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 our adoption procedures.
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 2010 we are continuing our twice monthly PETsMART store visits at the Darien PETsMART store, 2153 75th Street, Darien, IL. Beginning January 2nd, 2010, we will be at the Darien PETsMART store, 2153 75th Street, Darien, IL. on the 1st and 2nd Saturday of each month. The dogs are at the store from 10:30am to 2:00pm. 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.
Get ready for the Excitement! The Crowds! The 18th annual Chicagoland Family Pet Expo will take place March 19, 20 & 21, 2010; Show Hours: Friday, 2pm to 7pm; Saturday, 9am to 8pm; Sunday, 9am to 5pm; at the Arlington Park Racecourse, Arlington Heights, IL. S.T.R.A.E.S. has reserved adjoining booths (numbers 562 & 563, 2nd floor) and we are going to need a lot of volunteer help for this exciting three day event. The Pet Expo brings together pet lovers, pet owners, experts, products, service providers and great entertainment. Our goal is to create a greater awareness of S.T.R.A.E.S. and Shih Tzu. It is a wonderful opportunity to reach thousands of 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! We will be having our annual raffle drawing at the close of the Pet Show for a gift basket filled with doggy and people delights. To make the raffle a success we are in need of prize donations for our gift basket(s). If you are visiting the Expo, we hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to stop by our booth and share your Shih Tzu stories and pictures (pets are not permitted without a special pass). Everyone is invited to join in the fun. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to donate an item for the raffle basket.
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 must visit with the pet(s) of their choice at one of our PETsMART events before we will process their application.
You can pick up an adoption application and visit with some of our adoptable dogs at the PETsMART store in Darien, IL (2153 75th St.) on the first and second Saturdays of every month. The dogs are available for viewing at the PETsMART store between 10:30am & 2:00pm. The dogs are not adoptable from the store and we accept multiple applications for our dogs. The application process is multi-step and can take a couple of weeks. We do not take all the dogs to PETsMART and dogs are not adoptable from the store. If there is a specific dog or dogs you are interested in, please phone the Safehouse (708-645-0730) after 11am on the Friday prior to your planned PETsMART visit. A list of the dogs scheduled to attend the event will be available at that time.
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.
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. Potential adopters must visit with the pet(s) of their choice at one of our PETsMART events before we will process their application.
You can pick up an adoption application and visit with some of our adoptable dogs at the PETsMART store in Darien, IL (2153 75th St.) on on the first and second Saturdays of every month. The dogs are available for viewing at the PETsMART store between 10:30am & 2:00pm. The dogs are not adoptable from the store and we accept multiple applications for our dogs. The application process is multi-step and can take a couple of weeks. We do not take all the dogs to PETsMART and dogs are not adoptable from the store. If there is a specific dog or dogs you are interested in, please phone the Safehouse (708-645-0730) after 11am on the Friday prior to your planned PETsMART visit. A list of the dogs scheduled to attend the event will be available at that time.
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.
Adopters must live in Illinois and in the Chicago or suburban area (area codes 708, 630, 331, 847, 219, 312, 773, 872, 815 and 779).
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.
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.
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 and/or a soft fleece bed pad at a special wholesale price so a shelter dog can sleep in comfort, please Donate Now
Looking for a meaningful and lasting gift for a Pet Lover? Donate a Kuranda dog bed to one of our dogs in the name of a friend or family member. A personalized Gift Card will be mailed to them to inform them of the wonderful gift you have selected in their honor. Donate Now
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!
