Welcome to Keeshond Rescue of the Central States' PetFinder Home Page. We hope, through this webpage and our Pet List, you will learn more about this terrific breed and find a new family member. If you have any questions about our organization or our dogs, please contact anyone listed at the bottom of this page, under the Contact Us heading.
NOTE: Apologies for site difficulties in the past few days! All is well, and we still have dogs in need of forever homes.
The specific mission of Keeshond Rescue of the Central States shall be to rescue, care for, and place in qualified homes the canine breed known as Keeshond or Keeshonden (plural). It is the policy of this organization to provide humane care and treatment for all Keeshonden placed in our care; seek to return lost or stolen Keeshonden to their owners; to seek suitable homes for Keeshonden without owners; to provide euthanasia when necessary and only as a last resort.
Keeshond Rescue of the Central States shall try to provide a safe and healthy haven for all dogs placed in our care, until loving adoptive homes can be found. Every Keeshond place in our care will be completely vetted, placed in foster care, and evaluated.
The volunteers: take in unwanted Keeshonden from families and shelters; have all rescue dogs checked by a veterinarian, inoculated, tested for heart worm, and microchipped; spay or neuter before placing in a new home; check temperament with adults, children, dogs, other pets; and work with potential adoptive families to find the best placements.
We are proud to be affiliated with the Keeshond Fanciers of the Central States Keeshond Club.
Milwaukee's TMJ4 News team has done a pair of news stories on Puppy Mill conditions. The video and stories are heartbreaking, but also "must watches" for anyone interested in helping change things for these animals.
NOTE: The response that TMJ4 News has received has been astounding; access to these videos may be slow.
We are constantly adding new dogs to Our Pet List. Please click on "Our Pet List" link above to see all our dogs looking for permanent, loving homes. If, after viewing Our Pet List, you do not find a potential family member, please contact us anyway. We may have a family member waiting in the wings just for you.
The adorable "puppy in the window", however, does grow up. To develop the wonderful, long-lasting relationship with your Keeshond, you need to understand some of the breed's characteristics.
The Keeshond is a loving, outgoing and playful dog, typically very good with children and other animals. Its lovely silver, black and cream, often heavy coat, with its perky curled tail, can make an owner proud. But, like all breeds, one must also understand its special qualities.
The Keeshond is a very people-oriented breed. It needs to be made an integral part of the family and given the attention and affection of a regular family member. It must never be chained outside. The Keeshond is strictly an indoor dog and must be with its family. The Keeshond is also a high-energy breed. A large fenced backyard and/or frequent walks are essential for the young dog. Since the Keeshond was bred as a watchdog for the canal barges in Holland, it will want to warn you when unfamiliar folks approach. You need to be prepared for the fact a Keeshond can be yappy. The Keeshond's beautiful, distinctive coat necessarily requires some care. It should be brushed weekly and bathed every few months.
Individuals seeking to adopt a rescued Keeshond from us must complete an application with references, only one of whom may be a family member. Reference checks include three personal and one vet reference. A home visit will also be conducted if possible.
Please Note: We cannot adopt dogs to anyone under the age of 18 years. Please do not contact us directly yourself if you are under 18. If you are under 18 years old and are interested in one of our dogs, please have your parents or legal guardian contact us. Thank you.
An adoption application can completed online, printed & faxed/mailed, or copied & pasted into an email; please visit:
http://www.keesrescue.org/adopt
... for more information. You can also contact our adoption administrator:
Monica Johnson
596 Norman Rd
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
monicalj49@comcast.net
Please allow 2 weeks for processing your application. Often we can get it processed sooner, but that is dependent on the availability of references, and the applicant and processor to schedule and complete the home visit. We will make every effort to contact you within 2 days of receiving your application, to let you know we have it and are working on it. If you've not heard from us within 5 days of mailing your application (3 days for emailed applications), please contact us.
Adoptive families are required to visit the foster care site (primary location - Urbana, IL ; other foster homes in the Chicago, IL area) so that an appropriate match between family and dog can be made. We request potential adopters to bring along current pets as a part of that matching process.
All of our dogs are up to date on vaccinations; heartworm tested and on preventative; on flea and tick prevention; are spayed or neutered prior to adoption; and are microchipped as a form of permanent identification.
