By the time the general public gets to see our animals
listed on petfinder or loaded up here on our website, they have already been fluffed and stuffed, are in the process of being
rehabilitated and reconditioned if necessary and are virtually ready for adoptive placement. What you may not realize is the
care of so many that goes into getting our rescues to this point. Our House of Hope makes no exception to providing the best
of care physically,emotionally and medically to each and every animal that pass through our doors. Sometimes, its just
a simple bath. Other times, it may be an eye surgery requiring a specialists attention and almost all of the time,
the loving arms of very special volunteers and foster families.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GROOMERS WHO MAKE ALL OF US LOOK GOOD! STATUS: ADOPTED My name is Skipper and boy did I clean up well! When Lisa knew I was coming to Our House
of Hope, she mentioned my arrival to a wonderful couple that had recently applied for a small dog. They wanted to see me the
very day that I arrived. Lisa hesitated as they had not generally done that before because of the stress and conditions of
the new dogs upon arrival. It also isn't customary because temperaments haven't been tested and vetting hasn't
been completed. On this occasion, an exception was made because my new Mom said to Lisa that day on the phone that she was
interested in ME and not the package that I was coming in. Long story short, it was love at first sight on both of our
parts. I jumped my stinky, matted little self right up in their laps and they kissed me on the lips and hugged and petted
me as if I was dressed in Armani and had just graduated from Harvard. Lisa has always said that" in THIS rescue,
it always has to be about the dog" and certainly on that day, it was. Claudia, over at Shear Paradise in Mundelein went to work the following day after I had been vet
checked. As you can see, I was soooo matted that I had to be shaved down and it literally came off in sheets. Lisa stopped
by my new house on the way home from the groomer to show them my new doo and they STILL loved me "buck naked". I
am telling you guys, this ole Skipper has truly got it made. A special thanks for all involved in putting me back together
and to my new Mom and Dad for just loving ME.
STATUS: ADOPTED When a person thinks of a makeover, generally they are thinking
something cosmetic. My name is Chloe and my makeover was all emotional. Sure, I was stinky and was missing big patches
of hair on my sides and all of the regular stuff coming off of transport but, I was also very lost, unsure of myself and had
no reason to trust those that now were caring for me. My transformation started the minute that I arrived at Our House
of Hope. They immediately cleaned me up, vetted me and started loving on me. I was so scared that I couldn't even
make myself ride in the seat of the car. I crammed my 80# self onto the passenger floorboard and buried my eyes in the seat
almost praying for a miracle. Well........ I am here to tell you, that is what I found one. Lisa took me home and made me
a part of her family. She made sure that I was doted on by the kids, accepted into the pack with her other dogs and given
the time to get my footing unconditionally. She even slept with me for nights on end. Soon, I was getting to be
a brave girl and started to come out of my shell. At this point, Lisa sent me to be fostered by Deb and her family for
some emotional fine tuning and before you knew it, I was ready to live in and with a new family forever and Lisa and the crew
at Our House of Hope saw to it that I got the best one out there for ME. I am so happy to be loved, to have been given a second
chance and to have the amazing life that I now have.
STATUS:
ADOPTED
They call me "Peanut" because I was just a "little thing"
after our House of Hope freed me from underneath 6" of solid matting. It amounted to almost exactly 1 pound of fur that
needed to be cut away. I was an owner relinquish as they had no time for me. My coat was matted so tight to my skin that I
could barely go potty or walk. Everytime someone touched me, I cringed in pain. It took them 2 1/2 days to gently cut me free.
Today, I am enjoying the life of a loved and spoiled pup here in foster care. I am beginning to learn that the whole world
isnt so bad after all and have even begun puppy school. Literally, Ive had the weight of the world lifted from me.
STATUS: ADOPTED
My name is Oliver. I came to Our House Of Hope needing alot of T.L.C.. I had been discarded by previous owners who didnt
want to mess with the embarrassment or the expense of having a dog with two cherry eyes. After many baths, a couple of trips
to the groomer and having both of my eyes surgically repaired by my good friends at Greentree Animal Hospital, I now
have a forever home that can and will provide for me unconditionally. A Special thanks goes out to Darcy who rescued
me and brought me to Our House Of Hope , my Groomer Merri and most of all to Dr. Brown who had to wear her "old
lady glasses" [her words not mine!] during my surgery to make sure my eyes had the best chance at a full recovery.
STATUS: ADOPTED
I am Charlie and it only took 6 baths and 2 groomings to get the urine out of my fur and paw
pads. I am 41/2 yrs old and my owners dumped me when they moved. I sat in a shelter in my own urine until it stained my fur
and matted it tight to my skin causing severe sores. I lost the hair on the tip of my tail and on my bottom. I had not been
well fed causing further deterioration in my skin, my coat and my body. Since coming to Our House of Hope, I've been cleaned
up, vet checked, given the highest quality of food compliments of Pets General Store in Libertyville and have been started
on medications to help eleviate the inflammation of my skin and to prevent further infection.
