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Raiden  2 year old, 36 pound, neutered Shepherd Mix

Hi I’m Raiden, a 2 year old, 36 pound, male, Shepherd mix. I’m good with people. I like kids. I’m house trained and crate trained.

I love the dogs at my foster home, big and small. Sometimes I can be a little much for the senior, blind guy. Then I just take break in my crate.

I am a no cats kinda pup. So no Felines in my home.

If you’re looking for a playful and fun loving guy, I might be your match.

Raiden’s adoption fee is $395.

If you’re looking for a fun loving guy & are interested in meeting Raiden, then using the menu at the top of the page, click on Adoption Application. Complete & submit your application, which will serve as the basis for a conversation, & you will be contacted.

We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters for Raiden only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

***Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Raiden’s adopter must live in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.***

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Cora – Available       Rat Terrier Mix

2 Year Old, 14 Pound Spayed Female

Cora, a 2 year old, 14 pound spayed female Rat Terrier mix, is a happy, active girl who loves everyone she meets, even kids over age 8.

She gets along great with the other small dogs in her foster home. She, however, doesn’t like larger dogs.

If you have an equally active young dog, Cora would like a playmate. Since she can be a bit of a pest when she wants to play, she is not a good match for a HOME WITH non-playful or senior dog. Due to her prey drive, NO CATS, Bunnies, etc.

Cora loves to snuggle. When it’s bedtime, Cora sleeps snuggled in bed under the blankets with her foster mom.

Cora will also follow you around the house. Wherever you are is where she will be. You will never shower alone again.

Small dog secure fenced yard required. Adopter must be located within 40 minutes of Steger, Illinois.

Cora is up to date on shots, spayed, microchipped, fecal checked, heartworm negative and current on heartworm and flea prevention.

Cora’s adoption fee $495.If you believe this wonderful little girl is for you, then click on Adoption Application in the menu at the top of the page to find our electronic application which serves as the basis of a conversation. Submit is & you will be contacted. We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters for Cora only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

***Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Again, Cora’s adopter must be located within 40 minutes of Steger, Illinois.***

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Melvin – Available   

2 1/2 – 3 y.o., 23 Pound Neutered Beagle

Melvin is a 2 ½ – 3 y.o., 23 pound neutered Beagle who came to us after being rescued from a heartbreaking hoarding case. It is reported that 43 beagles were discovered living together in a single garage. Their world had been small and crowded, filled with the sounds and smells of dozens of other dogs but not much else.

Basically submissive, Melvin’s socialization is progressing well. Melvin volunteers for chin, head & belly rubs. His love for food & treats provides a path for trust & learning.  Melvin’s housetraining is coming along nicely. He has become comfortable in the fenced yard of his foster home. Melvin is making sense of a new world. He finds being leashed foreign, but has learned to well on the leash.

Despite his past, Melvin is resilient. Melvin is learning about safety, comfort, and companionship for the very first time. He loves exploring his foster home yard. 

Melvin is not for a first time owner as he needs a patient adopter who wants the satisfaction of developing the trust & teaching skills to an under socialized dog. Quick movements & loud noises startle Melvin so that he darts away. So no children under age 8 please.

Melvin is a flight risk and requires extra care with secure handling. Patience will be needed when meeting new people or visiting new  places.

Melvin is neutered, heartworm & fecal tested negative. Melvin is up to date on vaccinations as well as monthly heartworm, flea & tick preventatives.

Melvin’s adoption fee is $425.

Once learning that home is safe, Melvin will become the most loyal, affectionate companions you could imagine. If your heart has room for a dog who’s never truly known what “home” & loving, accepting companionship feels like, Melvin might be for you.

If you are interested in either Melvin, please spend a few minutes looking over the Facebook page he shares with fellow hoarding survivor Eric (facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582810926636) or search on Eric & Melvin of Heather’s Foster Dogs.

If you believe Melvin is for you, then click on Adoption Application in the menu at the top of the page to find our electronic application which serves as the basis of a conversation. Submit it & you will be contacted. We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

Adopting a dog from a hoarding situation can be one of the most challenging — and rewarding — experiences in rescue. These dogs are learning about life from the ground up: hands can be gentle, food will always come, leashes can mean adventure, and people can be trusted. Everyday sights and may feel strange or scary at first. Progress can be slow, but watching them open up is nothing short of extraordinary.

*** Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Our service area is the greater Chicago metropolitan area. ***

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Zion – Available     Chihuahua Mix

3 Month Old, 6 Pound Neutered Male

Meet Zion, a 3 month old, 6 pound neutered male Chihuahua mix. This handsome boy is a happy go lucky, playful puppy. Zion has a sweet and friendly nature. Always curious, he explores the world around him with zest. He’s sure to keep you entertained. Zion is a smart boy always willing to learn new things. After playtime Zion will snuggle up on or next to you to recharge his batteries.  After all he is a puppy.

No kids under age 8 due to size.

Since Zion is a puppy he’s looking for a family that has time to devote to his training needs.

Zion’s adoption fee $550.

Zion is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations for his age, fecal checked, and current on heartworm and flea prevention.

If you believe this wonderful little puppy is for you, then click on Adoption Application in the menu at the top of the page to find our electronic application which serves as the basis of a conversation. Submit it & you will be contacted.

