Claudia Richman
Kedzie's Happy Ending!

I definitely hit the jackpot with this beautiful girl! I knew once I saw her she was meant to be with me

Kedzie's Happy Ending!
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Big ol' Bessie

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New Leash on Life is committed to rescuing dogs that wouldn't be given another chance.  We are known for rescuing elder bulls and medical cases, and Bessie fits the bill.  She's a bit older and was waiting for us to grab her from ACC (Animal Care & Control), we couldn't pass that sweet face.  Once we got her to our vet we had her thoroughly checked, we found out that Bessie may need some extra medical testing. 


We originally just thought she was a big girl, more for everyone to love at a mere 98 pounds.  However, we found that her weight trouble wasn't from overfeeding, it may be something more internally.  Immediately our Medical Director along with the vet staff at VCA started blood tests to identify what could be troubling our girl.  They noticed on external exam that her liver seemed enlarged, they also noticed that she was drinking LOTS of water and gobbling up her food.  Because of these signs, we tested her liver for Cushings.


Cushings is hard to identify, many of the signs are also signs of older aging so many owners think that it's just their dog showing signs of age.  The signs include: increased water intake, ravenous appetite, pot-bellied appearance, and hair loss.  Cushings disease typically effects older dogs but it can appear as early as 5 years old and is mainly in smaller breeds, however, we test our larger dogs as well.  Please note: Cushings does not show up in regular blood tests, and has to be specifically tested.

Bessie's liver results came back high, but not high enough for Cushings, it could be an early indicator, so we are treating it as a precautionary. 


During testing, we noticed Bessie was developing bruising on her chest, just under the skin.  This worried our Medical Director (because of earlier liver testing) and decided to get an ultrasound done, thankfully, nothing showed up on the ultrasound.  Bessie also had a raging upper respiratory infection and tested positive for Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is something that she is a carrier, however, doesn't necessarily HAVE it.  She is currently on antibiotics for all, and we are running a PCR, the test that determines if her Lyme disease is active. 

We are happy to report that Bessie's respiratory infection is all cleared up, her water intake has slowed down and she is being checked regularly for her liver levels.  This shows that we may think we are taking a healthy dog, and further examination shows a pup that needs a lot of TLC. 


While this post may seem sad, Bessie is no worse for the wear and is LOVING her new foster home with foster sister, Ms. M and foster brother, Mr. B of Two Pitties in the City.  She is happy-go-lucky and feeling 100% better than when we first got her.  We are so happy to have Bessie as a part of the NLOL family and can't wait to find her a forever home!

Bessie is currently on a weight loss diet and has lost 8 pounds!  She is being fed Sojo's dehydrated fruits and veggies.  For more information on her diet, check out: Bessie's Diet and for more information regarding adoption an elderbull, check out this post here: On the Secrets of Elderbulls.

If you would like to donate towards Bessie's medical needs, please click the link here, and in the note section, mention Bessie!
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Levi Update!

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LEVI HAD HIS SURGERY!

Levi's eye surgery went well and we couldn't have done it without the amount of support we received from everyone near and far.  We were overwhelmed and humbled by the turn out.  Thank you, thank you thank you.  You can read about the whole story on his blog here.

Little Levi sends his thanks as well!

ALSO:

Remember these?? If you ordered a Super Levi T-Shirt but either didn't get one, or it never got picked up, please email Jenna at: jennanlol@gmail.com to claim yours!! THANK YOU!
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Have you seen a face like this?

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Adoptable Nick just can't take a bad picture.  Here are a few of our favorites! 
Ps. You can check out his profile here.


 Nick on his first day in our care!

 Getting a feel for NLOL on day 1.

 Nick is learning great behavior from his foster siblings. (above and below)


 Nick is still in high spirits after his growth plate was fixed.


 Nick meeting Santa!


Happy Monday!!
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Critical Mass helps NLOL

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We are so fortunate that our supporters help and donate many items to help relieve the stress on our budget. Recently, one company, Chicago-based digital agency Critical Mass, was challenged to make a difference.  They had a set budget, and only about 2 hours to help.  The entire company was divided up with about 9 people on a team.  New Leash on Life was chosen by one of the groups to be the benefactor of what they were able to donate. 