STATUS: ADOPTED
My name is Myron. I was found wandering all alone along the freeway. I was dumped and left to fend for myself. I've
been blind for quite some time and had no idea where I was or where I needed to be headed. At some point, I was picked up
and taken to a shelter where I just sat. I sat in my own urine and suffered great pain due to glaucoma in both eyes. A
condition that was never addressed. No one wanted me because I couldn't see and had these big headlights now for eyes
due to the increase in pressure. Our House of Hope recognized the potential in my situation and took me home. They realized
that with a little help and a good bath, Ole Myron here could melt some serious hearts. I've now seen a specialist who
said that the damage to my eyes was now irreversible and in order to be pain free, my eyes would need to be removed. Big deal
as they were not working for me anyway so nothing lost except my headaches. Dr. Brown at Greentree Animal Hospital went to
work and I'm as good as new. Yep, I'm still blind, I dont think it's funny when people move the furniture
around and I am not wild about stairs but really guys, that is as bad as it gets. Don't you even think that I can't
keep up with you, walk the neighborhood with the best of them or play with my friends. The best part is that I will snuggle
you silly and you will soon forget the whole eye thing. I'm a great guy who got lucky with a second chance and now am
looking for my forever home.
STATUS: DECEASED
My
name was "Betty". I spent my whole life as a "WORKING DOG" in a puppy mill in Kirksville Missouri. Unfortunately,
I made my way to Our House of Hope a little to late. I arrived off of a 9 hour transport truck filled with mammory
tumors and a host of other issues. They went right to work and likely gave me my first bath ever and it felt so good. They
cut my curling nails from my paw pads and they provided much releif to my heavily infected eyes and ears. I received immediate
medical care from my friends at Greentree Animal Hospital and the decision was made to spay me as soon as possible, remove
all noted tumors and treat my cancer per protocol to give me the best quality of life possible. Prior to my surgery, I had
the best days that I have ever had in my whole life. I enjoyed the freedom to run, the fresh air and the warmth of the arms
of those that cared for me. Bonnie and Elaine, please know how much you and your families meant to me during this time.
On the morning of my surgery, Elaine, my Foster-mom kissed me goodbye and told me that she loved me. No one had ever done
that before...................... I was Elaine's first foster dog with Our House of Hope and I too, loved her. Once on
the operating table, I was found to have multiple tumors in all but 1 of my mammary glands as I was eaten up inside with
this terrible disease. My immune system was trashed from living the hard life and a decision was made to let me go as any
type of quality of life would not be at all likely and continued suffering would be great. I was Our House of Hope's
first casualty and everyone took it so hard. My ashes and collar remain with Our House of Hope as a constant reminder of why
they do what they do and knowing that those 4 days with them meant the world to this rescue dog.
STATUS:
ADOPTED
My name is "Mia" but, it should of been Train-wreck!
It started out when the breeder of the puppy mill named me "MORTICIA". Talk about someone setting me up for failure
huh? Okay, I will admit that in my first photo, there may of been a resemblance but GEEZ....................................
When I arrived at Our House of Hope, I guess that I didn't realize that I was free now and wasn't in that terrible
cage anymore as I just walked in circles. Lisa originally was watching me for some type of neurological disorder but, I chilled
after my bath. Gosh, that felt soooo good. I was so scared of everything and everybody, all of my orifices were infected or
irritated, my eyes were dry and matted shut and upon medical examination, was found to have a Texas sized heart murmur. GOD
love the Our House of Hope volunteers because they just dug right in and went to work on me. They got me the best of medical
care and even took my to the cardiologist to make sure that I was on the right meds and that they were doing everything possible
for me. I felt like a young pup again and began to play, enjoy my walks, and trust my people. Soon after came a call from
Pat and Terry. None of this bad stuff scared them. All they wanted to know was whether it was safe or not for me to fly on
a plane with them so we could all retire together next year out west. The cardiologist gave them the thumbs up and we
became a family. Ive never had a family but, I assure you that I am going to let them know each and every day that they have
made a difference in this rescue dogs life. They have given me life!
STATUS: ADOPTED
My
name is "Pebbles". I suppose it should be "Pebbles Beach" officially because I now live in Gregg's
Landing in Vernon Hills and all of those streets over here have golf related themes. I came to Our House of Hope pretty shabby
looking. I was from a puppy mill and was expected to have babies when I was just a pup myself. I actually came here
with my Mom, Lizzie. We are both doing great now and Its just so nice to see what all the outside world has to offer. If the
truth be known, I strut the sidewalks of my new neighborhood with my head held up high and my chest out just like I own
the place. My new Mom treats me like a queen and why not, when you are one, right?
Soon I will be
adding scholar to my resume as Im just about to graduate from puppy school and with honors, I'm sure.
STATUS: ADOPTED Believe it or not, I was an owner surrender to a local Animal Control.
My new name is Karma because Lisa often wonders how those who cared for me would feel if they were treated in the same way.
As you can see, I likely was never groomed. I had almost 3" of matted fur affixed to each of my paws and I
could barely walk on my own. I resembled a creature from Star Wars. The groomer had said that I was the worst case in
all of her years that she has ever worked on. Due to my neglect and weakened state, I became very ill prior to transport to Our House
of Hope. They took me anyway and Lisa and Britt sat up many a night fighting to keep me alive. They had made a make shift
oxygen tent for me at one point and had even provided extra comfort by utilizing Britt's nebulizer that she uses for
her asthma. After a full recovery, a team of veterinarians and groomers, a stop off at foster mom, Elaine's for
a polishing on my socialization skills, I have a new home. I have a doggie sister, Daisy that shows me the ropes and a new
mommy that makes me feel like the princess that I deserve to be.
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