Animal Care League Volunteer Newsletter (November 2020)

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N O V E M B E R

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE

VOLUNTEER HOURS SERVED 7,210

UPCOMING EVENTS #GivingTuesday, & ACL's annual Holiday Bazaar

"GIVING THANKS" EDITION Catch up with ACL alumni, volunteers, and fosters!

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OUR IMPACT

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TRAINING AND EVENTS Find out what you can look forward to as we unwrap our holiday plans!

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IN OUR COMMUNITY

As the year comes to an end, we

This "Giving Thanks" edition is all

reflect on impact we've made in

about illuminating our community's

2020.

life-saving work!

IN THE KNOW

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SPOTLIGHTS

This month we're reflecting on

Check out the pets and people who

Maple's Journey and celebrating her

are doing a remarkable job... just by

individuality.

being themselves!

OUR IMPACT

Committed to helping animals in the community since 1973

2020

2020

2020 LOST PET

INTAKE

ADOPTIONS

REUNIONS

936

640

141

WHERE DO OUR ANIMALS COME FROM?

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PROGRAM UPDATES The beginning of the holiday season

2020, in all of it's peculiarity, is almost over... finally!

Even though we're not all thrilled about what's become of this year, we can at least reflect on the joys of the upcoming holiday season and basque in it's corresponding winter festivities!

We hope that your Thanksgiving holiday will be filled with as much safe and quality family/friend time as you can muster. For some, it's a holiday tradition to give back and volunteer for local food banks and shelters. We'd like to remind our volunteers that although we will be closed to the public on Thanksgiving, our animals are still in need of care and your holiday cheer.

Additionally, this year, it just so happens that the global #Giving Tuesday generosity movement falls on December 1st. And thanks to the generosity of ACL Board Member, Chatka Ruggiero, every donation made this #GivingTuesday will be matched dollar for dollar! Help us meet our goal of $50,000!

This year also marks ACL's 35th annual Holiday Bazaar! And because we're ever-cognizant of keeping our community safe, we're implementing an online Holiday Bazaar raffle, bake sale, and shopping!

Rest assured that we're still fulfilling in-person shopping--with many COVID adjustments--to celebrate the season in style. That's not all: we've also modified our tradition of pet photos with Santa into "Pictures with Cardboard Santa," which will be by appointment only.

For more information about our Giving Tuesday and Holiday Bazaar events, including the dates and times of the festivities, check out our website. And for information about volunteering during the holidays, contact volunteer@animalcareleague.org!

We hope to see you (either in person or online) during our holiday events! Because just like every year, all proceeds benefit the shelter and the animals within it!

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Written by Darcy Herman-Blecha When we first met Maple, she was dirty,

Because of this, it took a long time for her to

emaciated, and pregnant. After arriving at

crawl out of her proverbial shell; even more so

Animal Care League and giving birth to 11

because she was stuck in the shelter

puppies--who were placed in forever homes--

environment.

she waited for her turn.

Months went by until we could find a suitable Unfortunately, due to Maple's past trauma, it

foster home for Maple. As much as we wanted

was hard for her to make new friends and win

this home to be a good fit, Maple's wasn't

the hearts of a new family.

feeling it. And so we tried again with another family, and shortly thereafter Maple was once

Just like humans, dogs have their own "quirks"

again returned for extreme behavioral issues.

that have, in one way or another, been shaped by their past. Since we didn't know what exactly

A year had passed, and despite all the training

happened to Maple, we can only assume that--

and enrichment that we'd done with her,

based on her reaction toward everyday objects-

Maple still wasn't ready for a home. We began

-Maple was a survivor of trauma.

to question whether or not she would thrive in a home environment. And so we tapped into

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MAPLE'S JOURNEY

IN THE KNOW

IN THE KNOW our creative problem solving and reached out to Tracey Frank with Society of Animal Rescue and Adoption (SARA) Sanctuary in Seguin, Texas. Tracey runs SARAs 200+ acre sanctuary, to which she invited Maple to take full advantage!

Thrilled for the opportunity, Mia and I packed up the Animal Care League van and drove Maple to sanctuary where she's now spending her days romping around and playing fetch with Tracey and her loving staff.

It's been 1 month since we'd ushered Maple into her new life with Tracey and SARA. All the updates that we've received on Maple have included her making BFFs with her fellow rescued animals, enjoying the literal hundreds of tennis balls that we packed for her, and that she's always happy.

We know that we made the right decision on Maple's behalf and are grateful for organizations like SARA and people like Tracey. Throughout our work in animal welfare, it's important to keep in mind that it's not about forcing animals to be who we want them to be; instead, we must accept them for who they are and find a workable solution that will allow them to live their best lives. And ultimately, it comes down to respect: for animals and life in general.

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TRAINING & EVENTS

Animal Care League Volunteer Newsletter NOVEMBER 2020, ISSUE 11

Intro to Training

November 11, 2020 A Sound Beginning hosts a free online Intro to Training on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. This course is a prerequisite for anyone wishing to become a Yellow-level Dog Walker with the ACL. Be sure to sign up for this course within 1 year of registering for ACL's Dog 101.

