Tagged: “Fostering”

Desperate for a Home, Desperate for Love

WH_slider-fosterWe are asking for a few good foster homes to open up for some of our adorable adoptables waiting patiently in boarding. Otis, Big Boy, Whiskey, Allie, Queenie, Peepers and Blue would all love to know the sweet feeling of foster love. The feeling of a soft blanket beneath their bodies or a pillow under their cheeks. The sound of laughter and the feel of sunshine through a window. The earthy smells of the woods drifting through an open window. Or the gentle touch of a hand upon their shoulders to reassure them that someone cares and they do matter.
So much love to share with someone willing to allow them to transition from boarding into a real home. A boarding facility, and even the best of them, is no substitute for sharing space, time and heart with others. Their is absolutely no substitute for being loved and loving someone back. The guidance and support a foster home provides is often our rescues first positive experience with someone who truly cares for them. Some have a puppy exuberance at the simple things like a soft blanket, toys, a rug or pillow just for them. YOUR attention will provide the largest impact. Your voice, touch, care, love and home will change the course of their lives. How amazing to share anywhere from a couple weeks to several months with a life that will ultimately only be living because YOU (their foster) stepped up to save them. That is the work being done here, that is the life-saving foster community of Wagging Hearts. A foster home is crucial and its impact undeniable. It is the next transition and we would like you to meet some of our saves that are waiting for there homes to appear. Please let us know if you can foster any of these beautiful souls that deserve a new second chance in life:

IMG_4017Otis, our lab-pittie mix who was saved as a pup from a high-kill shelter. Literally on the last day he was supposed to be alive. A miracle pup who has grown up in boarding with almost no socialization but with much love in his heart. Yearning for a real home. He will need someone that understands his energy and emotional needs. He is starving to show someone experienced that beneath the lightening in his soul, he is a great boy with lots of love to share. Otis is someone who will change your world. Just like a real home would change his. Check out his video!!

Big Boy_01Big Boy is a gentle giant with a big roar of love in his heart for someone to notice him. He may be large but is seemingly invisible. Sits like a gentleman waiting for signs of a treat. Ask him to give his paw and he will indulge. He can be a bit gruff with other males but that could be the transitions and boarding atmosphere impacting his personality. You can see the intelligence in his eyes as he watches and takes it all in hoping someone comes sees the tenderness in his heart. Oh what a companion he would be!

IMG_3892Whiskey is beyond a beautiful boy inside and out. With the gentlest eyes and soft, suede coat. Even his hoarse, raspy bay reminds one of an adventure with fun written all over it. Did we mention how much he loves to nibble on soft, furry toys? LOVES them!! The squeakier the better. All around a great big boy in need of active, stimulating mornings and cuddling, back-rolling nights. Check out his video!! More about Whiskey.

IMG_4071Allie is a sweetheart of a girl. Quiet and lost. Our longest resident in boarding who deserves to feel the arms of a family wrapped around her tightly. This beautiful lady has the softest mouth while nibbling on a treat. She is a pocketful of solid heart ready to climb into your lap for love. You can see she is lost as it has been so long since someone has called her their own. It has been a very long time since Allie has known what a real home feels like. Or the quiet of a night with love tucked all around. Check out her video!!

QueenieQueenie is a middle-aged gal with puppy in her heart. Crystal-blue eyes that seem to laugh when she smiles. Saved from a hoarding case and brought to a high-kill shelter in KY where she was rescued. Queenie will show you sweetness wrapped inside a loving embrace. If you are looking for someone to share the couch or play around outside…this is your gal! Happy to be anywhere with you and waiting for a home to fix her intense gaze upon.

IMG_4225Peepers smiles with joy in her heart. Low to the ground with enough love to light up the world. Definitely a dominant girl who likes to get her way and does not like to be pushed around. The first to play and roll around with the laughter bubbling up in her heart. She is innocence and light with a whole lotta’ muscle. She will need an experienced household to due to her strength and alpha personality. A sweetheart who likes to get her way! Check out her video!!

