Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption and Education Safehouse (S.T.R.A.E.S.)

Click Our Pet List for a list of our adoptable pets.

Can't adopt, but want to help?
Click here for information on helping.

Interested in Adopting?
Click here for adoption information.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

If you are interested in participating in any event please phone (708-645-0730) or email us and we will get back to you.

Monthly PETsMART visits provide a showcase for our adoptable dogs. In 2008 we are continuing our twice monthly PETsMART store visits at the Darien PETsMART store, 2153 75th Street, Darien, IL. We are at the store from 10:30am to 2:30pm on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month except March when we are there on the 2nd and 4th Saturday and May when we are there on the 1st and 2nd Saturday. These two monthly adoption events are the only means our homeless dogs have to find their special forever family. Please consider helping out. For every two dogs we take to the store we need one volunteer. This gives each dog maximum exposure and the best opportunity to find a loving family. You take your assigned dogs out for potty breaks, talk to potential adopters (we fill you in on the history and personality of the dogs) and assist with the application process. Without adequate help, dogs are not properly presented and potential adopters become frustrated and leave.

The 2008 Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show will be held at Morton West High School, 2400 Home Avenue, Berwyn, IL, on Saturday, May 17th, from 10am to 3pm. The Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show features educational, pet care classes, presentations and Sponsor booths and will also include a wide variety of entertainment-based contests for mixed breeds and rescue dogs. Learn more about the fun contests and sign up your dog at www.muttshow.com. The show applauds all the adorable mixed breed and shelter dogs and their families who are rarely in the spotlight and deserve recognition. We are excited to be a part of this pet and family-oriented show and we are going to need a lot of volunteer help at the S.T.R.A.E.S. booth during this event. In addition to fun and entertainment, the show is designed to help inspire Americans to 'think first about adoption' when considering a new pet. A powerful message and S.T.R.A.E.S. is proud and happy to be a part of this great event and the opportunity it provides to reach many Shih Tzu lovers and potential Shih Tzu lovers, make them aware of our shelter and our loving homeless pets, show off our wonderful dogs (volunteers can bring their dogs or just bring photos), and talk endless Shih Tzu! If you are visiting the Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show, please stop by our booth and share your Shih Tzu stories and pictures.

Do you love a parade? We do and we will be participating in the 62nd annual LaGrange Pet Parade. The parade will be held on Saturday, May, 31st, 2008. The lineup is at 8:30am and the parade steps off promptly at 9:30am. The parade begins at Cossitt and Mannheim Roads in downtown LaGrange and ends at the Lyons Township High School soccer field, a route of approximately 1 mile. The entire parade is completed at approximately 11:15am. The theme of this year's parade is "Clowns on Parade". We would love the donation of a float or large open bed truck however, it is always fun to walk with your dog on leash or push/pull them in a wagon or other carrier. If you are interested in participating in this fun filled parade, or would like more information, please contact me.

On Sunday, June 1st, 2008, from noon until 4:00 pm we will join PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, "Angels With Tails Walking Tour" along Michigan Avenue and Oak Street in downtown Chicago. Hundreds of people come to see the sweet faces of Chicago area shelter animals showcased in these exclusive stores. Store assignment will be posted later. In past years we have displayed at the Max Mara store on Michigan Avenue across from the Hancock Building. This event is an opportunity to reach many Shih Tzu lovers and potential Shih Tzu lovers, create a greater awareness of S.T.R.A.E.S. and Shih Tzu and introduce a few of our loving homeless pets. Volunteers are needed to help with setup and teardown and talk endless Shih Tzu with the many folks who stop in with their questions. We are allowed 2 pets per volunteer so if you can help for the day or just a few hours, please let me know.

If you want to see champion Shih Tzu in all their full coated glory, the Chicagoland Shih Tzu Club will be holding it's Specialty Show on Saturday, June 7th, 2008, at the Home Economics Building & Exhibition Hall, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Manchester Road & County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL. All breed judging will be held indoors. For more information contact the Specialty Show Chairperson, Vi Taus, 708-532-0527.

Sunday, June 29th, 2008, from noon until 4:00 pm we will be joining the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League and the Fox Valley Park District at the Paws in the Park Pet Expo taking place at the Lincoln Park Dog Park in Aurora (259 South Russell Avenue, Aurora, IL) rain or shine. This event is tons of fun with different pet and people-related activities throughout the day. There will be K-9 demos, tasty food, vendor booths, short training workshops, raffles, contests and many other rescue groups as well. This is a great opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of fun in the park with your pets and pleasant Shih Tzu talk with other pet owners. Volunteers are needed to setup and tear down our booth tent and equipment and help with the shelter dogs. Visitors are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. If you are interested in participating in this fun afternoon, or would like more detailed information, please contact me.

One of our favorite events is the annual West Suburban Humane Society BARKAPALOOZA Walkathon and Pet Expo, Sunday, September 28, 2008, from 10am to 2pm, at Patriots Park in Downers Grove (55th Street between Fairview & Main); rain or shine. It is always a fun day. The park, with its beautiful lake, is a perfect setting. The event starts off with a blessing for the animals followed by raffles, boutique items, doggy games and demos. Clowns, face painting, balloon sculptures, etc. are available for the children. Look for our tent and booth, pull up a lawn chair and admire our orphans and visiting alumni and friends, talk Shih Tzu with other enthusiasts . . . dogs are very welcome. Volunteers are needed to setup and tear down our booth tent and equipment and help with the shelter dogs. Visitors are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring your pets and enjoy a fall afternoon of fun and Shih Tzu talk, meet other Shih Tzu lovers, and get the word out about the Safehouse. If you are interested in participating, or would like more detailed information, please contact the Safehouse.

