Donations Help Animals at WCAS

The Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary has been helping animals at the county shelter since 1997. They transferred their funds to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois in the fall of 2004 and established what is known as the Animal Services
Auxiliary Fund.

The purpose of the fund is to provide medical assistance to adoptable pets housed at the shelter, including but not limited to spaying and neutering; to raise public awareness regarding responsible pet ownership, adoption and training; to provide orientation for volunteers; and to conduct fundraising activities for the ongoing support of animals housed at Winnebago County Animal Services. Use of the fund is guided by the Winnebago County Animal Services Volunteer Auxiliary.

In 2004-2005, volunteers agreed to cover veterinary services for nearly 140 animals that were considered by staff to be adoptable. Veterinary services included 110 spays or neuters and 29 medical treatments. Most of the spays and neuters were adult cats; while the majority of the medical treatments were for dogs - many of which were hit by a car.

Read about some of the animals that we've helped...

Checks should be made out to CFNIL-
Animal Services Aux. Fund and mailed to:

Animal Services Auxiliary Fund
% Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
946 N. Second Street
Rockford, IL 61107-3005

Puppy Survives Dog Attack

At four weeks old, Frankie came into Animal Services after being attacked by another dog; he was bitten in the head and the chest area. Frankie was bleeding from the nose and was having problems breathing. Fearing that Frankie may have a punctured lung, WCAS staff contacted a local veterinarian who could get him in immediately for x-rays. Luckily for Frankie he didn't have a punctured lung; however, he did have a hair-line skull fracture and needed stitches inside his mouth.

Frankie recovered from his injuries in foster care and was adopted at about 9 weeks old. He lives with another dog and three cats and is attending dog training classes.

Terrier Mix Pinned with Love

This wirey-haired little fella came into Animal Services with a fractured left rear leg. Using the Animal Services Auxiliary Fund, he was transported by an officer to a local veterinary clinic for x-rays to determine the extent of his injuries. After examination and review of the
x-rays, the vet determined a pin inserted into the dog's leg was needed to stablize the fracture while it mended. We are happy to report that the little dog was reclaimed by his owner.

Kitty Gets New Home

Kitty is a black Great Dane that ran in Aldeen Park for three weeks before being picked up by animal control officers at Winnebago County Animal Services. After arriving at the shelter, kennel staff discovered that Kitty was lame and needed medical attention. Staff contacted a board member of the auxiliary to see if Kitty could have x-rays taken at a local veterinarian clinic using funds from the Animal Services Auxiliary Fund. Four-year-old Kitty was taken to a local clinic by one of the animal control officers where veterinarians discovered that she had a broken leg with multiple fractures. It was determined by staff that Kitty was probably adoptable and maybe doing surgery on the leg would help her get adopted.

Kitty was transferred to another local veterinarian to possibly fix her leg. However, since the break was an old break and had healed over, the veterinarian had to amputate the leg after trying for five hours to mend it.

When Kitty came into the shelter she was so skinny that you could place your finger between her rib bones. She was dehydrated and her coat was dull, dry and flaky. Today, Kitty is in a happy forever home with a Border Collie Mix and a cat. After being treated with antibiotics and being put on a healthy diet, Kitty's coat is almost as shiny as a new black cadillac.

Peggy is Happy Pup

Peggy was picked up as injured stray puppy. She was a shy puppy who refused to come out of her cage. It was evident that Peggy was not socialized very well. However, one of the kennel staff saw a spark of personality in Peggy and knew with work that she could be adoptable. Five-month-old Peggy had an injury to her back leg, so the staff called on the auxiliary fund for help. She was taken to a local veterinarian clinic for x-rays and it was determine by the vet that she had an old break that had healed over. The break also injured her growth plate and even if it were able to fixed, the leg may not heal or grow properly. The vet recommend removing the leg. Peggy was fostered in a home while her leg healed was eventually adopted out to a mom and her son. The son insisted Peggy was going to be his dog.

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