By Nat Wexler | Photo by Holly Leitner
Adopting a dog from a rescue organization can be an enriching experience for both humans and animals alike. Dogs provide exceptional companionship for humans and are known to reduce stress levels. Studies show that cuddling with a dog releases oxytocin, “the love hormone,” in the brain, which leads to an increase in happiness and relaxation. Dogs are even known to boost their humans’ levels of wellness through increased physical activity from playing and walking.
Prior to adopting a dog, it is important to be realistic about your lifestyle and/or your family’s situation — how compatible is it for taking care of a canine? Different dog breeds have different needs, so it is vital to think about your resources in terms of time, space and finances to ensure a successful adoption. Dog rescue organizations will usually have questionnaires to help potential adopters figure out which specific dog in their care would be a great fit.
Before bringing your fur-ever friend home, you should locate a veterinarian near your home; stock up on necessary materials such as beds, toys and food; and make arrangements for who will help you take care of your dog in case of unexpected events. A number of dogs end up in shelters because their human is unexpectedly unable to take care of them, and has not clearly outlined who should assume that responsibility.
For those that are looking to adopt a dog in the Geneva Lake area, here are a few options:
LAKELAND ANIMAL SHELTER, DELAVAN
In 1968, nine members of the Walworth County community founded a nonprofit organization to help homeless animals in the area.
A decade later, in 1978, they opened Lakeland Animal Shelter. Now, more than 50 years after their founding, Lakeland Animal Shelter’s mission “to be dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and to providing relief for animals that are suffering” has led them to help over 60,000 homeless animals.
Approximately 4,500 animals pass through the shelter’s doors each year, which includes about 1,200 dogs. Approximately 75 percent of those dogs are strays that were found in Walworth County; the remainder are surrendered dogs whose owners reside in Walworth County, dogs who were removed from their homes by the sheriff ’s department or dogs who arrive from a partner organization in Texas. Lakeland Animal Shelter never euthanizes an animal to make space for new animals or because an animal has been in their care for an extended period of time.
According to Executive Director Kristen Perry, the three best ways to help the shelter are to “adopt, donate and volunteer.” Perry urges individuals to “always consider rescuing an animal from a shelter.”
The adoption process at Lakeland Animal Shelter is designed so that individuals will be paired with the animal that best fits their lifestyle. Animals spend at least four months at the shelter so that staff members can get to know their individual needs and personalities, in order to pair them with their ideal forever home. Based on a potential adopter’s answers on a questionnaire, the staff at the shelter will suggest a few dogs that would do well with that individual’s lifestyle.
Lakeland Animal Shelter is always in need of both monetary and item donations. An up-to-date wish list can be found on their website, but they are always in need of grain free dog food, bleach, liquid laundry detergent and smooth peanut butter. “Our dogs LOVE eating peanut butter as a special treat!” Perry explains. Another way to support the shelter is to shop at the resale store 9Lives Boutique in downtown Lake Geneva. All proceeds go to the shelter.
ALIVE RESCUE — THE BIG BARN, SALEM
ALIVE Rescue was founded in March, 2008 as “a rescue and safe haven for animals.” For over four years, ALIVE Rescue did not have their own physical space and instead relied on foster homes. Since its founding, the organization has had a “Little Barn” and an adoption center in Chicago. In October 2020, they broke ground on “The Big Barn,” their new location in Salem, which started accepting homeless dogs last year.
The Big Barn is a 70-acre property that features 4,800 square feet of indoor facilities, and dogs receive 24-hour care while they are residing at the facility. The property is designed for dogs who might not do well in a traditional shelter setting and would instead thrive in a more natural setting with individualized attention. The Big Barn boasts an ample amount of outdoor play space, indoor play areas and a grooming room, with regular suites as well as suites designed for dogs with additional challenges including behavioral issues and pregnant and nursing dogs.
Kristen Gerali, the founder of ALIVE Rescue, is excited to celebrate The Big Barn’s one-year anniversary in October. Like the rest of ALIVE Rescue’s operations, The Big Barn prioritizes animals that are at a high risk of being euthanized, which includes older animals, animals with special needs and “unpopular” breeds. Gerali’s goal is to save at least 200 animals a year through The Big Barn facility and ALIVE’s foster system.
In addition to their adoption services, ALIVE Rescue has a robust foster program that is always in need of welcoming homes. Prospective foster parents are invited to fill out an application on the website to initiate the process of seeing if they are eligible to be a foster home.
ALBERT’S DOG LOUNGE RESCUE, WHITEWATER
Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue was founded in 2017 after Mandy Lewis adopted a senior dachshund named Albert who was suffering from chronic heart failure. Lewis’s initial plan was for Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue to be a lounge space for dogs who were adjusting to new homes. But after Albert’s passing, the organization changed course. Lewis realized that there are less than 100 rescues nationwide that specialize in senior dogs, so she shifted the focus of Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue to become a foster-based rescue organization specializing in senior dogs, dogs with special needs and dogs who are in hospice care.
Since its founding in 2017, Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue has helped hundreds of dogs each year find safe and comfortable homes where they can spend their golden years. A majority of the dogs end up at Albert’s because their humans have passed away, are in a nursing facility or are no longer able to take care of them. Unfortunately, senior dogs struggle to get adopted in shelters due to biases against older dogs; as a result, they are often first to be put down in shelters that euthanize. While some of the dogs are placed directly with Albert’s, others come to the organization through a more indirect path.
Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue does not have a physical facility. Rather, dogs in Albert’s care are placed in foster homes within driving distance of Whitewater. All available dogs are listed on the website and once potential adopters finish the screening process, they are invited to visit their prospective dog at that dog’s foster home to see if it is a good match.
While Lewis acknowledges that some people might be hesitant to adopt an older dog, she says there are a number of benefits to adopting an older dog. “One of the best things that you can do is help make a dog’s golden years the best years of their life,” she explains. “Older rescue dogs know that they have been rescued,” she says, and they are “extremely grateful to their new family.”
Lewis says the organization is always seeking foster homes. “That’s our biggest need because without them we can’t save lives,” she says. Thanks to monetary donations and adoption fees, Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue is able to pay all of the veterinary fees for dogs in their foster homes.