They contacted NLOL and asked what we really needed.  At that time we were nearly out of big dog beds!  Those are vital because we try to place every dog in a foster home with everything they'll need, which includes dog beds.  The team at CM took up a collection and bought 9 huge dog beds for our pooches. 


THANK YOU CRITICAL MASS!


If you are wondering ways to donate, we are always in need of:
-dog beds
-towels
-prong collars
-sturdy leashes
-collars
-crates (all sizes)
-dog puzzles
For other ways to donate, please email: chicago@nlol.org
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Chemical Burns and Pups.

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Little Miss Pancake squeezed her way in with one of our recent trips to ACC (Animal Care & Control).  She's a puggle and her little body was covered in chemical burns.  We couldn't pass up this sweet pup that needed extra attention to treat her open wounds. 
Puggles were bred quite rapidly a few years back, but with the decrease in interest in that mix breed, many are abandoned or dropped off at the pound. Pancake has a lost history, not sure if it was by accident, trying to get rid of extra puppies, a bad owner, or misguided people that found her, either way- she came with chemical burns over her back and some on her head.  The chemicals had burned their way through her fur and past her skin. 


There isn't much information about chemical burns/ how to treat/ dogs.  Probably because the large majority of the world would never think to do such a thing to an innocent animal, however, most articles say to wash thoroughly with water to dilute the chemical and see the vet immediately. 


We talked with Gordon's forever parents about chemical burns for further help.  Gordon came from One Tail at a Time Rescue in Chicago.  When he first arrived, he had chemical burns covering the majority of his little pit bull body.  He walks with many of our alums and adoptable dogs with Chicago Sociabulls on Sundays.  Gordon's parents were incredibly helpful when talking about things they do to help Gordon and some of the tips they have learned. 

They use lotion to help with cracking and overall flexibility of the tender skin.  Gordon's hair (like Pancake) will not grow back in some places, so the exposed skin needs to be treated just like human skin.  It gets dry in the winter and they use Aquaphor on his back.  It's a bit of a thicker lotion and can be found almost anywhere, Walgreens, Target, etc.  For a lighter lotion, they use Eucerin for sensitive skin.  After applying lotions, put a tshirt on the dog to avoid rubbing off on furniture, etc.

Gordon's forever parents use tshirts a lot.  This helps with sun exposure as well as making sure he doesn't scratch or rub to vigerously inside his crate.  Since his wounds have healed a lot, they use the tshirts less, however, he is in one whenever they are gone while in his crate.  They also recommend kids tshirts which are less expensive than dog tshirts and still fit.

During the summer months or when there will be high exposure to the sun, they apply sunscreen.  And the vet suggested giving Gordon fish oil pills because they improve the skin/coat.


Pancake will make a full recovery from the burns but her future owners will need to apply sunscreen during the summer and it would be helpful to have a humidifier during the colder months.  Just like with a human with exposed sensitive skin, they need to be on the look out for cracks in the skin and bleeding which can be treated with ointment as mentioned above. 
Pancake also has a bit of a trick knee.  The medical term is a luxating patella.  It can pop out and may need help putting it back into place.  It can require surgery, however, she's not at that stage yet.  With careful play, minimal stairs and joint supplements, she may never need surgery.
Thanks to Lydia, our Medical Director for input and explanations. Also a big thanks to Gordon's forever parents for all the information and helpful suggestions!

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Dog of the Week: Greer!

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This little beauty is a true gem. Greer came to us with a bad case of heartworm.  She spent a bit of time being low key to help speed her to success and we are so happy to report that she has made a full recovery.  Left untreated, heartworm can be terrible, but Greer went through a grueling few months of shots and she remained positive and happy throughout it all.  She was being cared and loved on by her great foster parents who helped get her through her tough time. 

Greer is a true mix.  She looks a bit like a French Bull Dog, a bit like a Corgi, and some have suggested a little like a Pit.  Whatever she is, she is a fantastic dog.  Chill, low key and super fun. 
She has a tiny body with short little legs but don't let her size fool you, she has a great personality. 

We are happy to report that she is in a Foster to Adopt home.

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Chicago Tribune

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We are so lucky that many of our adopters have stayed active in our rescue and committed to responsible dog ownership and being ambassadors for our breeds.  Adoptable and Alums both participated in this Sunday's Chicago Sociabulls walk.  Chicago Tribune tagged along to highlight bully breeds behaving well.  You can find the article here!

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Dog of the Week: FERRIS!

