Blog Posts

Why Foster for Peace for Pits?

2/10/2020

Volunteer rescue work is a challenge, but as with every challenge there comes rewards. In today’s world of animal welfare, organizations like our very own Peace for Pits is paving the way in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming of bully breeds. We are doing this through education and a solid support system within our rescue enabling our volunteers to reach out to the community.

Resolve to Get Involved: One Tail at a Time

2/4/2020

By Jillian Braun - Jillian is a foster, volunteer, and Associate Board member at One Tail at a Time. She’s been involved with the organization since 2017 when she adopted her little southern mutt, Albus.

Enchilada's Freedom Ride

The number of animals that we lose in our shelters each year is daunting which can make it feel like an overwhelming problem to solve and hard to nail down a place to start. Luckily, at One Tail at a Time (OTAT) there are so many ways to make a difference, no matter your location, background, or availability!

Freedom Rides & Transports

One of the best feelings is to be the first person a pup sees when they’re being rescued. Take little Enchilada, here, who was surrendered by his owner at Chicago Animal Care & Control. Thanks to the Chicagoland Rescue Intervention & Support Program (CRISP), this little chihuahua avoided the shelters and was sent to foster through One Tail at a Time. Driving him to his foster where he transformed from a scared little pup to a confident dog was incredibly rewarding. All you need for freedom rides is a car and some spare time.

2019 RECAP & FUTURE CHANGES

1/26/2020

2019 was a huge year for Real Dog Moms. With your help, we raised over $81,500 for animal rescues in the Chicagoland area (over $30,000 more than we raised in 2018). We hosted 83 events and donated the proceeds to 32 organizations - our busiest year yet!

We’re ready to do more. In 2020, we've got our sights set on $100,000.

The goal of Real Dog Moms has always been doing good while having fun. We are here to help you have fun with your dog and meet fellow dog-loving people while giving back to those who need it most in our rescue community. There are already amazing people and rescues doing incredible things in the Chicagoland area and we want to support them however we can. In order to set ourselves up to help them even more, we will be handling our events and donations a bit differently moving forward.

HIKING WITH DOGS

1/12/2020

Written by and photos from RDMOC volunteer Alysia Slusser
Follow all of her and her pup Franklin's hiking adventures on Instagram @go.fetch.franklin

As the new year begins many of you are resolving to get outside more, exercise, and do activities with your dog, but may not be sure where you can go. We're here to help!

Before I get into my favorite places to hike I feel like it’s necessary to write a bit about how to hike with your dog. As more and more people want to get outside our places of beauty are being disrupted and as a card carrying member of Leave No Trace (read more on the 7 principles here) I'd like to take a minute to talk about trail etiquette.

Stitch Has a Need

1/11/2020

Stitch has a need, a need for speed <insert Tom Cruise meme here>.
On January 1st, some of the One Tail staff was supporting Mutts of the Midway's first CRISP shift. (Welcome Mutts, we love you)
Stitch came in as an owner surrender, due to the inability to afford his medical care. At 4 years old, Stitch is having 4 minute long seizures and may have either meningitis or a disk injury. When he was relinquished he was unable to walk and after two weeks with One Tail on steroids, he's gotten some mobility back, but this boy has a dream... the dream to keep up with his foster siblings.

What's Your Resolution?

12/31/2019

I've spent a lot of my free time helping dogs in rescue since 2007. Sadly (and embarrassingly), one of the places I've helped the least is Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC). This is due to a number of personal reasons, none of which were the facility or dogs themselves.
In August of 2019, I started leading CRISP shifts with my friend Emily, as well as working with her to pull dogs from CACC, (both) for Second City Canine Rescue (SCCR). I've grown to know the staff at Animal Control, work directly with them and the dogs and decided that one of my DECADE RESOLUTIONS (ahem) was to start volunteering at our local intake shelter, myself. Every time I worked a CRISP shift or went with Emily to check out some dogs SCCR was interested in rescuing, I felt a deeper draw to volunteer. I've spent hours stalking adoption event photos, waiting for the dogs I've met in person to find their forever homes. Clearly it's time, right?
During this month's Bissell Empty the Shelter event at Animal Control I saw a post pleading to help them reach over 3,000 adoptions for 2019. This adoption total is DOUBLE what it was two years ago. This excited me so much and nudged me further, to finally sign up and inspired me to challenge you all to do the same. So, I reached out to Tara Majeed and asked her to write a blog about her inspiring volunteer work in helping our local intake shelter flourish and reach these record breaking numbers. I asked her to share how our amazing community of dog lovers can do more at the ground level. Imagine how many more dogs (and cats) could be saved if everyone decided it was time to volunteer!!!
Here is the AMAZING information Tara has put together. Including the links for how to get involved. I have reserved my spot for the January 4th Orientation. Email me, and let me know if you'll join me.

