Just another day at Chicago’s Animal Care and Control Center. Dogs, cats, a boa constrictor. Wait, what?
“They were doing a rehab in an apartment on the Northwest Side, and the rehabbers found him in the bathroom, on a shelf, all curled up. So they called us,” said Anne Kent, executive director of the Animal Care and Control Commission. “We brought him here and notified the Chicago Herpetological Society. They’re the ones who take our reptiles, alligators, snakes. We sent them a lizard yesterday.”
Also on hand at Animal Care and Control at the same time as the boa were a couple of exotic birds — an Amazon parrot and a scarlet macaw, the latter of which was pulling out his feathers, stressed over the death of its owner.
The birds also found a new home, at A Refuge for Saving the Wildlife (rescuethebirds.org), a not-for-profit rescue, rehabilitation, education and adoption shelter in Northbrook.
What else is up at Animal Care and Control? Go to egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName =Animal+Care+and+Control&entityName EnumValue=2 for the latest.
More than 50 cats and dogs were killed when fire destroyed the Franklin County Animal Control facility Nov. 19 in Downstate Benton. The only cat to escape was Miracle, a kitten who somehow squeezed out of the cage where she had been with her mother and seven littermates.
Miracle was taken to Animal House Shelter in Huntley last month. At 2 months, she’s still too young to be spayed and will be put up for adoption soon.
Animal House does, however, have a goodly number of cats and kittens in need of homes. Their stories may not be as compelling as Miracle’s, but they’re just as deserving. Go to animalhouseshelter.com to see what’s available.
And speaking of Animal House, remember Poochie, the dog born without eyes and left abandoned, tied up outside in 90-degree heat? We featured her in this space last month, and Animal House, which had rescued her, was flooded with calls from people wanting to adopt the 2-year-old Chihuahua-papillon mix.
An update: Poochie has been adopted.
She also had minor surgery to stitch her eyelids closed so her sockets wouldn’t become infected.
And some happy news from Rushville, Ind.
Jamie Glandon has her job back. She’s the assistant animal-control officer who was placed on leave last month after refusing her boss’ orders to euthanize a puppy she found in the shelter’s freezer — four days after it supposedly was put down a first time. Also noteworthy: She has a new boss.
Glandon said she got in trouble after she told the shelter director about the still-living 4-month-old mastiff-shepherd mix. He ordered her to have it euthanized again. She refused and instead took the animal to a vet. Later she took the dog, Gabby, to a rescue group.
For her compassion, Glandon was reprimanded and placed on paid leave.
Gabby’s story soon became public, apparently leaked by someone at the vet’s office or the rescue.
And if Gabby’s horror story wasn’t enough, there were allegations that other animals have survived the injections, including one dog that was put down three times.
But the new year has brought changes: A new mayor has named a new shelter director, and Glandon got her job back.
“The best thing to come out of all of this, aside from her getting her job back, was that this brought attention to how bad the condition of the shelter is,” said Elizabeth Gist, a reporter for the Rushville Republican. Gist has been covering the story for the Republican. “Maybe now it’ll get the attention it deserves. Painting, cleaning, all that. … Maybe they can raise funds to fix it up, because of all the publicity.”
As for Gabby, she’s still in rescue, “eating like a horse,” Gist said, and will be put up for adoption soon.
— W.H.
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Events for pets and their people
Sunday, Jan. 6
Geneva: HELP (Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets) holds its first adoptathon of the year, noon-4 p.m. at the Petsmart at 1512 S. Randall Rd. Cats and kittens will be available for adoption, and counselors as well as foster families will be there to assist in the adoption process.
Thursday, Jan. 10
Chicago: Paws & Refresh, 5-8 p.m. at Red Dog House (reddoghouse.com), will help you and your pet decompress from the holidays as NOW Studio’s Nourhy Chiriboga treats pets and their people using alternative therapy methods. All types of animals are welcome, and each session will vary, with an individual assessment done for each pet and a variety of holistic remedies used, from massage to acupressure. The $10 suggested donation will go to Chicago’s Anti-Cruelty Society. Sign up at Red Dog House (2031 N. Damen Ave.), via e-mail at steve@reddoghouse.com or by phone at 773-227-RDH1 (7341).
Saturday, Jan. 12
Rosemont: Chicago Wolves Adoption Event, 7 p.m. at the Wolves game, Allstate Arena. The Wolves’ popular Adopt-A-Dog Program features dogs from Chicago’s Department of Animal Care and Control. For more information, call 800-THE-WOLVES or ACC at 312-747-1380.
Saturday, Feb. 9
Woodstock: Horse Sense Workshop, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Hooved Animal Humane Society, 10804 McConnell Rd. Topics include finding the right horse, caring for a horse, finding help and bringing a horse home. Cost, including lunch, is $30 per person, $50 for two people from the same household or stable, and $15 for each child under 18. Registration deadline is Feb. 4. Contact University of Illinois Extension McHenry County at 815-338-4747 or register online at: web.extension.uiuc.edu/mchenry/.
— W.H.
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Shelters and animal control facilities may suggest items by e-mailing q@tribune.com. Put “Unleashed” in the subject field.
