Our Heroes!
Each month Chicago Pet Rescue nominates a "Volunteer of the Month" as part of our Volunteer Incentive Program.
These VIP heroes have gone above and beyond in their efforts to help our rescued pets, and we appreciate them tremendously. Find out about the perks of participating in our VIP Program and how you become a hero who helps to save a life.)
These VIP heroes have gone above and beyond in their efforts to help our rescued pets, and we appreciate them tremendously. Find out about the perks of participating in our VIP Program and how you become a hero who helps to save a life.)
(Click on a photo to enlarge it.)
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Next VIP -TBDWho knows it could be YOU..Help when and where you can! |
March 2020 -Angela & Morgan A.
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Angela and Morgan, our mother and daughter team, started off by adopting one of our wonderful cats. Shortly afterwards, they started working above and beyond to help our homeless animals. After some training sessions, they dove right into pet-socializing and now volunteer all the time!
The last few weeks have been unsettling for many of us. We have had to juggle and adjust our lives to new routines and challenges. These are the moments when the best in us surface to help wherever needed, whether it's to assist your neighbors, family, friends or homeless animals. The social distancing and shelter-in-place quarantine has made it more challenging for regular volunteers to keep their scheduled shifts and, therefore, created holes in our pet store socialization schedule. Angela and Morgan, however, have stepped up and helped cover many of these shifts, making sure that our animals have clean cages, fresh food and plenty of love and exercise daily. We want to thank Angela and Morgan for their dedication and for giving so much of their time and hearts during these difficult days. You have, selflessly, helped provide our cats safe haven, while waiting for their special someone to find them. Thank you on behalf of Chicago Pet Rescue and the animals we serve. |
Dec 2019 -Trinda W.
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Trinda deserves to be recognized for her dedication, hard work and big heart! She first joined our organization as an alumna, after adopting a CPR kitten. She quickly realized that her kitty needed a friend and the best way for her to provide him with a steady stream of them was by offering to foster.
Trinda loved fostering! She was worried, however, that her extensive travels would limit her ability to foster, so she wanted to help in other ways. Trinda retired with an information technology background, so assisting with our website was an easy way she could help, even if she wasn't home. But she felt that was not enough help and she still wanted to be hands-on with helping the animals, when she could. So she offered to help with transport to/from vet visits and foster homes. Trinda also joined our Pet Store Socialization Program, helping to make sure that the CPR animals being housed in our partner pet stores have the same needs met that they would in our home foster program. She also helps out at our adoption events, and is always ready to answer questions. Trinda shares our posts on Facebook, promotes and supports Chicago Pet Rescue every chance she gets. When emergency duty calls, she will still step up to foster, when she is available. If there is a sick kitty that needs short-term foster, Trinda isn't afraid to put on her nurse's hat and take control. She has a special talent for nursing sick animals back to health, not only with her TLC, but her extra attention to detail for what each animal needs to get better. Thus far, she has nursed back to health a three-legged cat and a few sick kittens. Who knows what else the future has in store for our Nurse Trinda. But what we are sure of, is that all the kitties she has helped, along with those she will continue to help, want to thank her and send her lots of kitten kisses! They have granted her the special title of, "Kitten Nurse". We all appreciate your support and hard work Trinda! |
June 2019 -Kristin, Cecilia and Wes G.
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Kristin and her children Cecilia & Wes have spent many hours having fun socializing with our cats waiting for their forever homes in our cat socialization program. Kristen and her family have been familiar faces every week at Petco making sure the cats get plenty of time to exercise and get some snuggles. Even a bad foot injury couldn't stop her dedication (she enlisted her husband to help as well during that time).
There was a cat that wasn't adjusting so well to living in the store and Kristin felt so bad for her so she stepped up to take that cat home to give her some more tender loving care. The family ultimately made the decision to be Cadi's forever home. Kristin's giving nature was also evident in her donations of toys, bedding & food for the cats at Petco. Thank you Kristin, Cecilia & Wes for all your support! |
May 2019 -Marge M.
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Marge is CPR's transport queen! She is always happy to drive foster parents and pets to adoption events. Marge also transports several of our homeless animals to and from their vet appointments. She also picks up and delivers supplies to our foster homes.
Marge is always happy to help spread the word about CPR! She shares our Facebook announcements and posts our events to Nextdoor. Marge also scours Facebook to collect pledged donations for animals that we are able to rescue from kill-shelters. Her willingness to donate any spare time she has to transporting for our rescue has earned her immense gratitude and admiration from our volunteers and pets. We can't thank her enough for her support! |
April 2019 -Ralph & Jo-Anne B.
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Jo-Anne and Ralph's dedication towards saving the lives of homeless animals shows every time we hear a Konnie story or see them take such good care of her. They are not only putting their vast dog knowledge to good use, but also their love of dogs, while helping Konnie find her new home. She has presented them with several challenges that they have not only conquered but helped her excel through. She came to them skin, bones and bleeding, but with their TLC and lots of patience she is healthy, happy and a much better-behaved pup.