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This is Ferris.  He is American Pit Bull Terrier and roughly 2 years old.  He is easily amused with toys and loves being challenged mentally with stimulating games or exercising.  He was a grab from ACC (Animal Care and Control) where he was being held while his previous owners awaited trial.  He sat patiently and now we are so pleased to have him out of his cage and in our rescue. 




Because Ferris waited patiently for his rescue, he was enrolled in "Chicago Court Case Dogs".  These dogs come with a life time free training.  They have also already been working with trainers to teach them basic commands.  Ferris excelled and we are happy to announce that he has also completed basic obedience classes.  He is house trained, crate trained and ready for his forever home.




Ferris has also been quite the socialite.  He is working on his socialization and has been attending Sunday walking packs with 20 or more other dogs, hosted by Chicago SociaBulls.  He has been doing very well with zero reaction to other humans and dogs.



While Ferris can appear very serious and stoic, he is really just a fun loving guy, ready to kick back with his forever family.



You can find out more information and fill out an application to adopt here.
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Jenny in Time for the Holiday!

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I'm sure you all remember this heart breaking story.  11 year old JLo was left at our vet's office and abandoned.  With the rising vet bills and the family deciding to not return, the office was left with few options.  They asked New Leash on Life to take JLo on and get her adopted.  It was a tall order.  She was older and thus has the 'old dog stigma', she had been in boarding for so long that she became leash reactive, and she had infected paws and ears.



We put the call out- this dog matched what NLOL stands for, taking in the dogs that would have been put down or overlooked because we believe that there is someone for every type of dog.  Because we can only take on as many dogs as we have foster homes, we hoped someone would step up to the plate and let this beauty come home with them.  And boy did people step up!!  We were overwhelmed with the love and concern that was extended to JLo and were so happy that a former adopter opened up their home to foster JLo. 

JLo (now Jenny) came with quirks and kinks that needed to be worked out, but overtime, she grew to know her family and fit right in.  We are so blessed that Halstead's (Moe) parents decided to officially adopt Jenny after his passing this year.



She is IN LOVE with her new family, the fenced in back yard where she is able to run throughout the day.  She came just in time for the Holiday! 

When trying to take a picture, she could barely contain her excitement and sit still.  But, her paws and ears are looking fabulous, she looks at rest and ease, and her coat is looking so much better!


Welcome home Jenny!
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Apartment Size Noca

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We always know that our dogs have limited time at Animal Care & Control.  We never know how much or little time they may have left, until one of our more recent trips to ACC.  Sweet, shy little Noca was being walked into the Euthanasia room as our intake directors walked through the doors.  Noca's handlers recognized our directors and asked them to take a look at this sweet girl.  They immediately feel in love with her demeanor, her cute looks and her small body.



While Noca is still part puppy, she is a quick learner and is doing great in her foster home.  She loves exercise and playing.  She is house trained, crate trained and is learning basic commands.  She will blossom with some basic obedience classes.


She is quite the social pup, making her rounds at adoption events, walks, and doing great at playing with other dogs.  She has been tested with kids- and passed! 


In her spare time, she likes to cuddle up around your legs as you can see her here, with her foster brother.


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Cooper

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 Mr. Cooper came into our family at New Leash on Life.  He was originally a shy little mutt and was on the skinny and rough side.  He quickly opened up and showed us his personality in his "wookie" barks, and soon he was a favorite of everyone that met him.


He showed us his goofy side on Halloween.



And his soft gentle side when it came to eating doggie ice cream on a hot summer day.



Cooper was in desperate need for a foster family.  The boarding was stressful and Cooper needed some confidence building.  One family took him on and soon, he snuggled right in.



We are happy to announce that Cooper's foster family, is now his forever family.  With the dedication and patience, we are so blessed to welcome another family into New Leash on Life with the addition of Cooper into their forever home.



Congratulations!!

The Year in Review

from New Leash On Life Chicago!

As yet another year winds down, we at New Leash on Life Chicago would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the dogs we have rescued, the wonderful adopters we've met, and the community we've built along the way.  This has been a great year for us - we have rescued almost as many dogs as we did in 2009 and 2010 - combined.  Granted, those were tough years because of the economy, but we are thrilled to be on pace with 2008's numbers again. 

