|
|
|
Wheaton, IL —
It was hard for 23-year-old Jenny Calabrese to contain her cooing Sunday as she looked at the kittens up for adoption at the Petland in Wheaton.
“Absolutely not! We have two already,” chimed in her mother Dee Calabrese, 50, of Wheaton, in case her daughter was getting any ideas. “They are cute, though, aren’t they?”
To celebrate the Petland Wheaton’s switch to an adoption-only program, more than 60 rescue animals were on hand over the weekend to meet and greet potential new owners at the store’s first Adopt-A-Thon. Running Friday through Sunday, the event included gift card giveaways and raffles.
“(During the event,) I hope to adopt out 20 to 30 animals, but for the whole month we’re looking at 100 animals,” store co-owner Adam Stachowiak said.
As of Tuesday, the store had placed 28 homeless animals with new owners this month.
Glen Ellyn resident Maribeth Sears, 45, attended the Adopt-A-Thon to find a new cat to keep her dog and cat company.
“Cats are a little more independent and easier to take care of,” Sears said, as she and her daughter, Micaela Sears, 12, stroked an orange tabby.
The store’s adoption efforts began after partnering with A Love Of Homeless Animals Rescue last year. Petland dedicated its own retail space and resources in an effort to help the busy shelter place abandoned animals.
“(Customers) were really interested in the rescues coming into the store,” Stachowiak said. “It seemed like they were the first pets that were going home. So, we decided that it would benefit the community, it would benefit the rescue, it would benefit the customers ... to switch everything over.”
Through the switch, Petland Wheaton now offers the most rescue pets available in any retail store in the Chicago area.
“I wish I could get more pet stores to do this instead of using breeders,” said Stephanie Ptak, founder of ALOHA Rescue, who added hundreds of animals’ lives will be saved each year because of Petland Wheaton’s adoption program. “If they would all do what Petland Wheaton does, there would be a lot less homeless animals.”
ALOHA Rescue is run through Ptak’s house. She works as a mediator between animal control facilities and rescue shelters.
“I can only (house) so many,” said Ptak, adding she now has three rescued puppies in her Bolingbrook home.
Did you know?
• All animals adopted from Petland Wheaton are vaccinated, and go home with benefits such as a free vet visit, free spay/neuter certificate, a DVD for training assistance and a microchip. Both the store and ALOHA Rescue make sure the dogs and cats are healthy and well-socialized before they are available for adoption. Owners are instructed on how to help their adopted pet transition to their new home, and taught to watch for the signals of an animal that is struggling to adjust.
• For more information or to adopt a pet, visit Petland at 80 Danada Square West in Wheaton, or call the store at (630) 752-4800.
Send us your pictures
Have you adopted a homeless animal from Petland Wheaton, ALOHA Rescue, or another local rescue group? Send stories and pictures of your fuzzy friend to sminor@mysuburbanlife.com.
It was hard for 23-year-old Jenny Calabrese to contain her cooing Sunday as she looked at the kittens up for adoption at the Petland in Wheaton.
“Absolutely not! We have two already,” chimed in her mother Dee Calabrese, 50, of Wheaton, in case her daughter was getting any ideas. “They are cute, though, aren’t they?”
To celebrate the Petland Wheaton’s switch to an adoption-only program, more than 60 rescue animals were on hand over the weekend to meet and greet potential new owners at the store’s first Adopt-A-Thon. Running Friday through Sunday, the event included gift card giveaways and raffles.
“(During the event,) I hope to adopt out 20 to 30 animals, but for the whole month we’re looking at 100 animals,” store co-owner Adam Stachowiak said.
As of Tuesday, the store had placed 28 homeless animals with new owners this month.
Glen Ellyn resident Maribeth Sears, 45, attended the Adopt-A-Thon to find a new cat to keep her dog and cat company.
“Cats are a little more independent and easier to take care of,” Sears said, as she and her daughter, Micaela Sears, 12, stroked an orange tabby.
The store’s adoption efforts began after partnering with A Love Of Homeless Animals Rescue last year. Petland dedicated its own retail space and resources in an effort to help the busy shelter place abandoned animals.
“(Customers) were really interested in the rescues coming into the store,” Stachowiak said. “It seemed like they were the first pets that were going home. So, we decided that it would benefit the community, it would benefit the rescue, it would benefit the customers ... to switch everything over.”
Through the switch, Petland Wheaton now offers the most rescue pets available in any retail store in the Chicago area.
“I wish I could get more pet stores to do this instead of using breeders,” said Stephanie Ptak, founder of ALOHA Rescue, who added hundreds of animals’ lives will be saved each year because of Petland Wheaton’s adoption program. “If they would all do what Petland Wheaton does, there would be a lot less homeless animals.”
ALOHA Rescue is run through Ptak’s house. She works as a mediator between animal control facilities and rescue shelters.
“I can only (house) so many,” said Ptak, adding she now has three rescued puppies in her Bolingbrook home.
Did you know?
• All animals adopted from Petland Wheaton are vaccinated, and go home with benefits such as a free vet visit, free spay/neuter certificate, a DVD for training assistance and a microchip. Both the store and ALOHA Rescue make sure the dogs and cats are healthy and well-socialized before they are available for adoption. Owners are instructed on how to help their adopted pet transition to their new home, and taught to watch for the signals of an animal that is struggling to adjust.
• For more information or to adopt a pet, visit Petland at 80 Danada Square West in Wheaton, or call the store at (630) 752-4800.
Send us your pictures
Have you adopted a homeless animal from Petland Wheaton, ALOHA Rescue, or another local rescue group? Send stories and pictures of your fuzzy friend to sminor@mysuburbanlife.com.
