Buddy stepped right into his new home, a home purchased with his special needs in mind, sniffed out every corner like any good dog will do (sighted or blind) and sat down with his new adoptive mom as if to say, “This will do very well, thank you.”

Bud's story is one that has pulled heartstrings for two years. His case received two financial grants, smack in the middle of the hurricane disaster period. It was featured in the local newspapers. The story of Buddy and his sister Sheba was continually updated on elkhound rescue web sites, and was followed by people in Alaska; Portland, Oregon; the East Coast; the northern Midwest; and the deep South. Ultimately, two incredible forever homes came forward via those web sites: one in Connecticut for Sheba, and the other in Portland for Buddy.

Buddy, Sheba, and three other dogs came from the home of a crack addict via Illinois Humane's investigation program. All were underweight and had open sores caused by flea dermatitis. Buddy's left eye had been scarred and burned by some chemical agent. His right eye was starting to develop glaucoma. Deemed emaciated, he weighed 29 pounds when he should have weighed 60 pounds. He had heartworm. His coat was a matted oily mess, and he reeked. Walking on a leash was a mystery to him, and he allegedly was not socialized. We learned, however, that what was truly at work was that he only needed to be touched. He had been such a mess, like a leper, no one would touch him. Given a stroke and a hug, he followed Illinois Humane's volunteers anywhere.

Last year at this time, Buddy had been cleaned up and brought to a healthy weight, had been cured of heartworm, and had been to the eye specialists, but the glaucoma still loomed as one last pending issue. In the spring, the pressure in his eye rose sharply, and the right eye had to be removed. Surgery was traumatic, but within a matter of a few short days, Buddy was traversing his yard again, easily, with his crazy sister. Sibling rivalries started all over again. They were ready to find their own homes, where they would be doted on in as near a normal doggy life setting as possible.

Sheba's foster dad, having business on the East Coast, drove Sheba to her new home in Connecticut to Karen, a paralegal who works with her attorney husband. Karen knows all the best elkhound games and likes to walk. Sheba's boundless energy finally has found release. When Karen's brother's male friends come in with loud voices, Sheba still runs and cowers in the farthest, deepest, darkest reaches of the home, but these days, rather than falling victim to a horrible drug-induced temper, the loud voices are quickly quieted. Sheba is coaxed out with love.

As for Bud, Cass, his adoptive mom contacted Illinois Humane prior to buying her current home. If the adoption were approved, she would find a home with all Buddy's needs in mind. His new home only has a single stair, which he mastered immediately. It has a flat outdoor exit via a sliding patio door, plenty of room to come in and out. It has a great fenced in yard that Bud has investigated thoroughly. He appears to have counted the steps to his favorite napping place in the yard. Cass, too, is an experienced elkhound mom and knows the secrets of elkhound play. There is constant interaction between the two of them. Cass has a 28- year-old son with cystic fibrosis. William is home when Cass is not. There is always someone there to give Bud a reassuring hug.

In the course of all of Buddy's treatment, he gained a bit too much weight. Not to worry, Cass said, she would get that under control. Her vet was very strict about weight control. Within a week of coming to his new home, Bud was confidently going on two mile walks, twice a day. No trouble walking on a leash now! Cass was having a hard time keeping up with him. At the foster home, Bud and his sister Sheba terrorized the cats; at his new home, Bud, now solely in the limelight, ignores the cat, who has almost accepted him. She will now lie at the window right up against him, as long as the curtain is between the two of them. This big dog is good for something . . . warmth! Bud loves his new yard. He has helped Cass with all the landscaping, making sure the holes are dug deeply enough to accept the plants and he has made sure everything is adequately watered! His fenced in back yard is a very safe place for him to investigate, root around, take a nap and generally be in possession.

The two other Norwegian elkhounds recovered in this case were also placed via the gracious help of the national elkhound association and John Nelson Moose Dog Rescue in Pennsylvania. Zeus, the father of the others, is in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Happy Boy, renamed Roscoe, is in St. Louis. With their thick, thick coats and northern ways, it was a great blessing to be able to place these animals with the assistance of elkhound experts. The moral of this story is not only the tremendous benefit these animals received from our donors loving support, but it is also a story of combining the resources of local, regional and national organizations to meet our missions in the most cost effective manner. Besides consultation and national web site exposure, Buddy was the recipient of financial assistance from the Moose Dog rescue as well as that of individual donors contributing via that web site. Buddy was also recipient of an American Humane Association Second Chance grant. The white shepherd recovered from the original home is now the beloved companion of a veterinary staff member of the vet clinic that provides care for Illinois Humane's animals.

And not to shortchange Illinois Humane's cats, because you know they would not stand to be upstaged by the dogs!!

Unfortunately, way too many pets, too often cats, are abandoned. Peavy was one of them. Property management staff were cleaning out an apartment upon the tenants' eviction when Peavy popped out of a cabinet drawer. A very pretty faded calico, she is temperamental. She does not like to go to adoptions. She is shy and uneasy with strangers. But she loves her foster mom. She will make someone a tremendous companion when we find just the right home. Peavy thanks you for being there for her when she finally got out of that drawer.

We ask you to join us in work we know is very important to you.  Your financial gift will go exactly where your heart is.  We will help the animals.  We will be there for them on many fronts.  Your gift is crucial to the extent of and amount of animal rescue and care that can be done.  We thank you for your generous past contributions, and we thank you for what we know you will do today and in the future.

Warm regards,
Jane McBride
President

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