Adoptions require a contract specifying humane treatment of the dog and complete vet care for the duration of the dog's life. The contract also specifies that all rescued Keeshonden that have been in the care of this organization must be returned to the organization should it become impossible for the adopter to provide necessary care and shelter. A rescued Keeshond cannot be disposed of by the adopting party without consultation and written authorization from this organization. The organization will inform the public on properly choosing and caring for a Keeshond.
An adoption fee of a minimum of $200 is required. On occasion, we may have puppies available. The adoption fee for a young puppy (nine months old or younger) is $300. Some dogs are in foster care of several weeks or even months due to some medical condition they may have when they come to us with. Puppies require vaccinations every three weeks up to the age of 16 weeks. While these adoption fees do not cover all the expenses of providing care to our rescue dogs, it does help offset some medical expenses, food, grooming, and other financial burdens of fostering.
Victor proves that with the right loving home, a Rescue Dog can do just about anything. If you're interested in finding out for yourself, please visit our list of dogs looking for loving homes. Our application process is outlined below under the section titled "Adopting a New Family Member."
On May 17, 2006, Lucky went to the Rainbow Bridge. His parents, Laura and Darren Crawford; siblings, Victoria, doggie brother Webster Crawford, and fish sister Wanda; foster Mom, Marilyn Burgoyne; and many doggie cousins survive him. Lucky was adopted on December 30, 2004.
Lucky had a hair and flower fetish. He would place his nose right in the middle of clean hair and move about like a performing Stevie Wonder. Foster Mom said that she would find Lucky with his nose stuck in the middle of any blooming flower he could find.
Lucky loved to go on walks with his brother, Webster. You never said the word walk until you were ready to go. If you made that mistake, he would nudge you with his nose until you relented.
Windy days and snowy days were the best. Lucky would lie outside looking like a supermodel being fanned. The song Wind Beneath His Fur was sung to the tune Wind Beneath My Wings. On a snowy day, Lucky’s fur acted like Stainmaster carpet allowing him to keep his Abominable Snowman look.
Lucky got along very well with all dogs, fitting right in with a family of many doggie cousins and many neighboring dogs. He loved to talk to the neighborhood dogs and would even call them to come out in all directions. Calling all dogs. Calling all dogs.
At family playtime on the floor, he would make sure he sat right in the middle of the board game or activity. His attention-getting maneuver won him lots of pets.
Brushing Lucky was an enjoyable activity for all involved. Lucky liked to look and feel like a million bucks. Webster liked to place his nose in the piles of removed fur and produce sneeze after sneeze. Clean up became a two-part process. Clean the floor and clean Webster.
Lucky had a great appetite and even taught his finicky younger brother to eat. His favorite holiday and birthday treat was gnawing on bones that kept him focused on reaching the hard to get to marrow. How many gnaws does it take to get to the middle of the bone, he wondered?
Lucky was such a loving, happy pooch who brought so much joy into our lives and so many others. Although our time with him was short, we feel so blessed that he will always be a big part of our lives.
Love always,
Your family
Because the Keeshond's coat is extremely thick around the neck, in order for the electronic shock collar to be effective on a Keeshond, the shock level must be turned up very high, the length of the prongs must be very long, or the collar on very tight.. The high shock level and length of the prongs can cause pain and injury to the dog. Some dogs we have known have tried to scratch the shock collar off, catching their foot in the collar and getting burned and receiving puncture wounds from the prongs.
Another problem with the use of this style of fencing is that a dog will still run through the "fence," accepting the first shock but refusing to return to the yard for a second shock. Keeshonden are very intelligent creatures. They CAN think and seem to understand cause-and-effect processes as it relates to their behavior. It does not take long for the average Keeshond to learn that if he received a shock leaving the yard, he'll get another shock going back into the yard. The result is a Keeshond loose in the neighborhood, likely a new, unfamiliar neighborhood. The dangers of further injury and possible death are enormous.
This leads us to yet another reason that the use of these fences with Keeshonden are a great concern. Rescued Keeshonden have lived in many different environments by the time them arrive into the Rescue program. Many have lived with several families during their lives, then find themselves either living by their wits alone on the streets or dumped in shelters. To get into Rescue, they may have traveled a great distance on what we call a "transport" or "railroad," being handed from one transporter to another. Then they are in foster care sometimes for several weeks or months, depending on their physical and emotional conditions. When they go to a new home, it will take quite a long adjustment period (several months, maybe longer) for them to realize and accept that this is finally their home. During that adjustment period, the risk of the Rescued Keeshond trying to "escape" is great. An invisible fence will NOT prevent this.
