elsa’s confidence, get her to the appropriate weight and work on her social skills. With the help of the staff at Unleashed, Canine Sports Dog Training and TAF’s Medical & Rescue Director (Bridgid), Elsa has become an ambassador for her breed and has been given the gift of a second chance.

Because of everybody’s hard work and Elsa determination and stoic spirit, Elsa has now found herself in the loving arms of her new mom. Tonight Elsa will be sleeping by her mom and wake up to the first day of the rest of her new life.

I saw this quote and I could just imagine Elsa saying it, “AFTER A WHILE I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AND REALIZED… WOW AFTER ALL THOSE HURTS, SCARS, AND BRUISES, AFTER ALL OF THOSE TRIALS, I REALLY MADE IT THROUGH. I DID IT. I SURVIVED THAT WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL ME. SO I STRAIGHTENED MY CROWN… AND WALKED AWAY LIKE A BOSS.” 

Elsa, you are one in a million and we wish you and your new mom more love than you ever thought was possible. May you be blessed with years of happiness.

Kringle

In the early morning hours of 12/22/14, TAF was called over to the ER Vet after we received a call about a stray dog with a choke collar embedded under his arm, neck, and shoulder region. The dog had just been caught by a humane dog trap that was set up next to the railroad tracks where he had earlier been seen eating a mattress.

Kringle’s choke collar was so deeply embedded that you couldn’t see the chain on the back of his neck and in other areas. In fact, the doctors had to cut the chain off in pieces and pull it out from under the skin that had grown over it. The infected sections that were visible were so necrotic and ulcerated that they debrided the tissue in attempt to remove as much dead tissue and puss as possible.

Because the infections were so widespread and permeated so deeply into his tissue, the vet applied wet to dry bandages in an attempt to remove as much dead tissue as possible before Kringle was stable enough for surgery.

When everything was said and done, Kringle ended up with a drain coming out of his chest and stitches that ran under his armpit, leading up his side and around the whole back of his neck. He stayed at the specialty center for almost a week before coming back to TAF to recuperate. In that short period of time, it was amazing to see how happy, affectionate and playful this once forgotten pup had become.

We are very happy to report that Kringle has not only made a full recovery, but he also landed himself an amazing forever home! Kringle’s new mom and dad are enamored by him and adore everything about him. To sweeten the deal… Kringle’s new dad works from home so his new buddy is always at his side.

A big thank you to everyone that donated towards Kringle’s extensive medical bills… because of you, Kringle never went without.

Mira

Just this past week, Mira sat frantically crying at the front door of an open access shelter as her former dad walked out and left her behind… for the days to come, she cried and found it hard to eat. Mira’s heart was shattered into a million pieces.

We at TAF knew that it would take a caring and gentle man to mend Mira’s emotional wounds and make her happy, again.

Well, as fate would have it, that man was about to walk into Mira’s life and help to ease her pain and show her that she was loved.

A while back, Mira’s new dad lost his senior pittie girl to cancer and the thought of bringing a new pup into his life was just too painful… after caring for his baby girl until the end, his heart was broken.

It was not until he saw Mira’s story and the look of despair in her eyes that he knew they were meant to be together. That very same day he filled out an adoption application and the rest is history. 

As of today, Mira has a new dad and two broken hearts are happy once more.

Winston

And that my friends… is a happily ever after!

Once neglected by his owners and left to fend for himself in his fenced in backyard... Winston was confiscated and brought to the local pound. 

When TAF first met this terribly matted boy at the pound, he was scared, shut down and just wanted to fade into the back of his cage. If it were not for some pretty tasty treats, I do not know if we would have won the fuzzy pup over.

Well, after weeks filled with multiple groomings and playtime with the TAF rehabilitation dogs, Winston has blossomed into an outgoing and happy pup… Winston has not only beaten the odds but this precious pup has reached for the stars and found himself the PERFECT mom!!!

Winston’s new mom messaged, simply saying, “Winston has been a complete dream… thank you so much!"

Jiminy

IF YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR DREAM, NO REQUEST IS TOO EXTREME. – JIMINY CRICKET

TAF is happy to announce that after spending weeks at an open access shelter, Jiminy has found his forever home. Instead of metal bars and a concrete floor… Jiminy will be spending the rest of his life playing with his two adorable sisters in their big backyard and snuggling with his new mom on the couch!

We are so happy to have played a part in Jiminy’s happily ever after!

Jones

WONDERFUL NEWS… NOT ONLY DID JONES REGAIN THE USE OF HIS BACK LEGS BUT NOW HE HAS FOUND HIS FOREVER HOME JUST IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING!

TAF came across Jones at an open access shelter after his owner dropped him off because his back legs were no longer working. The shelter manager asked TAF if we could help him and get Jones the extended medical care that he needed and that is just what we did.

After months of physical therapy, medication, a special diet and strict crate rest, Jones regained the use of his back legs and made a full recovery. 

Now, with a new lease on life, Jones has a new 10-year-old brother to snuggle up with and a mom and dad that adore him… we could not be happier for the new family!

Mopsy

AFTER STRUGGLING WITH A HORRIFIC UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION... LITTLE MOPSY HAS MADE A FULL RECOVERY AND HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME!

Mopsy has had a rough time of it since the day we picked her up at an open access shelter. We are beyond thrilled that this little pup had it in her not give up and make a full recovery. Now... our once matted little girl will be spending the holidays with her new cat brother and loving parents.