No-Kill Dog Shelter Expands

Reggie the German wire-haired pointer knew a big change was coming in the upstairs meet-and-greet room at no-kill shelter, 1628 Old Deerfield Road.

The friendly, four-year-old shaggy brown-colored dog would finally get a home with Bill and Cathy Kummerow of Hawthorn Woods after a long wait for adoption at Tails of Hope. 

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Highland Park’s Kelly Moyer, who founded Tails of Hope in 2003, had another happy ending to record. 

Fellow Highland Park resident Caren Miller, program director for kids at the shelter, had again done her job as matchmaker between dog and new owner. Reggie’s departure would free up a spot in the 50-dog shelter to save another from euthanasia elsewhere.

The holiday season has been good for Moyer and Tails of Hope. Once housed in a storefront in downtown Highland Park with the dogs boarded at different locations, the shelter recently moved to its own roomy two-story facility in an office complex a block from the Petco store. Moyer can house the dogs on site while providing indoor and outdoor play areas so they are not confined to cages full-time.

A $100 bill out of the blue

The new facility has generated media publicity for Moyer, an increased traffic flow of dog lovers and more financial support. As Reggie prepared to leave, she was handed a $100 bill by an anonymous donor.

“We’ve had these anonymous donors before,” said a thankful Moyer, who needs $15,000 a month to support Tails of Hope. “One donated $5,000 to pay our vet’s bill. It’s a constant scramble. We fundraise 12 months a year, it never stops. But we’ll be able to adopt five times as many dogs as before.”

At moments like Reggie’s adoption, money is the furthest from everyone’s minds.

“We were just going to stop in,” said Cathy Kummerow, looking for another dog after a 13-month absence. Moyer and Miller typically take down information about the prospective adopters. They then select a dog that seems to match the best, and bring the animal to the upstairs room for the get-acquainted session, instead of people walking among the downstairs cages eyeing overly excited, barking dogs.

“It doesn’t do any good to look in the cages because you may see a dog, but it won’t work well in your home,” said Moyer.

With Reggie, it was love at first sight in the morning visit. “He was a doofus-looking dog,” said Cathy Kummerow. Miller knew better: “The dog knew how to work the room. He came immediately to them and was drawn to them.” 

The couple locked down their decision over lunch, then stocked on dog supplies at Petco. By 3 p.m., “parents” and dog headed home.

“What made it (Reggie’s adoption) so quicker is I felt so comfortable with the people,” said Miller. “I had a gut feeling. I have observed Kelly in interviews where she sees it’s not a good match. I didn’t understand how she could do it, but I get it now because she cares so much for the animals.”

Glencoe Animal Hospital a big help

Tails of Hope is assisted by Glencoe Animal Hospital, 1820 Skokie Blvd. in Northbrook. Moyer used to board 10 to 15 dogs at the clinic. Several hospital employees vaccinate as many dogs as possible, said clinic manager Renee Purdy. Tails of Hope will pay for the cost of vaccine, but other veterinary services are donated.

“We’re giving something back,” said Purdy. “They refer people to us who have adopted dogs.  Their new facility offers them a better quality of life while waiting to adopted Being confined to a kennel all the time wears on a dog. They are able to be out and about. It’s a little more chaotic and loud, with the barking, but it’s so much better than being alone.”

A no-kill shelter like Tails of Hope is even more crucial now. Overbreeding has caused the original problem, but the bad economy has turned out a lot of pets whose owners cannot afford to keep them anymore. Senior citizens in ill health also have to reluctantly surrender their dogs.

“Ninety-five percent of the dogs that come here, it’s circumstances that bring them here,” said Miller. “It’s not because they’re bad pets. A lot of the ones Kelly has are from people who have terminal illnesses or chronic illnesses, who couldn’t keep them anymore. It gave them peace of mind knowing the dogs would be cared for.”

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