About 100 cats and dogs were rescued from a Northbrook, Illinois, home that caught fire on Monday and now need homes.
When firefighters responded to the home fire, they found 43 dogs and 48 cats living in dire conditions.
Harleigh Garcia, founder and executive director of Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook, said animal control was in place by 10 p.m. when the situation became clear.
She said the crew worked until 3 a.m. and by 7 a.m. animal control officers contacted Border Tails Rescue.
“It was a very short timeline,” said Garcia.
Because Border Tails Rescue is a dog shelter, we were unable to adopt the 48 cats we found living in our home.
However, although all 43 dogs were accepted into Border Tails Rescue, most had some problems.
The dogs were all Chihuahuas and weighed between 5 and 9 pounds, but one weighed 17 pounds and was considered the mother.
The shelter names all of its dogs after actors and actresses, and a 17-pound dog was named Meryl Streep.
According to Garcia, Streep was in hospice at an estimated age of 12, appeared to have never had medical attention, had a severe heart murmur, and had a large mass the size of a plum in his abdomen. .
Streep is part of a bond buddy with a cat named Robin Williams, and both dogs stay together in a foster home.
Many of my other dogs had flea, skin, hair and tooth problems.
All dogs must be spayed and neutered and will require a microchip when adopted.
Garcia explained that when her organization first heard about the situation, it didn’t flinch or get nervous.
Instead, they stepped in and worked tirelessly because the dog needed help, she said.
Of course, adopting 43 dogs is a lot of work.
In fact, Garcia estimates it costs about $25,000 to provide the dog with the care it needs.
The shelter is funded by donations and adoption fees.
To help care for the 43 new residents, Border Tails Rescue is accepting donations on Facebook. The organization hopes to bring in $21,500.
Ultimately, Garcia said the goal is for all of the shelter’s dogs to find a forever home, not just this week’s 43 dogs.
