News
S.T.A.R. Dogs at West Suburban Humane Society

As everyone watches the dollar shrink and the financial markets plummet, no one understands more than a not for profit, the value of generosity and the importance of an effective donation.

West Suburban Humane Society has certainly started to feel the pinch of a poor economy and understands the need to spend wisely.  In the spirit of a value added donation, West Suburban hopes to find support for one of their most important programs, the S.T.A.R. (Special Training and Reinforcement) program.
 
The S.T.A.R. program sends dogs with behavioral problems, to camp!  The problems can range from aggression to fear.  Many animals have been neglected and abused, and they have developed negative behaviors to help them cope.
 
In the spirit of helping needy animals, Midwest Canine in Des Plaines and Bark Avenue Daycamp in Bartlett, offer a 50% discount on every dog they rehabilitate.  Daily, continuous training & behavioral modification is provided and the results have been highly successful.
 
A good example would be Asia.  She was a pit bull mix that came to the shelter with her 6 puppies, from Joliet Animal Control.  The puppies were all quickly adopted but Asia was always passed by.  She was a sweet girl but not well socialized around people.  She would growl and snap out of fear.  We sent her for two weeks of training and when she returned she was a different dog.   She was happy, good with other dogs and great with people.  She is now adopted and living happily with a family in Carol Stream.  
 
West Suburban is a no kill shelter.  Only extreme cases of aggression or poor health call for euthanasia.  Because of this longstanding, thirty five year old policy, many animals with issues may stay at the shelter a very long time while waiting for that perfect family to come in and adopt them.  This not only causes more stress to the animal, often making their issues worse, but it is very costly to the shelter.  Money is spent on maintaining the animal instead of adopting more animals.

The training investment of these animals is costly, but the results have been many.  West Suburban feels the training costs will save the organization money in the long run and better yet, it will save a life!

Please donate to this worthy, effective and dollar wise effort.  For more information, contact Carolyn Mossberger at 630-960-9600, ext. 25 or email director@wshs-dg.org.

Published 19th September, 2008