Beyond looking at the number of dogs saved, this is also a time for us to ensure that we're holding true to our mission: finding loving homes for dogs at risk of euthanasia at Chicago's Animal Care and Control ("ACC").   We only consider those dogs who have not been selected for the adoption floor (and thus aren't available to the public).  While we find all kinds of dogs on death row,  we try to save as many hard-to-adopt dogs as we can because the odds of them making it out of ACC alive are slim.  These include: adult and senior dogs, dogs with injuries or health conditions, those in need of grooming, big black dogs, lovable mutts, shy dogs, and of course the bully breeds. 

After reviewing the email below, we think you'll agree that we've successfully carried our our mission and have had a pretty amazing year!  We are excited for 2012 and hope to continue building on our momentum.  Until then, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  
Adult and Senior Dogs 
There are few things more heartbreaking than seeing an adult or senior dog in a cage at ACC, knowing that they have been raised by a family that has abandoned them for one reason or another. We have a soft spot for the oldies, with their graying muzzles and easy-going personalities.  Some added benefits of adopting an older dog?  You already know their temperament and quirks, and they're (usually) housebroken! 
So let's toast to a few of this year's dogs who were over five years old: 
 Adults & Seniors 2011
*Bessie is still looking for a foster or forever home! 
The "Medical Dogs"
Vet bills take up a vast majority of our budget, and even the healthy-seeming dogs we rescue can have hidden and costly medical issues.  We've had a mix of both this year - dogs we knew were sick and hoped to help, and those we thought were healthy but needed extensive medical care: 
Medicals 2011These 6 pups are our "major" medical dogs of 2011.  Sadly, after lots of tests and treatments, our team of vets diagnosed the gentle giant Francesca with lymphoma and we had to let her go to be painless and in peace.  But the other dogs have been treated for their varying ailments - including heartworm (Greer and Audrey), a rare eye disorder requiring surgery (Levi), a fractured growth plate (Nick) and a sweet puggle covered in chemical burns (Pancake).   They are all healthy and loving life, thanks to our generous donors and incredible vets.  
**Both Nick and Pancake are still looking for their forever homes! 
Pit Bulls

Our love of bully breeds is unending. They are wonderful family dogs, loyal companions, and each has a truly unique personality.  It breaks our heart to see how many of the dogs at ACC are pit bulls and mixes whose odds of finding a rescue to save their lives are pretty slim - all because of their breed. We proudly rescued and found homes for many of these beautiful bullies, including: 

2011 Pitties * Ferris is still looking for a foster or forever home!!

Black Dogs 
It's been well documented that black dogs, especially large ones, are euthanized at alarmingly high rates in shelters.  Maybe they don't photograph as well as others or look intimidating to some.  But that doesn't scare us away!  Each of our 2011 black dogs is as lovable and beautiful as every other dog, and each has been adopted!  
Black Dogs 2011
Shy Dogs
The pound is a loud and scary place, so it's no wonder that so many dogs completely shut down from fear.  The problem is, if they don't make eye contact and make a connection with potential adopters, they are often labeled as unadoptable for being too skittish and shy.  We have seen some amazing transformations by simply taking these "shy" dogs outside, letting them romp around in the grass, and spending a little time with them.  
Shy dogs 2011
These are some of this year's "shy" dogs.  Needless to say, they aren't shy any more!  Noca is still looking for her forever home. 
Murphy and Parents

And who could forget Murphy, who was so skittish when we first rescued him that he backed out of his collar while on a walk, ran a few miles and then took a swim in the Chicago River?  In fairy tale ending you only see in Disney movies, the wonderful firefighter who rescued a terrified Murphy from the river soon welcomed him into his family!   Amazing! 
Diamonds in the Rough
We encounter a lot of dogs who need a little grooming, but Janice and Drake take the cake. Their legs were webbed together, we couldn't tell where their ears stopped and the mattes began, they had dreadlocks, and they smelled like a porta-potty.   But one thing was clear - in true canine form and despite the abuse they suffered - their resilient spirits were not broken!  With some intense grooming, they are just like new again and have both been adopted! 
Matted Dogs 2011 
Good Ol' Mutts 
When ACC makes the difficult decision of which dogs to put on the adoption floor (and which are available to the public), the mutts with indiscernible breed mixtures are often passed over even though they are just as cute, smart, and lovable as the purebreds.  If you have a hard time venturing to guess what breed a dog might be, then it's simple: it's a New Leash dog! We love mutts, and have rescued several this year: 
2011 mutts