Not only will an invisible fence NOT keep a dog in the yard, it will not keep another animal or human from coming into the yard to either injure or steal your pet. Sure, a standard fence can be jumped or dug under by any creature (human or non-human) wanting to get in or out. But it does slow them down to some extent, and in many cases completely stops the creature from crossing the fence line.
Even staying with your Keeshond while in the yard, providing "supervision" is no guarantee that the Keeshond will not run thru the "fence" and will not prevent another animal from coming into the yard. All of us in rescue have experienced an owner who has had a dog at some point get hit and killed by a car because the dog ran into the street. The first thing those owners have said is "he never did that before." Well, he'll never get another chance to do it again. An invisible fence will not keep a dog from running into the road.
These are just some, but not all, the reasons why the Board of Directors of Keeshond Rescue of the Central States has decided to not adopt a Rescued Keeshond into a home in which the intent is to use an invisible fence. We would be glad to discuss alternatives to invisible fencing. Please feel free to contact any Board Member listed at the bottom of this page.
The Keeshond coat also protects against parasites such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes. That's not to say a Keeshond never encounters these parasites, but that thick coat does slow those critters down. Another advantage to the Keeshond coat is that it repels dirt. Get rid of that coat and you're inviting dirt to attack your Keeshond and cling to its skin.
Also, the Keeshond coat helps to prevent that "doggie odor" that so many breeds have. Keeshonds don't typically have a "doggie odor," partially because of the coat. Take that coat off and the Keeshond may begin to smell like a dog.
While shaving may be necessary for medical purposes, such as in preparation for surgery, shaving just for convenient coat care should be avoided. Shaving too close can cause medical conditions from something as common as razor burn (which hurts like the dickens) to more serious damage. Some damage can be permanent, such as damage to the hair folicles. The fur may grow back in patches, leaving the Keeshond bald in various places all over its body, or the fur may not grow back at all. If the care of coat is inconvenient or too difficult, reconsider if the Keeshond is the right breed for you.
That luxurious coat is what makes a Keeshond a Keeshond. They know they are beautiful with that gorgeous coat. Some Keeshonds have actually acted embarrassed after being shaved. So, for the health, beauty, and pride of your Keeshond, please don't shave.
Also, we have a foster home in the Chicago area. If you are interested is visiting a dog listed at that foster home, please contact the foster home using the contact information listed with the dog of interest.
If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact Dina Zinnes. See below for contact information.
Since our only means of funding is through adoption fees and donations, with outstanding expenses being covered out of our pockets, we always welcome donations. Monetary donations are most helpful and are tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Checks can be made payable to Keeshond Rescue of the Central States.
Mail checks to:
Dina Zinnes
3204 Red Bud Lane
Urbana, IL 61802
Other donations are very welcome, too. These can be dog food and treats, paper towels, bath towels, dog toys, phone cards, and cleaning solutions. Please contact Dina Zinnes for specific details of the items needed, particularly dog food and treats.
Angel Vogel
Vice President
847 922 2240
Holland (southwest), MI
Palos Heights (South Chicago), IL
Email: mykeesie@yahoo.com
Jen Shelby
Treasurer
Champaign, IL
Email: jen@atyourservicecu.com
Dawn Henry
Secretary
Mahomet, IL
Email: mndhenry@yahoo.com
Monica Johnson
Board Member
Applications Supervisor
Bolingbrook, IL
Email: monicalj49@comcast.net
Pat and Judy Sleigher
Board members
Stickney, IL
Chicago, IL area
Email: woofden@sbcglobal.net
Other contacts
Indiana:
Pam O'Rourke
Danville, IN
Email: Pamorourke@aol.com
Diana & Paul Embry
Solsberry, IN
Email: dsembry@indiana.edu
Minnesota:
Erik Anderson
Web site administrator
Email: sapota@gmail.com
Wisconsin:
Dawn Johnson Bankers
Madison, WI
Email: sunrise_dj@hotmail.com
