Results tagged “adoptapet”

As it doesn't take an advanced degree to get two dogs to mate, the industry is rife with "backyard breeders" looking to make a buck, while having no idea what they are doing. Often times the dogs are overbred and inbred, overcrowded, neglected, and spend their days in filthy cages. Puppy mill owners have no respect for the animals beyond them being a profit center, and once that usefulness is gone the dogs are euthanized. So if you have to have a purebred pooch, please go to a reputable breeder. Or even better, as regular Chicagoist readers know, we're big fans of adoption.

Donald Kolakowski of Niles has been charged with theft after he took home a puppy from a Petland store that he said was his but wasn't. According to the police Kolakowski saw a sign on the puppy's cage that said "I'm going home soon" and convinced an employee he was there to pick the dog up. She didn't ask for a receipt, and he apparently left with the miniature pinscher, who actually cost $1,600. The dog has been returned to the store, and Kolakowski, currently on parole, was releaed on bond.[Trib, Pioneer Local.]

Casey is an adorable six month old black short-hair kitten. He was rescued from a home that had too many cats, so he may be undersocialized. Chicago Canine Rescue would like to place Casey in a home with at least one other companion feline, to keep him company and show him the ropes.

Did you know that the City of Chicago's Animal Care and Control also has rabbits for adoption? Ashes is one of six eight-month-old male rabbits in the city's cat adoption room, and he's available for adoption right away.

U.S. Marshals seized pet food stored in an apparently rat-infested PETCO warehouse in Joliet yesterday.

Earlier last month officials in Pleasant Prairie, WI seized more 60 dogs that they say were living in cramped, inhumane conditions. A neighbor called police after becoming concerned about just how many animals were living on the property. "Sitting there all winter and watching the cats outside freezing. That blew my mind," she told WDJT-TV, the local CBS affiliate. "Then, the more you hear the dogs barking, the more the people aren't home for days, the more you think, 'what about the animals?'" Safe Harbor Humane Society took over the care of the animals, and local police say they found the body of a dead dog in a garbage can on the property as well. "This would be our second puppy mill since January 31st. But this was different because they were in a house...There were dogs in the basement and just about every room and there were parts of the house where there were cages stacked up," Safe Harbor Director Tonya Howell said.

Although keeping pot-bellied pigs as housepets hasn't been fashionable for nearly a decade, doesn't mean that there aren't wonderfully little piggies looking for nice urban homes. Meet Curly. This young male was given up to a shelter because he could no longer fit through a pet door. In spite of the apparent selfishness of his original owners, Curly seems to have been well-cared for: he's house broken, knows how to sit, and has been neutered and de-tusked.

Bubba is an adult male Tabby, staying at the Red Door Animal Shelter.

The Critter Corral Guinea Pig Rescue has a lovely pair of guinea pigs available for adoption. Baby and his brother Brownie are both affectionate, love attention and food, and have been together almost from the beginning. After their original owner had to move out of the country, and couldn't take them with, they were given to the Critter Corral.

Jose is a Shepherd mix puppy, found at Chicago's Animal Care and Control, and put into foster care by New Leash on Life. Jose has been with his foster family for a while now, and doesn't have the behavior problems that sometimes come with abandoned or lost dogs. Jose has already learned to sit and lay down, and he is working on his skills with stay. Since he is still a puppy, he is learning more every day, and while he doesn't always know what is an appropriate chew toy and what isn't, he still has a lot of capacity for training and growth. He is for the most part housebroken, although being so young, he needs a family that has lots of time for attention and socialization, and he needs to do his business about every four hours.

Judy is a three-year-old Doberman Pinscher available for adoption from Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus. Judy was originally placed with a family that had other, older dogs in the home. Unfortunately, Judy had some problems with aggression, and since she was the youngest of the dogs in the household, the decision to find her a new home seemed the most equitable.

Not all dogs up for adoption come from heartbreaking backgrounds. Take Radar, for example. He's a well-adjusted Pit Bull Terrier with seemingly endless energy and a penchant for snuggling.

The past couple of weeks, we've been taking a look at the different kinds of pets that are available for adoption. This includes dogs and cats, as well as rabbits, and all of them come from shelters that take in animals that have been abused or come from homes where the people can no longer care for them. But small and furry animals aren't the only pets that wind up in shelters.

Easter morning, children wake up to colored eggs and chocolate bunnies. And in some households, they wake up to pet rabbits. What parents may not realize, however, is that rabbits can live up to 20 years. And after Easter has passed, and the novelty has worn off, local animal shelters often see an uptick in abandoned rabbits.

If there was ever a rescue dog that could inspire you to run down to the shelter and give a pet a loving home, it's Carlton.

Last week we put the spotlight on Snowball the poodle. But it's not just dogs that make great pets!

When Lt. Governor Pat Quinn declared March 4 "Uno the Beagle Day," we realized that everyday is a good day to celebrate pets. And since there are plenty of good dogs out there without loving homes, what better way to celebrate a good dog like Uno the Beagle, than by adopting a dog that needs a good home?

Uno the Beagle day was earlier this week. Well, today's Arthur the Beagle Day (more like afternoon, but potayto, potahto). What's Arthur got that Uno doesn't? He can be yours! You can adopt him or another pooch on Saturday at the Petsmart in Downers Grove.

Today was supposed to be Uno the Beagle Day in Illinois. But Uno is stuck in St. Louis due to inclement weather. We feel you, Uno--flying into Chicago this time of year is a risky proposition.