Chicago Canine Rescue’s 7th Annual Mutt Strut event brings together alumni and local community to raise funds and have some fun while championing the needs of dogs.
Even though heavy rains and flashes of lightning forced organizers to cancel the initial date for this year’s Mutt Strut, the rain check event held on Sunday, October 24 brought dogs and their companions out in packs. The Chicago Canine Rescue (CCR) depends on this annual fund raiser to supply much-need money in support of the facility, located on Chicago’s north side.
“Most shelters outside of the mega-shelters [Animal Care and Control, Anti-Cruelty Society and Animal Welfare League] don’t have facilities,” explains CCR’s president, Janice Triptow. “Only a few shelters maintain a physical location, while others bring their rescued dogs directly into foster homes.” The added expense of maintaining a physical building means that the shelter needs every dime it can get.
“CCR focuses on medical needs dogs,” Triptow says. “These needy dogs can be expensive to rehabilitate.”
That’s why the shelter relies on fund raisers and a cadre of staff and volunteers to bring about happy endings for over 360 dogs in 2009. And, they’re on track to do more good in 2010, having placed 259 dogs this year already.
“It takes a community to care for dogs,” Triptow says. And she should know. Not only is she CCR’s president, but she’s deeply involved in Safe Humane Chicago’s Court Case Dog Program which helps find homes for dogs that have entered the legal system. In the past, at the conclusion of court cases, these dogs were routinely euthanized, but thanks to the efforts of the dedicated staff and volunteers of Safe Humane Chicago and volunteers like Triptow along with an army of others, these dogs now have a hope of finding a forever home.
“The Chicago Canine Rescue has taken nine court case dogs so far,” Triptow says. “There’s a great need for all shelters to step up and help these dogs.”
The fund raiser brought alumni out in force. Former CCR dogs wore special alumni bandanas as they romped through the well-attended event. Many of the CCR workers and volunteers gleefully greeted former shelter dogs and their human companions as everyone wandered through the event area, stopping at the many tables set up by animal organizations and businesses. There was also a costume contest, a silent auction, a raffle and the Mutt Strut — a dog parade along a local street.
CCR brought along several adoptable dogs to greet the many visitors and perhaps coax one or two to consider adoption. Since 2001, CCR has been working tirelessly to find forever homes for dogs and, at times, a few cats. Their small facility can handle as many as 30 dogs at a time, and they always welcome volunteers.
Adopt, Donate, Foster, Volunteer. So reads the tag line on the Chicago Canine Rescue’s logo, and in the end, isn’t that what every shelter seeks?
Photos by Rudy Linke