Help Red Door Spread the Word About Easter Rabbits!

Each year around this time hundreds of rabbits are purchased from pet stores and other places to be given out as Easter presents. After a few weeks the novelty of the "present" wears off and people quickly realize how much care is involved. The rabbits then become unwanted, and shelters like Red Door are inundated with phone calls from people looking to place the rabbits. In even more extreme cases people think the domestic rabbits can survive outside so they're let go. Help Red Door spread the word that rabbits require as much love and attention as any other pet! Come by the shelter and pick up flyers like this one and distribute them around your community.

Come meet adoptable Red Door dog Dudley!

Little Dudley is a total sweetheart through and through. This 1-2 year old beagle mix is so mellow, easy going, and completely charming. He would be great for a single owner, as well as a family. He gets along great with other dogs, cats, and kids. Click over to our website www.reddoorshelter.org to find out how you can make Dudley a part of your life!

Rabbit Rescue -- Adopt from Chicagoland's Top Bunny Rescue

"Hey! When are you going to come visit us?" That's what the Red Door rabbits are saying. They're ready to hop right into your heart.

Come meet all the wonderful rabbits--and maybe find the bunny friend of your dreams--at our no-kill. We have the best selection of spayed/neutered rabbits in the Chicagoland area--and all are guaranteed to be vet-checked, spayed or neutered, microchipped, and litterbox-trained.

When you adopt from Red Door, you get copies of all the records from our experienced exotics veterinarian.

And remember, Red Door specializes in Bunny Bonding! Your rabbit can go through a series of Rabbit Speed Dating under the guidance of our experienced rabbit bonding experts.

Returning a Lost Dog to its Home: Priceless!

If you read the posting "Dog Rescued from Uncertain Fate," then you know about Laney, the white dog who was running around in a snowstorm. Red Door volunteers Kristin and Mike worked hard to catch Laney--as we called her. Her back legs were bleeding from some injury--possibly a brush with a car!--and she needed immediate medical attention.

Today, Laney returned to her owners. It seems she had escaped from the back porch and then had some kind of accident. Her real name is Linda, which is amazingly close to the name we'd chosen for her. Linda/Laney was thrilled to be reunited with her family, who have promised to keep a closer eye on her from now on.

Thanks to Kristin, who first spotted her running around; Mike; Matt; Animal 911 & Dr. Gallegos; Chicago Exotics & Dr. Horton; Katie and Benji, who took turns fostering Linda/Laney during her time with Red Door.

Meet Chili Cook-off Winner Sandy Bayer!

Thanks to superb cook Sandy Bayer, who won the chili cook-off contest at The Charleston in Bucktown. Sandy came to Red Door and donated her $300.00 prize to help the cats, rabbits, and dogs! That's what we call being a Top Chef!

A Perfect Valentine's Day!

We had gotten a phone call about a pet rabbit running around the Irving Park and Greenview neighborhood in Chicago. Mike and Meghan had tried to catch her. Then Mike went back by himself and got close to catching her, but the bunny ran away.

So on Valentine's Day, Toni, Liz, and Marcia went to the neighborhood. After a lot of scouting under porches and in backyards, they saw the little lionhead-mix bunny hiding under a bush. They circled in and -- Valentina was on her way to the warmth and safety of Red Door.

Since arriving, this bunny has shown her sweet personality by being friendly and outgoing to everyone. And she likes to sit on laps--now that's a romantic bunny.

Dog rescued from uncertain fate

Last Saturday a Red Door Board Member saw a dog wandering around outside. The dog appeared to be frightened, thin, and very injured. She was bleeding from her hindquarters, and needed medical attention. Thankfully the Board Member and a Red Door staff member were able to corral the dog and get to the vet. The dog, now named Laney, needed sutures to repair the wounds on her legs. Once she got cleaned up and looked at by a doctor, Laney became a real charmer. Laney will be available for adoption soon, so be on the lookout!

Have a Heart Art Auction

Join us at Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, for a wonderful art show. The work is bound to make your heart beat faster! Auction of art work ends the evening--with all proceeds going to the animals at Red Door. Admission is free. Cash bar for wine, soda, and heart-healthy pomegranite martinis--with proceeds going to the shelter animals.
Red Door cat Jade does her best DaVinci impersonation, showing off her tipped ear.