Dogs & the New Leash on Life Family


New Leash is 100% committed to finding each NLOL dog a loving family of their very own, no matter how long it may take.  We know there is the perfect family for each of our dogs, so it's just a matter of time until they find each other.  Fortunately, most dogs find a home in a matter of days or weeks, although for some it can take a few months.  
Karl w/ remote control
And then there's Karl, who was rescued from ACC on Valentine's Day of 2009.  Karl was a former yard dog and was a bit rough around the edges, not used to living in a home or trusting people. Thanks to the hard work of Daniel McElroy, the rest of the Bark Avenue staff, and some dedicated NLOL volunteers, Karl slowly transformed from "Backyard Karl" into "Good Dog Karl." 
On June 11, 2011, over 2 years after becoming a NLOL dog, Karl was adopted!  He now lives a life of luxury with his new dad, who took a chance on a handsome red dog with a rough past and ended up with his perfect canine match.  As you can see, Karl has settled into domestic life quite well. 

Adopters & the New Leash on Life Family
 Return business is the best compliment a company (and rescue) can get, so we will take it as a good sign that we've had several "repeat shoppers" this year.  
 2011 new siblings
Kameko & JudeAnd let's not forget Kameko.  We rescued her in 2006 and she has spent the last few years enjoying life with a wonderful dad.  Sadly, he had to move overseas this year to take care of a sick relative, and was heartbroken that he couldn't take his beloved Kameko with him.  Once a New Leash dog, always a New Leash dog, and we promised him we'd find her a great new home.  And look who came along - NLOL alum Jude and his parents!  Kameko fit right in with the family, and her dad was so relieved and happy to hear the news!
 

While the rest of our repeat shopper stories are tinged with sadness because it means that a former NLOL alum has passed away, we find comfort knowing that they spent the best years of their lives with wonderful families.  So here's a little photo tribute to some of our alumni who have passed, the lucky dogs who have found their way into a wonderful new home, and the amazing families who have opened their homes to another NLOL dog.   

RIP dogs 2011


THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! 
Much of this year's success is due to the new volunteers we've had join our ranks.  We've added 5 new adoption counselors, several new foster families, and countless more volunteers who help out at weekly adoption events.   While rescuing animals can be emotional and exhausting, it can also be extremely rewarding and uplifting.  So we'd like to thank all of our volunteers, new and old, for giving up their precious free time to help us on our mission.  
If you're interested in getting more involved in NLOL, we are ALWAYS looking for new foster families, fundraising help, dog handlers and transporters for Saturday adoption events, PR and marketing help, graphic designers...you name it, we need it! 
Email us at chicago@nlol.org or visit our website for more information!  
HELP NEW LEASH CONTINUE SAVING DOGS!

We can only continue doing this work with the generous financial support of our donors.  Because we don't have employees or a facility, 100% of the money we raise is spent caring for our dogs and keeping them safe, healthy, and happy as they wait for their forever home.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Donations can be made on our website or you can mail a check to us at 
4064 N. Lincoln Ave. #374, Chicago, IL 60618.
We are also running our NAME A DOG fundraiser through the end of the year!  For each donation over $200, you get to pick a name for one of our 2012 dogs.  This is a great gift for dog-lovers and friends who have everything!
 Just write your selected name in the "description" section of the donation form.*   
If you'd like to make a donation or enter the Name A Dog fundraiser on behalf of someone else, email amber@nlol.org after making the donation and we can send you a customized receipt or card.

We are also in need of prong and martingale collars, leashes, new and gently used dog beds, coats, harnesses, dog bowls, towels, blankets, and toys.  
You can always drop them off at our Saturday adoption events!
*If the name you've chosen already belongs to a past NLOL dog, we'll contact you for your second choice.  Email amber@nlol.org with any questions. 
 DOGS LOOKING FOR FOSTER AND FOREVER HOMES  
Finally, let's not forget NLOL's dogs currently looking for foster and forever homes! 
 Please spread the word to family and friends - the sooner they're adopted or fostered, the sooner we can go rescue more dogs!
2011 adoptables
*Annie, Clark, Bessie, and Ferris need foster homes! 

On behalf of all the dogs saved and those still dreaming of rescue, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and THANK YOU for your support!