Happy New Year (new decade) Friends. How do you resolve to help more dogs?
xo - jes

Real Dog Moms 2019 Gift Guide

11/24/2019

Real Dog Moms 2019 Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for something for your beloved dogs this holiday season? Here is our list of must haves for your favorite fido.
We have listed items only tried and valued by our own real dog moms of Chicago team members.
Or in Kerry's case, really desired!
Once you've found your new favorites, hop over to our Holiday page to see all about out gift and card exchanges. Don't miss the return of our Annual Decorate Your Dog Contest either! Read more...

Rescueber - Transporting Over 200 Animals for Rescues

10/25/2019

Written by Rachel Burger of Rescueber Transport NFP

It all began in May of 2018. There was a beautiful Mastiff boy at CRISP (Chicagoland Rescue Intervention Support Program) that was ready for his freedom ride after being surrendered by his owner. A volunteer asked if I could provide that ride and added after I agreed to foster him overnight until his long term foster got home the next day.

That was Hawkman, a 10 month old mastiff puppy going to a Second City Canine Rescue foster home, and is still to date, the only guest my crew of animals accepted from day one. After he was picked up by his long-term foster, I knew I had finally found my niche in what I could do for the rescue world. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was often heartbroken by the posts looking for foster homes, as my cats are extra particular with guests, my partner always said “no”, and I knew that I was not in a place for more animals.

But I could still help, I could provide rides to these animals.

I could transport animals to their foster home, a rescue center, or a veterinarian clinic. Whatever these newly rescued animals needed. Slowly, I started driving more transports, including the first of many kittens. I realized during all these rides, I was saving lives. Many of the dogs or cats I transported were leaving an open intake facility and it’s amazing how their departure often opened a cage just in time for a new incoming animal. Transporting often also saves the life (sometimes literally) of the dog or cat that is getting out.

Canine Cruise Checks Off Pup’s Bucket List

10/23/2019

Written by Melanie Hofmann with lots of help from Doug’s mom, Mary

Last month, the Real Dog Moms of Chicago set off on another sold out Canine Cruise with Mercury Cruises around the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. After hosting 6 of these cruise events with proceeds benefiting different local rescues, we know to expect a fun afternoon full of great people, smiling pups and amazing skyline photo ops. September’s cruise was a bit different though as we had a very special guest with us this time around.

This is Doug. He’s an energetic and loving 7 year old Sato mix (a Puerto Rican mixed breed street dog). “Doug is absolutely the best,” says Mary, Doug’s mom. “He has the kindest spirit and a knack for making everyone feel like they are the most important human ever.”

Late last year, Doug started having issues and was diagnosed in April with terminal cancer after a nerve sheath tumor found in his back leg started to impact his ability to walk. He can no longer use either of his back legs and carries most of his body weight on his front legs. Doug was generously sponsored by Bialy’s Wellness Foundation and now has a cart that helps him get around. But he is still on several different medications to manage his symptoms and pain levels. These medications lower his ability to heal quickly which have caused abscesses and other issues.

The Things Yoshi Taught Me

10/12/2019

Written by Chet Piotrowski, Jr.
Originally appeared in the Effingham Daily News

It’s been less than week since Yoshi has passed - his 8.5 pound body no longer able to sustain the ravages of swollen lymph nodes and other unseen damage caused by cancer. I carry his collar everywhere I go, hidden so only I can feel it. Not because I’m embarrassed, but because I can’t seem to fathom he’s not next to me. The audible click-clack of his name tag and microchip are only discernible to me. When I've had to run errands since, I place it on the seat where he would sit when we would go for car rides.

As I drive around, wishing he was there, I'm reminded of what he taught me about life.