Dog 101

DOG 101

November 18, 2020 Our Dog 101 free online training will be held bi-monthly, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This course is intended only for current ACL Green Dog Walkers (and new Yellow Dog Walkers). If you're not currently a dog walker but want to join, please do; however, your inshelter training may not begin until 2021.

#GivingTuesday

December 1, 2020 Save the date for this year's Giving Tuesday events! Bonus: all donations will be matched this year! Check our Facebook page, and website for real-time information. Sneak peek: We're pulling out all the stops for fundraising this year and we need your help!

Interested? Contact Jordan at volunteer@animalcareleague.org.

Holiday Bazaar

December 2-6, 2020 This year we're hosting COVID-conscious week-long holiday events! Including a Bake Sale, Photos with Cardboard Santa, inperson Holiday Bazaar Shopping, and a online events! Have some last minute holiday donations? No problem! Drop them off to the shelter and we'll include them in our sale.

VOLUNTEER BOOK CLUB NOVEMBER 30TH @ 7 PM Join us as we discuss "Do Unto Animals" by Tracey Stewart.

We encourage you to read this book to the children in your lives, and discuss how we can all help animals live better lives.

IN OUR COMMUNITY

"Giving Thanks" Edition Heartfelt stories from ACL adopters, volunteers, and fosters

ADOPTIONS LUNA

MACKLIN

SIR PICKLES

How lucky am I? Even though I’m

Hi, I'm Bert Macklin and I'm so

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my

older, my new mommy says that

happy in my new home! I love

gosh! My dream has come true --

I’m just purrfect! Besides

sitting in the window and feeling

I've been adopted! Me and my

whiskers on kittens, here are a

the sun on my face...but my

human go on tons of walks, which

few more of my favorite things:

favorite thing to do is play and

is awesome. But you know what's

finding the sunspots near the

snuggle with my new best friend,

even awesomer? She’s very

windows, my two new feline

Penny. Fun fact: Did you know I'm

patient with me and understands

brothers, playing with my

named after a totally legit FBI

that I like laying next to my

mommy, exploring, sleeping, and

agent? Pretty cool!

emotional support bowl ‘cause

giving myself pep-talks in the

that's how I roll. Oh, and she

mirror!

gives me lots of treats, too...

Score!

ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE CONSTITUENTS

IN OUR COMMUNITY

AYAH I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it!

My new house and family are so

cool. I have my own special place to eat and drink, and I even have my own litter box. Sometimes I hear new and strange sounds but my people are patient with me and are helping me to not be scared. I already love my new people (and Bubbles) so much!

TOMATO & MUSHROOM Well hello! I am Tomato, and this is Mushroom. Our new family is so happy with us...and that makes us happy, too. We love, love to play together. We also are both very curious about life, which makes it even cooler that we are free to travel around our new place and check out all the things!

HENRIK I love to entertain so I’m in the right place! My new family gets a kick out of me and I know they love me because my mommy tells me so. Another great thing is that I have cat siblings now. We play, cuddle, and chill together. It’s so nice to have my own family now!

HOWIE This is THE life... this is MY life! My pawrents give me all the cuddles and playtime... I'm so happy, guys! The best parts are when we go out for long walks together. Sometimes I feel nervous about the world but then I look at my pawrents and they reassure me that everything's okay... they make me feel so safe and loved!

ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE CONSTITUENTS

IN OUR COMMUNITY

VOLUNTEERS KAYDEE SPROAT (AND GRACIE)

Perhaps you remember the t-shirt that Kaydee's wearing in her photo: Animal Care League's 20th year anniversary tee!

Kaydee's been with the ACL since the late 1980's--while our our organization was in it's start-up phase! One of her fondest ACL memories was suiting up in her penny vest and donation can outside of Jewel Osco in River Forest; "People were so generous, it was a wonderful experience and it was heartwarming to do that." she explains.

Kaydee's still involved in our Development team today as Quinn's Program Assistant. Her passion for pets and people has led her to the ACL, where she met and adopted Gracie, her 13year-old kitty! When we asked Kaydee why she's stuck with us all this time, she explained that "[ACL] was a great organization that I believed in, and even more so now!"

JADE AICH "Volunteering at Animal Care League has not only taught me so much more about photography but also about different animals and their behaviors. So far, my main focus has been photographing cats and how their overall body language can tell you about how they’re feeling.

This experience has definitely been a highlight of my routine recently because of everything going on in the world, due to the pandemic and having to do school remotely. It’s a great opportunity for me to get out of the house and do something I love while also learning something new from each animal every time I come in for a photoshoot."

Jade's favorites

ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE CONSTITUENTS

IN OUR COMMUNITY

FOSTERS DUCHESS My name is Duchess, but my foster mommy also calls me Sunshine Queen because I love chillaxin’ in the sun! And don’t even get me started about Friday nights, when my mommy and I have our weekly Friday Night Girls’ Party we watch TV, snuggle, and have so much fun.

