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March 2000 To the Rescue by Deb Olin Unferth One very special place to adopt a dog or cat is Furry Friends, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter run by the passionate and compassionate Catherine Hedges. She says the house philosophy is to improve the animals' lives from the minute they pad through the door. To this end she makes sure all the animals get lots of TLC, including daily walks for the dogs, vet checks two times a week, microchipping, and as little cage time as possible. Many of her animals have special needs. She rescues dogs with broken legs, cats with tumors or diabetes. She saved a dog who had been electrocuted and a cat who had to have its tail removed after having been swung by it. Catherine also raised money for a cat who needed thyroid surgery and then placed her with an elderly man. "He spoils her rotten," she told me.
The shelter is on the property of a vet clinic so Catherine works with the surgeons to get lower-cost care. To get one of these precious animals, adopters go through a rigorous application process. In addition to the usual interview and fee, adopters sign an agreement they will take care of the animal's medical, grooming, and social needs and they must bring the animal back for a free follow-up exam two weeks later. You can expect to hear from Catherine too. She continues to call and give follow-up support for up to six months after adoption. She says this helps ensure that the adoptions stick. Catherine and her crew need donations, volunteers, and adopters. So if you're looking for a good cause, this definitely is one! Call 312-397-1001 for details. | |
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