February is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month!

In addition to snow and Valentine’s Day, this cold month gives us the opportunity to celebrate all things bunny. Rabbits are the third most commonly found homeless animals. Many potential rabbit parents don’t even realize that they can adopt a rabbit! Spread the word and hop over to Red Door to visit with some of the great adoptable rabbits.

Sweet Home Chicago

Red Door took a call in December from a shelter in Colorado about a cat they claimed was chipped to us. As it turns out, it was a Red Door cat named Cassie. She had been adopted from Red Door in 2001. At some point her adopter had moved to Colorado, and eventually lost their house to foreclosure, and surrendered Cassie to the nearest shelter. Cassie had literally one day left to live at the traditional shelter where she would have been euthanized in order to make room. A woman in Colorado answered an ad to be a temporary foster home for Cassie, then with the help of volunteers and friends of Red Door, we were able to get Cassie transported back to sweet home Chicago. Come and visit this sweet girl and let her know how glad you are to have her back home!

Pictures with Santa Paws

Thanks to Sit! Boutique (2316 W. Leland, Chicago) for being Red Door's little Santa's helper this holiday season. They sponsored a Santa Paws photo session with all the donations going to the homeless animals at Red Door! Here are a few of the pets who got to whisper their wishes to Santa at Sit! From the shelter animals, a big "Thank You!" and an even bigger "Happy Holidays!"

Gloria is Ready for her Close-Up

Gloria, one of Liz's chickens, didn't feel she got enough camera time with the Trib. Now she's ready for her close=up. Gloria is a chicken rescued by Red Door and adopted by Liz in 2007.

Urban Chickens, including one from Red Door!

Congratulations to Red Door volunteer Liz Sharp for her stellar interview in today's Chicago Tribune, promoting the beauty and wisdom of urban chickens. You can catch the entire story, including a videdo of Liz in her chicken coop, here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-city-chickens-15-dec15,0,5400529.story

Santa Baby! Photo Session Dec. 14 Benefits Red Door Animals

This year, get a great holiday photo of your pet! Come to Sit! Boutique on December 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. for a photo-with-Santa pet session. All proceeds from the photos benefit the homeless animals at Red Door. Also that day: elves! refreshments! cookies! Sit! Boutique is a great place to buy quality cat and dog food, toys, and pet beds. The boutique is located at 2316 W. Leland, Chicago, in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

Red Door Dogs Hit Andersonville Streets - Dec. 21st

Look for the Red Door donation dogs on the streets of Andersonville on December 14th. They will be wearing their donation pouches, like Benji here, and looking for any spare bills or coins you can donate for the homeless animals at the shelter. The dogs will be out, starting around 5225 N. Clark Street, around 12 noon.

Ugly Holiday Sweater Party December 6th

Don your most ugly holiday sweater and head over to The Fat Cat Bar & Grill, 4840 N. Broadway, Chicago, on December 6th. The party starts at 7 p.m. Cover price is $30, which gives you all you can drink of beer, wine, well liquor, or soda. A portion of every cover price ($5) goes to the homeless animals at Red Door. Don't miss this fun event! OK, we'll let you in even if you aren't wearing an ugly holiday sweater--but remember: many of us will be wearing horrible holiday cheer!

City of Chicago Chooses Dog City Sticker

Congratulations to the City of Chicago for choosing a dog as the art work for the 2009 city sticker. This sticker, designed by Chicago high school student Denise Ferguson, will appear 1.3 million car windshields in June 2009. Let's hope that's another step in making Chicago a no-kill city for animals.

More Bazaar Fun!

Photos by Meghan Schromen. Thanks, Meghan!

Bazaar Fun!

This year's Bazaar & Toute Sweet Bake Sale was the best! Check out some of the fun. Thanks to everyone who came! And thanks to all the bakers!

Ahoy! Pirate-Themed Spa Day a Huge Success!

Our last Spa Di Dah day was a huge success, thanks to all the rabbits who came to be groomed and then photographed "sailing" the seven seas. Here are only two of the great shiver-my-timbers results.