Need some help in dealing with pet training and behavior issues? View free online positive training advice:

VISIT WITH US:

The Safehouse is not open to the public.

Potential adopters can visit with available dogs only at the PETsMART store located at 2153 75th St., Darien, IL., from 10:30am to 2:30pm, on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of every month (except March, when we are there on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays and May when we are there on the 1st and 2nd Saturdays).

Who We Are

We are an all volunteer, not for profit, no kill, humane organization established to provide shelter, care and an adoption program for abandoned and relinquished purebred Shih Tzu. All our dogs are kept in a licensed shelter with a cage less, home-like environment and access to over two fenced-in acres where the dogs can run free. Our Shih Tzu are spayed/neutered prior to adoption, current on annual inoculations and monthly heartworm preventative and have an AVID Friendchip identification implant. Complete veterinarian checks are done on all incoming pets and any necessary special tests, medical and/or surgical procedures are provided. Each resident also receives regularly scheduled grooming care and parasite treatments. All dogs are temperament and personality tested so potential new owners can be matched with a dog that will best suit their expectations and lifestyle. Follow-up assistance is provided to help the Shih Tzu and new caregiver through the transition period. We provide breed specific and general educational materials for Shih Tzu owners, or potential owners, as well as consultation and training services. We will work with Shih Tzu owners considering giving up their pets, offering alternatives and education in an effort to help keep the Shih Tzu in it's current home.

Adopting a Friend

For a list of available dogs click on the words "OUR PET LIST" above. A full description of any dog can be displayed by clicking on the name of that specific dog. Adoption applications are NOT available online. If you are interested in adopting one of our homeless pets, you can pick up an adoption application and visit with some of our adoptable dogs at one of our PETsMART adoption events (see "VISIT WITH US" above). The Safehouse is NOT open to the public. We do not take all of our available dogs these events so if there is a specific dog or dogs you are interested in, please call the Safehouse (708-645-0730) the Friday prior to your planned visit to verify that the dog will be at the store the next day.

The Safehouse is not open to the public. Potential adopters must visit with the pet(s) of their choice at one of our off-site adoption events before we will accept their application. (PLEASE NOTE: Not all events are "adoption" events.) We cannot be responsible for applications submitted to the Safehouse prior to your visit with the pet of your choice.

A Few of Our Requirements

Adopter must be at least 21 years of age and have identification and proof of address.
Adopter must provide the name, phone number and relationship of three local references (only one relative can be listed as a reference).
We do not adopt to homes with children under the age of 6 years (or homes where day care is provided for young children).
Applicants over the age of 65 may not adopt dogs under the age of 3 years.
No more than one dog (under the age of 10 years) and three cats may reside in the Adopter's household and the resident dog must be spayed/neutered.
All members of the adopting household must be interviewed including any resident dog before the final adoption can take place.
The minimum adoption donation is $200.00 for an adult dog; $300.00 for an adult pair; for dogs under 13 months: $300.00; and, for dogs under 24 months: $250.00.
Adopters must live in Illinois and in the Chicago or suburban area (area codes 708, 630, 331, 847, 219, 312, 773, 815 and 779).

Can't adopt, but want to help?

Our Wish List: Volunteering and Donations

PETsMART and PetCo gift cards are always helpful.
Small dog size doggy treats (especially soft treats).
Office supplies such as: letter size plain white copier paper, postage stamps, hp 14 tri-color and/or black ink jet cartridges, etc.
Cleaning supplies such as: Paper towels, Clorox and Lysol disinfecting wipes, bleach, dish and laundry detergent, etc.
New and used baby playpens/playyards for new moms and their pups, orphaned puppies, and sick and recovering dogs. It is much easier to care for young and ill dogs by lifting them gently rather then retreiving them through a crate door.
We desparately need volunteers to help at our monthly PETsMART store visits: talk to potential adopters, take the dogs out for a potty break, setup and teardown. This is the ONLY way our dogs can meet the public and find their forever new home. The number of dogs presented at the store depends on the number of volunteers that are there to support us. (See "VISIT WITH US" above for store location, dates and times.)
Most of all, we are in need of funds to allow us to continue to provide medical care and shelter for our unwanted, abused and abandoned Shih Tzu. All donations are tax deductable.
A caring way to memorialize or celebrate a beloved pet or pet lover is through a remembrance donation. Your gift will assist S.T.R.A.E.S. in caring for our special charges. The honoree is sent an appropriate card informing them of your thoughtful gift. You are sent a heartfelt acknowledgement card as a receipt.

Click here for address information.

Our dogs love to sleep on Kuranda Dog beds, but we don't have enough for everyone. If you would like to donate a bed at a special wholesale price so a shelter dog can sleep in comfort, please click here.

Sloppy Kiss Cards are high quality animated ecards for dog lovers. You get to select and name the dog that stars in every ecard you send. The Sloppy Kiss Cards dog gallery features a Shih Tzu! Join Sloppy Kiss Cards and 25% will go to Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption and Education Safehouse, just enter STRAES in the "charity code" field. To join click here.

Support Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption and Education Safehouse! Please buy petmeds and Frontline Plus from 1800petmeds today and our rescue gets a donation!

Petmeds also has great information on dog arthritis.

Be sure to enter our "straes" shelter referral code when placing your online order so we receive donation credit for your order.

Buy your pet supplies at any of these online pet stores and they will make a cash donation to our shelter.

Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption and Education Safehouse (S.T.R.A.E.S.)

14015 Lemont Road
Homer Glen, IL 60491-5821
Phone: 708-645-0730
Email: straes@rcn.com

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