LUKE & LEIA We’ve been in our foster home for a few weeks and we’re settling in. Our foster mommy is very patient with us and it feels nice to be loved and treated with such care... Guess what! She even makes us homemade yummy treats! It’s time to play. We hope you have a hoppy day! (Leia, R., Luke, L.)

BISCOTTI & SHORTCAKE We’re thrilled to be in our new foster home. We feel safe and comfortable, which is a great feeling, and we even get along fine with the other cats! We like to relax and just go with the flow, but our favorite thing to do is put our feet in our foster mama’s lap...

Life is good! (Biscotti, R., Shortcake, L.)

MS. PENNY BEE It's SO GOOD to be out of the shelter and into a home! I feel like the shelter was cramping my style, and now I can totally be myself. Especially since my foster momma has let me go at my own pace, she's a real nice lady... I'm starting to believe that people are really nice now, too.

ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE CONSTITUENTS

IN OUR COMMUNITY

OUR "FOSTER FAIL" Written by Sarah Hoffman

CHARLIE & CASSIDY I brought Stella Blue home to foster for the Animal Care League in March, during quarantine.

Stella surprised us with babies a few days later, but she wasn't ready to care for them and only one (Cassidy) survived. That’s when I stepped in and took over as mom.

I bottle fed Cassidy (right) and carried him around with me everywhere. He even slept in a box with a heating pad next to my bed. It took a few weeks for me to figure out what everyone else already knew, that Cassidy was never leaving my house. That’s when we decided to get him a friend.

Charlie (left) was rescued from a farm where he was fated to be someone’s dinner. He came to us at 6 ½ weeks old and is finally getting over his fear of humans and learning that people aren’t all bad. The two boys bonded instantly and have been inseparable ever since.

I’m so thankful to have these boys in my life. My office is in their room so I spend most of my days with them; watching them race around, play, get into trouble, and being the cutest babies ever.

Cassidy also likes to spend part of his day snuggling in my lap while I work. I love these two so much and don’t know what I’d do without them.

CONTRIBUTORS

Jo Skilling

Laura Cuellar

The Johnson Family

The Kostka Family

Ellen Bartolozzi

Aubrey Meyer

The Nadeem Family

The Avampato Family

Jade Aich

Sarah Hoffman

The Tremper Family

The Newberry Family

Darcy Herman-Blecha

Kaydee Sproat

The Komar Family

The Shields Family

ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE CONSTITUENTS

FAMILY, FOREVER DOGS

SNOITPODA REBOTCO

Howie | Rory | Lorelai | Snooki | Bella | Chadwick | Huey | Eddie | Ellie | Chili | Queso | Cilantro | Petey | Agnes | Yahtzee! | Ben | Miranda | Smokey

CATS Cam | Walker | Jameson | Allie | Lena | Cody | Hunter | Josie | Splenda | Beans | Chicken | Waffles | Conor | Maddie | Erika | Mako | Sicklefin | Spinner | Sandbar | Silky

| Megladon | Megamouth | Shortfin | Jolene | Charming | Berlioz | Lilith | Darcy | Macadamia | Pistachio | Rum Tum | Alonzo | Dexter | Darryl | Puddin' Pop | Fluffmaster | Fuzzy

Britches | Ernie | Josiah | Second Chance Sam | Second Chance Susie | Ruthie | Penelope | Sissy | Almond | Cashew | Alvin | Ruthie

SMALL ANIMALS Selena (Parakeet) | Marc Anthony (Parakeet)

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October Pets of the Week Penelope & Sissy, Toasty, Yahtzee!, and Lorraine

Each week we select a resident ACL pet as "Shelter Pet of the Week" to highlight their progress as they wait for their forever homes. Check out who made the list last month!

Want to nominate a Shelter Pet of the Week?

Fill out this form!

Volunteer Spotlight Lynne Gonzalez and Tessa Muriello

Tessa (right) just joined our crew last month--and is already halfway to a Level 3! She helps us out with General Shelter Support, where she's extremely efficient and knocks out 2-3 tasks on top of helping with the laundry and dishes each time she's here.

Lynne (left) is an all-around rockstar, has been for years! She mostly helps with our Pets & People Support Program as a Delivery and Donation Attendant these days. Not only has she helped us get this program off the ground, she's a vital member of our volunteer group since she's up for anything and can easily do anything she sets her mind to!

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SEASONAL

FOSTERING

FOSTER@ANIMALCARELEAGUE.ORG

FOSTER AN ANIMAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Fostering shelter pets is one of the most impactful ways to save lives!

The more ACL animals in foster homes, the more resources we have in-shelter, and the more animals we can save--it's that simple!

Help us get more pets out of the cold this season by fostering. Simply fill out this application to get started!

Interested in having your work published in our newsletter?

Send a sample of your work (photos, writing, drawings, etc.) to volunteer@animalcareleague.org to get started!

Publishing your work is a great way to gather recognition while applying for schools, jobs, and more. Our Volunteer Coordinator can even validate your skills via LinkedIn to help you along your journey toward helping animals!

1011 Garfield Oak Park, IL. 60304 (708) 848-8155