BlueBlue is perhaps a character that will bring endless laughter. Just a pup in heart and spirit. Saved on the day his number was up and eager to start his celebration by experiencing the comforts of a real home. A large boy in need of someone who is ready for his eager love for attention and cuddles. Perhaps even your food!! Blue has the ability to play with anyone and anything as his personality is one of joy and happiness with a smile that tells it all!

Remember, if you see a life you can help alter by opening up your home temporarily then we urge you to fill out a foster app today! They are waiting in a kennel for you and I to get them out. Each one deserving of sharing space and time with loving care givers in a real home. Fosters lay down the ground work which allows our animals to understand that people can be a positive experience and life can be a really beautiful journey. But until each one is out of boarding, they are only half-living. Only half-saved. Please consider your home as a foster home potential today.

Can’t foster…How about support through Volunteering? Donate? ‘Lend A Paw’ list?

And then their is ALWAYS adoption?

 

We always need great fosters to help save a life

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Have you ever thought about helping an animal in need, donating your time to help or even donating a bag of animal food?  

Become a foster parent to a rescue animal for a few weeks, it is the most important aspect to an animals life because you are teaching them how to trust again or even for the first time. We save from high-kill shelters where they have only a few hours left, homes where their owner can no longer care for them so they contact us for help in finding their pets great homes. We need volunteers to help us save as many lives as we can as we are a foster-based rescue. The most fulfilling moment of being a foster is knowing that you are helping another family … complete their family and fill their hearts and homes with forever love. If you would like more information on becoming a foster parent, please contact us at fostering@wagginghearts.org or Kirsten@wagginghearts.org.

Why foster?

Learn more about fostering.

 

 

Dog Days of Summer Comes to an End Once More

Dog Days of Summer Comes to an End Once More

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What A Unbelievable Event Filled With Dedication, Support and Love for the Animals!

Continuation from Dog Days of Summer Day One …

We could not be more thankful for all that attended this year’s Dog Days of Summer event.
Our volunteers worked hard to provide fantastic, positive exposure for our adoptables.
Many made real connections with the lives that Wagging Hearts saved along the way. Nothing is  more powerful than to witness a life that was destined to fade away — tucked alone and abandoned in a shelter — find a family to love them, care for them. And to insure that they finally understand what forever really means. That is the goal for each of our events … get the word out. Rescue animals have so much to give but sometimes it is buried a little deeper inside them because of the journey that life has taken them on. But events like Dog Days of Summer, presented by Pampered Pupz, allow us to showcase these lives. To thrust them out into the light of day to present the unique and utterly beautiful personalities that each of them are. Small, medium and large breeds all looking to settle down and find that one home ready to provide all the permanent love and care they will ever need. What a journey we are all taking together for the rescued lives we are meeting along the way. They are all that really matters, right?

What Support!

We are humbled!! Our volunteers, fosters, boarding facilities, family, friends and new acquaintances came out in full support on Saturday and Sunday.

Special thanks to:

Summer, our littlest volunteer walked the crowds with her cuteness alerting many to our donated gift basket raffles each day. Summer brought the masses to our booth and filled our donation jar with her young, gifted tenacity to work hard for the animals. What a rescuer in the making and how lucky we are to have her support!!

Natalie, nothing stops her when it comes to putting it all out their for the rescues. She gives us all of herself; dedication of immense time, effort and a great, big heart.

Care Animal Hospital in Libertyville, for transporting our rescues to and from your facility. Guess what … all of them found forever or foster homes. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your assistance. Such support provides ripples of assistance to our organization. Jenna (found forever love), Skyler (found foster love) and Thema (found forever love).

Adoptions this weekend: Alyassa, Dixie, Foxy, Gretchen, Jenna, Jenny and Titan

All our volunteers who gave their all to us on both days. We watched you talking, showing off and loving our rescues. We saw lives being altered with each new connection. We watch young volunteers 8 years and up helping the animals stay cool and provide a lap to nap in when things got to be a bit too much. Our event was in simple words … amazing and successful. Lives have been altered and love has been shared. What more could we ask for — oh yeah … we did raise some good, old-fashioned money which goes directly to the care of the animals in our rescue.
We raffled two gift baskets away that were donated. Provided homemade treats to four-legged pets through-out the event, as well as playful bandannas. We are glowing with happiness and can’t thank everyone who came out enough for the love and support. Enjoy the photos from
Dog Days of Summer Day 2:

Connect with us if you can assist with adoptions, fostering or just through supporting our organization. Thank you as always for the phenomenal support given.

