Friday, January 22, 2010

Red/White: A Wine Tasting Benefit


Join us on January 27th from 7:30 to 9:30! Enjoy a wine tasting benefit at Fine Wine Brokers, 4621 N. Lincoln in Chicago. $40 per ticket includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, celebration,and discounts. Reservations required. It all benefits the animals at Red Door. Guests will receive 10 percent off wine purchases during the event, and Red Door will receive 10 percent of sales that evening. In past years, this event has always sold out! Buy tickets online or call 773-764-2242.

Friday, January 15, 2010

"Quack" means "Thanks!" in Duck


Last week Red Door staff received a call from a woman concerned about the fate of a duck on the pond at Indian Boundry Park. When staff went to investigate, they found a white duck with a black head shuffling through the 6 inches of snow on the pond. To make matters worse, the temperatures had been around 10 degrees during the day and below freezing at night. The duck (now named Boris) was clearly freezing to death and starving. With some assistance from the Flint Creek Wildlife volunteers, Red Door was able to get Boris to a vet later that day. He was suffering from frostbite on his legs and feet, and his legs were literally frozen stiff. Now Boris is back at Red Door receiving treatment and on his way to recovery. If anyone knows of a good home for a very friendly duck, let us know!

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Rabbit heaven



I was incredibly impressed by Red Door's rabbit setup the first time I visited (and I still am). The photo shows a typical area for a solo rabbit or a bonded pair. Sometimes you'll find young siblings who aren't old enough to be adopted sharing space there, too. The long row of happy rabbits with plenty of space and hay is both sad and uplifting. Sad, because they don't have homes of their own yet, but uplifting because they've all been rescued!

That's Avery, my old foster rabbit, in the corner, warily regarding the camera. The metal pen has hinged panels so it can be shaped to fit your space. You'll notice that I have an extra board and also the white plastic bottom of a smaller cage down to protect the floor and my landlady's nerves. (The cage was used if I had guests and had to move him away, or if he showed a disposition to grab and shake the pen at night for attention.) The blue box is the litterbox, which also contains a hefty supply of hay for him to chew on constantly, and pine pellet litter. There's also a small water bowl, which I've always preferred to a bottle.

I left Avery's carrier in the pen so he would have a place to hide, though he never used it. The towel is for him to "dig" in, but he didn't do that much either. Elenor, on the other hand, would just nose her way under it completely and then very confusedly poke one paw or a nose out on each side, wondering how to get out. It was hilarious. You can also give them wicker toys, castles, little soft beds... a busy rabbit is a happy rabbit. I've seen some really impressive multi-story towers built out of those self-create shelves made out of coated wire square panels that you connect with little plastic gadgets.

Though this is a great setup, the rabbits still love to get out and run around a properly bunny-proofed space -- so really, you can never have too much space! But I think it's amazing what great temporary homes Red Door is able to give its rescues.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Jingle Pups Charm Andersonville




Red Door's Jingle Pups braved the cold last Saturday to bring some heart-warming and heart-wagging good cheer to Andersonville. Our hardworking volunteers and their adorable adopted dogs raised hundreds of dollars from the generous shoppers out on Clark Street!!!

A big part of that success was due to the undeniable charms of Spike, Mabel, Gulliver and Benji; they all wagged their tales throughout the afternoon. A very big 'Thank You' goes out to Elise Murphy, Kristen Clifford, Tamara Friedman, Steve Williams, and Julie Dorion for braving the chilly weather and helping to make the event a success!!!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

"The Stockings Were Hung by the Shelter Doorway with Care..."




We know the Red Door rabbits are ready for the holidays. Just look at all the stockings--each one individualized with a rabbit's name--hanging by the inside doorway of the shelter!

A huge holiday thank you to the Borkovec family, particularly Mia and Lucia, for their efforts to help make the holiday merry and bright for all the Red Door animals. Besides making these adorable stockings and stuffing each of them with a dollar, the Borkovecs have gotten friends and family to support our events (including baking dozens of delicious cookies for the recent Bazaar). And they've adopted two outstanding Red Door rabbits: Laramie and Ana Maria. Now they're going to foster the beautiful big white bunny Bella Swan.

We know visions of papaya tablets and big leafy green lettuce leaves are dancing through the rabbits' heads right now! Thank you, Mia and Lucia, and all the Borkovecs! You've made this holiday very special for all the animals.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Stan Lee Goes on Vacation


Stan Lee (right) has been at the shelter for quite awhile. Not everyone likes red-eyed white rabbits. And Stan just wants to be understood.

So we were thrilled when a volunteer offered to give Stan a little vacation. From this photo she sent today, it appears that her rabbit Ava (left), the blue-eyed bunny rescued from the massive rabbit confiscation at South Suburban Humane Society several years ago, is a little interested.

We can't help but smile at Ava's intense, blue-eyed checkout of Stan.

Interested in giving another Red Door animal a little vacation? Please email us at info@reddoorshelter.org

Friday, December 04, 2009

Home for the Holidays - A Coop for Tuketu





We told you about Tuketu, the young chicken who was running around an apartment courtyard in Chicago. Now we're happy to share these photos of Tuketu in her new home -- where she is living with four other hens as a hip urban chicken-companion animal.

First, here is Tuketu checking out her new coop.

Then, Tuketu settles in with the gals for some quality roosting.

And finally, Tuketu and her new friend Lydia do a little hunting and pecking.

Thanks again to Liz at Nutzy Mutz in Madison, WI for all her help. And thanks to Tuketu's new family for getting Tuketu to a new coop for the holidays.