It takes a huge heart to open your home to provide a temporary haven to those animals on their journey to find their forever homes. It takes commitment to give your time and love to a rescued animal, knowing that you will have to let them go when that perfect forever family is found. Ralph and Jo-Anne exemplify fosters who have given selflessly to help homeless animals by fostering and supporting Chicago Pet Rescue. Chicago Pet Rescue wants to congratulate and thank them on the behalf of those animals we serve. |
Mar 2019 -Rachel K.
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Kind and loving is an understatement when describing our foster, and now Foster Follow-up Volunteer, Rachel. She started off wanting to help a kitten or two and ended up helping us save several, before falling in love with her last foster, Finnegan!
Rachel adopted Finnegan, but is determined that she will be able to foster again in the future. In the meantime, she is going to help CPR by checking in with current foster families. She is happy to help us continue to save lives, even if not by fostering right now. We are glad to have Rachel's help and are thankful for all of her support. |
Feb 2019 -Holly M.
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Holly is someone who gives her time and heart to better the lives of our homeless animals, while they await their forever homes. Her hard work and love of fur-babies should be celebrated!
She is part of our Pet Socialization Program and helps, any way she can, to make sure our foster animals are given love and exercise. She also makes sure they have clean living conditions, while being hosted in their temporary living quarters. Holly has also helped with our online auction fundraiser and offered to assist with other projects. On behalf of Chicago Pet Rescue and the animals we serve, we want you to know that your dedication and time makes a world of difference to all of us, our animals and eventually their new families. We can't thank you enough Holly! |
Jan 2019 -Tammy and Susie G.
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This amazing mother/daughter team, and sometimes their entire family, work together to save homeless animals. They have opened their home as a safe haven, to allow some of our animals a temporary residence, until they find their forever families. Besides providing them safety, they transport the animals as needed and help wherever and whenever they can. They also help out at adoption events.
Susie and Tammy have fostered several cats and many kittens. These animals would not have found their forever homes without them. Their dedication deserves recognition and on behalf of Chicago Pet Rescue and the animals we serve, thank you and congratulations to Tammy, Susie and your family for your support. |
Dec 2018 -Mimi, Buzz and Libby
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This family loves animals more than most! Their big hearts not only led them to volunteer to socialize homeless cats, but they also wound up adopting two, homeless birds that were in the store while they were volunteering. They are all devoted socialization volunteers, committed to providing love and exercise to our available kittens and cats who are housed at local pet stores. Our cats look forward to weekly play time, hugs and cuddling from Mimi, her son, Buzz and her daughter, Libby. Mimi is very diligent about posting pictures of the animals, making sure their cages are clean and the cats have plenty of fresh food/water. At the same time, Libby and Buzz do the hard work (playing, entertaining and socializing the kitties). All their volunteer work is much appreciated and very important. Without their help, we would not be able to save as many animals.
Mimi, Buzz and Libby are living proof that the family that volunteers together has fun together! We want to thank them for all they do to improve the lives of our homeless animals. |
Nov 2018 -Jen and Viv B.
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Jen and her daughter, Viv, love volunteering together, especially when they can work with cats. They started off socializing our foster kitties at Skokie Petsmart, then realized there are so many other ways they can help.
They transport CPR foster cats and supplies to/from foster homes. This might seem like a small effort, but it is a very important volunteer role. Jen has also put several of her other skills to great use, such as force-feeding, pilling cats and administering IV fluids. She is happy to teach other volunteers how to do these things, or just do them herself when needed. She is always willing to help, even if it means weathering the storm. She is a very strong and brave volunteer! Thank you both for your time, dedication, and willingness to help. |
Oct 2018 -Ania W.
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Ania is one of the most compassionate people that we know and love, especially when it comes to animals!
She originally came to CPR to assist us with socializing pets at pet stores and ended up giving so much more. She is one of our kitten fosters, however, she also has other hidden talents! She has a photography degree, which she and her husband, Jeremi, put to good use while helping out at our Pet Trick or Treat Fundraiser. Ania is always willing to do whatever is needed when it involves helping homeless animals. Thank you for the countless hours and support that you have given CPR and the kittens that you have helped along the way. |
Sept 2018 -Lena B.
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Lena loves animals and taking/editing photos. So, when the opportunity to help homeless animals by using her photography skills came along, she didn't hesitate. Lena's photos are a huge reason why our monthly newsletter is so much more attractive and popular!
She also helps by spreading the word about fundraisers, needy animals and events. Lena has been very supportive, volunteering at several adoption events. Lena, we can't imagine putting together the newsletter without your creative assistance. We are very appreciative of your creativity and other support. |
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Aug 2018 -Michelle D.We are pretty sure that Michelle is one of the most organized, detail-oriented and prompt people we know and love. She has only been volunteering with us for the summer, but she has made our lives so much easier and better! We wish we had known her all of our lives! Michelle volunteers at adoption events, supports us at fundraisers, aides in writing profiles for our foster animals and taking their pictures. She also plays a very important role in helping us by create, update and post the event schedules and thank you posts on Facebook. She is great with coordinating and making sure that all of the pieces are in place and nothing is forgotten. Thank you Michelle for your dedication and excellent work. |
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July 2018 -Milou M.Milou is a big animal lover and has been around them all her life. She moved here from Amsterdam and found herself with some extra time, so volunteering with Chicago Pet Rescue was her first choice. She started off helping out at adoption events, sharing Facebook posts and supporting us at CPR fundraisers. Since she wasn't working at the time, she decided to take on a volunteer staff position. Milou jumped right in to the Vet Coordinator position, learning and coordinating as much as she could. After getting a new job and puppy, things got busy, so her time was much more limited, but she still wanted to help. We preferred to have Milou continue to help a little, rather than not at all. She is still a huge life-saver, assisting with follow-up calls to our vets when needed. Thank you Milou, for making time to help CPR and our homeless animals, even when life is busy. |
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June 2018 -Lisa and Kasey B.Lisa and her daughter, Kasey, love animals and wanted to help homeless cats. So, they joined the CPR Pet Socialization Program. They realized that this would be a great way to spend time together and help homeless animals. Most of our volunteers only help at one pet store, but Lisa and Kasey help at both Petco and Petsmart. They will go wherever they are needed! Their dedication doesn't stop there. Lisa and Kasey also help pass out flyers and talk with customers at adoption events. This mother/daughter duo have fun working together to help us save homeless animals. Their enthusiasm shines through and their love of animals is obvious in their actions. Chicago Pet Rescue wants to thank Lisa and Kasey, for all they do to help save the lives of homeless animals. |
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May 2018 -Ruiz FamilyCrystal and her family wanted to help animals by fostering. They had dog sat for other family and friends, but were ready for the next step. In a short time, they have already fostered two different CPR dogs and are currently fostering a third. In addition, they recently adopted a little kitten, Bush, from Chicago Pet Rescue! We think that he will be a great helper in showing the new fosters the family routine. The Ruiz family is very dedicated to helping their fosters get adopted by working on whatever kind of training they need,bringing them to all adoption events and making sure they have all they need. Crystal has even gone to home visits for potential adopters. Thank you to the entire family, for all your support and dedication. We look forward to rescuing many more furry friends with your help! |
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April 2018 -Caroline M.Caroline believes all felines deserve love and attention. She is dedicated to taking care of our cats that are fostered at Petco. We admire her reliability and appreciate her being a team player. She often takes extra shifts to help other volunteers when they can't make it. She will also pop into the store to check on the cats who are having a harder time. Her love of animals is obvious, as she tirelessly works to make sure that our cats maintain a high quality of life, while waiting for their forever homes. Besides keeping their cages clean, she spends time giving them individual attention and affection. Thank you Carolina on a job well done! We want you to know that Chicago Pet Rescue appreciates all of your time. |
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March 2018 -Terri P.Terri is not a passive animal lover, she puts her love of animals to work! She has been a friend and supporter of Chicago Pet Rescue for several years. She helps in any way she can. Terri enjoys working on special projects, behind the scenes. She has been a big help with socializing some of our homeless cats. Terri has even opened her house to fostering homeless kittens. This has included washing very messy, tiny kitten faces with warm water and Q-tips. She often helps trim the nails of our homeless cats. Terri also enjoys participating in as many Dine and Make a Difference events as she can, in addition to other fundraisers. She also helps with set-up and tear-down at many of the events that she is able to attend. She volunteers out of the goodness of her heart and often stays behind the spotlight, not wanting any acknowledgement. We want to thank Terri, on behalf of Chicago Pet Rescue and our homeless pets, for her continued dedication to helping and loving animals. |
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Feb 2018 -Ulana B.Ulana's inexhaustible efforts to improve the lives of homeless animals deserves recognition. She, tirelessly, gives her time and love to our foster cats. She is also very involved with trapping and neutering of stray cats. Ulana traps the strays, pays for all of their vetting and then works with the ones that are social enough to be adopted. We are thrilled that she reached out to us to help her place some of these cats in loving homes. Ashie (pictured) is one of the kittens we helped rescue through Ulana. Ulana is one of our Socialization Volunteers at Petsmart. She compassionately works with our cats to improve the quality of their lives while they wait to find their forever homes. Ulana makes sure that their cages are clean and they are living in a healthy environment. She goes in 2-3 times a week to give them exercise and to remind them of the love that they can expect when they find their new families. On behalf of Chicago Pet Rescue and all of the foster and stray kitties, we would like to thank Ulana for all the lives she has helped us save. |
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Jan 2018 -Tracey and Greg N.Tracey and Greg have big hearts, which are filled with their love of animals! They are especially fond of guinea pigs and have fostered several for our rescue. Lately, piggies seem to be coming in as quickly as they are being adopted. We are grateful that Tracey and Greg never tire of fostering one after another. They attend as many of our fundraisers as possible, including our social networking event and appreciation dinner. They are always happy to take in a piggy in need. Because of them, we know that we never have to turn away a homeless guinea pig. On behalf of CPR, all of the guinea pigs you've helped in the past, and those you will help in the future, we thank you! Or, as the piggies would say, "Squeak, squeak"! |
