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WHO WE ARE
Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption & Education Safehouse (S.T.R.A.E.S.) is an all volunteer, not for profit, no-kill, licensed animal shelter, established in 1999 to provide sanctuary, loving care and an adoption program
for abandoned and relinquished Shih Tzu. We are an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. 100% of all donations are used to provide care for our shelter dogs. We have no paid staff and our facilities are donated. Our mission includes two special programs. (1) Adoptable dogs with injuries and medical ailments that are costly to treat and who would otherwise be scheduled
to die are given the extra-ordinary medical care and lengthy rehabilitation they need to live happy complete lives. (2) Neglected and abused dogs with behavior issues ranging from aggression to fear that
have the potential to become loving family members are enrolled in a remedial program with a professional trainer/behaviorist so they too can be successfully placed in “forever homes.” All dogs are kept in
a cageless, home-like environment with access to over two fenced-in acres where they can run free. Our Shih Tzu are spayed/neutered prior to adoption, current on annual inoculations and flea/tick and heartworm
preventative and have a microchip implant. Complete veterinarian wellness checks are done on all incoming pets and any necessary special tests, medical and/or surgical procedures are provided.
Regularly scheduled grooming, parasite checks and treatment are also included as a part of our routine care. All dogs are temperament and personality tested so adopters 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.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
If you are interested in volunteering at any of the following events please phone (708-645-0730) or email us and we will get back to you.
The Windy City Pet Expo will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2013, from 10am to 6pm at the Odeum Expo Center, 1033 North Villa Avenue, Villa Park, IL. . . . Free Admission ($8 Parking) . . . Bring your pet! (on a fixed lead with proof of vaccinations, please) . . . Shop . . . Learn . . . Play . . . Tons of exhibitors, fabulous entertainment, activities and prize giveaways, discounted vaccinations, microchipping and heartworm & flea preventatives, FREE nail trims . . . fun for both the two-legged and four-legged. . . We are excited to once again be a part of this pet and family-oriented show and we are going to need a lot of volunteers for set-up (Friday, July 19th), tear down and at our S.T.R.A.E.S. booth during the show, please contact us if you are interested in helping out. . . Watch this spot for more information about this great event and additional ways you can lend a hand!!
You are invited to join us this fall at two really exciting Chicago Pet Show events. From 10AM to 5PM, on Saturday and Sunday, September 7th & 8th, we will be at the Darien Sportsplex, 451 Plainfield Rd. in Darien; and, from 10AM to 5PM, on Saturday and Sunday, November 9th & 10th, we will be at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 Randall Rd. in St. Charles. Start planning now for a really fun family day and watch this space for further details and money saving discount coupons.
Do you have an idea you are willing to develop and coordinate that would help to support S.T.R.A.E.S. efforts to give Shih Tzu a second chance at life and a loving home? Please phone (708-645-0730) or email us and we will get back to you. We appreciate your support.
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.
The Safehouse is NOT open to the public. Potential adopters must visit with the pet(s) of their choice at one of our PETsMART adoption 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. 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).
Walmart, PETsMART, Pet Supplies Plus and PetCo gift cards are always helpful.
Small dog size soft doggy treats.
Science Diet Mature Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food
Wellness Small Breed Super5Mix Adult Health dry dog food
Office supplies such as: postage stamps, letter size hanging folders, easy peel address and mailing labels, hp Officejet Ink Cartridge 88XL, etc.
Cleaning supplies such as: paper towels, disinfecting wipes, disinfecting spray, dish and laundry detergent, etc.
We desperately need volunteers to help at our monthly PETsMART store visits: talk to potential adopters, take the dogs out for a potty break, setup and tear down. 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.
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.
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.
S.T.R.A.E.S. is an all volunteer organization, there is no paid staff and our facilities are donated. 100% of all donations are used to provide care for our shelter dogs. We are an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, your donation is tax deductable.
Help make our dogs Thunderdogs . . . . calm and fearless. Through the Donate a Thundershirt program, you can outfit our adoptable dogs with Thundershirts to alleviate stress. Just click on the link below and you will be taken to a special page created specifically for STRAES. From there, you can purchase a discounted Thundershirt with FREE shipping and Thundershirt will send it directly to STRAES. Just click on the link below and Thank You!!
Our dogs love to sleep on Kuranda Dog beds with soft fleece bed pads, to donate a bed and/or a soft fleece bed pad at a special wholesale price:
Donate a Kuranda dog bed and/or a soft fleece bed pad to one of our dogs in the name of a friend or family member and
a personalized Gift Card will be mailed to them to inform them of the wonderful gift you have selected in their honor.
Buy your pet supplies at any of these online pet stores and they will make a cash donation to our shelter.
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! To join click
here and enter STRAES in the "charity code" field.
USBones will donate 25% of your order value (pre-tax & pre-shipping) to S.T.R.A.E.S.
Check out their dog bones and dog chews born and manufactured in the USA or
their selection of other US manufactured, ultra premium quality pet foods, treats, supplements, and delicious shampoos!
Reward your pet with the gift of a Kuranda dog bed and soft fleece bed pad, receive special discounts and incentives with offers not otherwise available
and Kuranda will donate a percentage of your order value to our shelter:
