By Roma Avila
For a minute, the stress went away and it seemed as if everyone forgot the semester was coming to an end. Students, faculty, and passersby all gathered around the five crates each holding a dog eager to play and meet a potential family. One by one the dogs were let out to be: cuddled, pet, and walked across the campus.
The dogs were on campus as part of an adoption event organized by senior Roma Avila with Cache Creek Rescue. The rescue group operates a non-for-profit, no-kill shelter in New Lenox, IL that relies heavily on help from volunteers to set up events and transport animals to each adoption site. Mary Jo has done this before, but this was her first solo event. She showed up promptly at 11:00AM and had the dogs ready to go in 20 minutes with the help of a few students.
This was the first campus event for the rescue group; they are used to working with pet stores and clinics to promote the adoption of their animals. Adoption fees were $300 or less for the dogs on site:
Because the rescue offers on site adoptions, dogs that meet eligible owners can be taken home after adopters are screened instead of going back to the shelter.
Bailey was the first to say goodbye as CUC faculty member Ashlee Davis Middendorf and her husband came and without hesitation, made Bailey a part of their family. Once all the paperwork was done, Bailey was off to a home with her own bed.
Cassidy was next. The smallest and youngest puppy found a home after a staff member shared his picture and within minutes he was en route to a permanent roof and bed of his own.
The last dog to say farewell was Rascal. As Mary Jo began to pack up, student and senior Kelley Guastella came by and did not want to go home without the puppy.
Although the dogs parted ways with the shelter, it is the best goodbye Cache Creek can hope for. The event was a success and even raised a little money for the rescue group. Mary Jo left the campus with a happy heart knowing there would be more room at the shelter for new faces in need of new beginnings and a “furever” home.
Eli and Lulu along with several other dogs and cats still need homes, please visit their website for details and location information. The rescue has a variety of dogs and cats not present at the event, but available for adoption so be sure to like them on Facebook for updates.