4th of July Parade

4th of July Parade

Everyone here at Wagging Hearts is proud to announce that we will be walking in the Evanston 4th of July Parade!

The parade runs from  Central Park Avenue East on Central Street to Ashland Avenue, beginning at 2:00 PM.

Be on the look out for us! We have some nifty things to hand out along the way!

 

Dog Days of Summer Event – July 12 – 14, 2013

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Dog Days of Summer  July 11-14, 2013

produced by Pampered Pup’z, generously sponsored by PNC Bank, Petraneks’ Pharmacy, Save-A-Pet, GreenTree Animal Hospital & MainStreet Libertyville

Wagging Hearts Booth in Cook’s Park  July 13-14, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm   Location to come.

Libertyville literally is going to the dogs for 4 days starting on Thursday, July 11th and runs through Sunday, July 14th. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring your furry companions everywhere because that’s exactly what YOU can do! Stores, streets and parks are pet-friendly and ready to graciously greet up-to-date family dogs and cats that come out to see the town dolled up just for them. Bring them along while you dine at one of the pet-friendly outdoor patios such as Egg Harbor Cafe, Mickey Finns or 545 North Bar & Grill. Get ready to participate in a myriad of competitions or watch DockDogs Big Air Jumping contests at the X-Treme Dog Park where dogs compete on a 40′ dock with a 27,000 gallon, 20′ x 40′ pool. Feel like Fido is up to the challenge? Then preregister your courageous dog ahead of time. Or just take the kids and furbabies on a slow walk among the many educational and entertainment booths sprinkled around Cook’s Park. Meet a variety of animals and animal rescue groups, competent animal trainers and teachers, a variety of vendors, entertainers, food, music, and activities galore with YOUR family and pet in mind. Set aside time to enjoy all that Libertyville has to offer.

Wagging Hearts is participating in Dog Days of Summer with a proudly displayed booth in Cook’s Park just waiting to meet the many people and their companion pets that come out to play. Join us for lots of laughs, cuddles and fun on Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We will have Homemade HushPuppy Treats and Bodacious Bandanas for Bucks with all proceeds being directed toward the medical care of our rescues. Don’t miss our Precious Puppies Pen and meet the littlest lives saved. Or how about seeing our Adorable Adoptables up close and personal? They are waiting to make a love connection, searching for forever homes of their very own. We will be ready with volunteers and supporters ready to answer questions or just pass the time with laughs. Fill out an adoption, foster or volunteer application while at our booth. Or just stop by and let us know how your ‘Dog Days’ experience is going. Can’t wait to see you there!!

Weekend activities for all to enjoy and a whole lot more:

Cook Park located in the heart of Downtown Libertyville features Doggie oriented events. See the Lake County Sheriff’s K-9’s, Serendipity’s Doggie Fashion Show, how impressive! Pet Parade, Forest Bootery’s Family Dog Games, Libertyville Sports Complex Exercise with your Pup, Midwest Disc Club Frisbee Dogs, Save-A-Pet’s Petathon 3K Dog Walk, Baker’s Square’s Breakfast in the Park,  Pet Blessing Ceremony St Lawrence Episcopal Church, the Rory Tyer Band and Fresh this Year Fine’s Dog Pie Hurl.

Check out other articles, photos and links on Dog Days of Summer:

Libertyville Patch Article on ‘Dog Days of Summer’

SunTimes News Article ‘Dog Days Has Nothing to do with the Heat’

Libertyville 2013 Calendar event for ‘Dog Days of Summer’

Libertyville’s Jumping Dogs Live on CBS-TV

Chicagoland Dock Dogs Photo Gallery from Previous Dogs Days

 

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER by Pampered Pupz

JULY 11-14, 2013 in Libertyville, IL

Schedule of events overview:

See Pampered Pupz FULL SCHEDULE with detailed times & activities.

THURSDAY, July 11th

NOON – OPENING of EVENT

Onsite Registration, Practice and Fun Jumping competitions.

FRIDAY, July 12th

Onsite Registration, Practice and Big Air Wave #1-3 competitions and
6:00 PM – Big Air Jump Off opening ceremonies.

After opening ceremonies

Rock in Cook’s Park music provided by Mickey Finn’s

SATURDAY, July 13th

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Cook’s Park opens for family and pets to enjoy. Come meet Wagging Hearts at our booth!! Find out more information on our adoptables, fostering, volunteering and/or donating. We are eager to see some of the faces of our dedicated community members and excited to meet many more new ones. Come purchase some Homemade HushPuppy Treats for a healthy reward or better yet … order ahead! Be on the booth look out for Bodacious Bandanas for Bucks on sale to dress your furbaby up for that extra bit of summer fashion fun. All proceeds benefit the animals of Wagging Hearts, a non-for-profit rescue organization.

1:30 PM – Pet Parade in Cook’s Park. Additional activities …

Big Air Wave #4-6 and Extreme Vertical competitions.

SUNDAY, July 14th

9:00 AMSave-A-Pets’ Petathlon, 3K dog walk, Downtown Libertyville

11:00 AM – St. Lawrence Episcopal Church Dog Blessing ceremony

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Cook’s Park opens. Come meet Wagging Hearts at our booth!! Meet some of our fantastic personalities that are available for adoptions, meet a few of the smallest and youngest lives saved in the Precious Puppies Pen. Purchase and partake of some delicious homemade goodness baked with rescue love and kindness. Discuss potential fostering or volunteering opportunities available to help us continue to make an impact of saving lives.

Big Air Wave #7-8 and Speed Retrieve competitions.

Please share with family and friends as the more the merrier! We look forward to seeing you in person and sharing our rescues with you. We hope you are able to experience all that Dog Days of Summer has to offer you, your family and your furry companions. This is one event you should NOT leave home without them!!

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Map of Dog Days of Summer Event:

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Foster Homes in Short Supply …

Foster Homes in Short Supply …

WH_slider-foster-alertWagging Hearts is in urgent need of foster homes to help save the lives that come our way. We see so many abandoned spirits who have so much to give if only given the opportunity to shine once more.

A few lives we saved currently in need of a loving, foster home:
Otis, Allie, Mocha, Jacob, Tonto

All of whom are looking for foster homes and will provide endless laughter while waiting patiently for a forever home to find them. Please email fostering@wagginghearts.org if you can provide a loving home wrapped in sweet tenderness to one of our rescue pets. Connect with us without delay! Find out if fostering is right for you by visiting our foster section today! If so, email fostering@wagginghearts.org to get started.

Thanks for your continued support.

Calling All Fosters …

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Wagging Hearts realizes that each and every foster home is a lifeline for our rescues. We would not be able to save the numbers of animals that connect with a forever home without our foster’s time, dedication, care and love. A rescue animal has usually been through quite a journey and may need some decompression and gentle love. Remember that companion animals develop deep and meaningful bonds with their families and they can become traumatized or despondent when they find themselves lost or abandoned. Fast forward to these lives adrift at a shelter filled with stress, noise, fear and usually death. This environment can temporarily affect our rescue animals and some may require a little extra TLC to shine brightly once more. That is where our foster homes becomes a lifeline as joy and happiness flood back into each animals heart and bodies. It is an amazing sight to watch how quickly an animal can rebound when shown kindness and a gentle touch. A foster makes an incredible difference in the life of each rescue. Each foster home is an extension of Wagging Hearts and the backbone which allows us to make such a difference in as many lives as we touch. We hope that you may want to be a part of our community and begin to share in the incredible experience of fostering.

Visit our FOSTER section today and to see whether fostering is right for you. If so, fill out a foster application today and join the Wagging Hearts Foster Community. We can’t wait to meet you!