We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters for Zion only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

*** Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Our service area is the greater Chicago metropolitan area.***

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Margo – Available

Pittie/Boxer mix, 3 year old 50 pound, spayed female, special sponsorship towards adoption fee!

# Housebroken & crate trained

# Adores people

# Fostered with other dogs

# Vetted, heartworm negative, vaccinated

# Likely great family dog, undergoing kid-testing

Adopt Margo!

This brindle beauty is a pittie/possible Boxer mix, around 3 years old, who is looking for that perfect home. Found stray, she was picked up by animal control clearly being overbred and then discarded after having her most recent litter. We recently had her spayed, and finally put an end to that sad cycle!

The first few weeks in foster care Margo was uncomfortable with the dogs in her new home but after spending time decompressing she turned a corner & is discovering the joy of playtime with other dogs large & small!

Affectionate as all get-out, Margo absolutely adores people – we’re talking a complete lap dog. She loves hanging out in the yard with her foster parents sunning herself. Margo’s not currently fostered with kids, however, her foster parents are about to start kid-testing. She is bouncy and happy so likely kids 8 & up would be best just due to her possibly knocking over little ones.

Housebroken and well-mannered, she would likely do just fine hanging out at home while you’re at work. Or, if you’re home by day, she’d love to be your little shadow. Margo sleeps well throughout the night, and loves carrying around toys and bringing them to her favorite people. A fenced yard would be great.

At 60 pounds, she is full grown, and fully vetted. Margo is spayed, heartworm negative and on heartworm/flea/tick prevention, has her rabies, distemper/parvo, & bordetella vaccines, and is microchipped. She is a beautiful chestnut brown and dark chocolate brindle color, with beautiful expressive eyes.

She has special sponsorship from a generous donor to offer a reduced adoption fee of $200. This former mommy dog really is deserving of a home where she can finally be somebody’s baby instead of having to take care of litters of them. Could that be you?

If you’d like to meet Margo, please use the menu at the top of the page & click on Adoption Application to access & then to fill out and submit your application online, which will be forwarded to her foster mom. An app, which serves as the basis of a conversation, needs to be on file before we set up a meet and greet. 

*** Margo is fostered in the south suburbs of Chicago, and under normal circumstances we adopt within a 2 hour radius of the Chicagoland area. ***

If you have any questions about her please email her foster mom directly at amandarescues78@gmail.co

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Melvin – Available

2 1/2-3 year old neutered Beagle

Melvin is a 2 ½ – 3 y.o., 23 pound neutered Beagle who came to us after being rescued from a heartbreaking hoarding case. It is reported that 43 beagles were discovered living together in a single garage. Their world had been small and crowded, filled with the sounds and smells of dozens of other dogs but not much else.

Basically submissive, Melvin’s socialization is progressing well. Melvin volunteers for chin, head & belly rubs. His love for food & treats provides a path for trust & learning.  Melvin’s housetraining is coming along nicely. He has become comfortable in the fenced yard of his foster home. Melvin is making sense of a new world. He finds being leashed foreign, but has learned to well on the leash.

Despite his past, Melvin is resilient. Melvin is learning about safety, comfort, and companionship for the very first time. He loves exploring his foster home yard. 

Melvin is not for a first time owner as he needs a patient adopter who wants the satisfaction of developing the trust & teaching skills to an under socialized dog. Quick movements & loud noises  startle Melvin so that he darting away so no children under age 8 please.

Melvin is a flight risk and requires extra care with secure handling. Patience will be needed when meeting new people or visiting new places.

Melvin is neutered, heartworm & fecal tested negative. He is up to date on vaccinations as well as monthly heartworm, flea & tick preventatives.

Melvin’s adoption fee is $425.

Once learning that home is safe, Melvin will become the most loyal, affectionate companions you could imagine. If your heart has room for a dog who’s never truly known what “home” & loving, accepting companionship feels like, Melvin might be for you.

If you are interested in either Melvin, please spend a few minutes looking over the Facebook page he shares with fellow hoarding survivor Eric (facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582810926636) or search on Eric & Melvin of Heather’s Foster Dogs.

If you believe Melvin is for you, then click on Adoption Application in the menu at the top of the page to find our electronic application which serves as the basis of a conversation. Submit it & you will be contacted. We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

Adopting a dog from a hoarding situation can be one of the most challenging — and rewarding — experiences in rescue. These dogs are learning about life from the ground up: hands can be gentle, food will always come, leashes can mean adventure, and people can be trusted. Everyday sights and may feel strange or scary at first. Progress can be slow, but watching them open up is nothing short of extraordinary.

*** Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Our service area is the greater Chicago metropolitan area. ***

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Carl        8 y.o., 20 pound, housetrained neutered Miniature Poodle/Pomeranian Mix

Carl is a wonderful little fellow who makes a great companion once you earn his trust. Carl often lies with his foster grandpa while he watches TV. With people he is comfortable with, Carl shows he is a friendly, affectionate, playful dog who (naturally) loves his treats, those made specifically for dogs or raw broccoli, carrots, zucchini or cauliflower.

Our vet estimates that Carl is approximately 8 years old. We know virtually nothing about Carl’s past. He was picked up as a stray & taken to the local animal control as a scared boy who did not want to be touched. It took days for him to decompress in a foster home.

Carl likes to chase thrown balls. He doesn’t return them. He chases, picks them up, turns & waits for you to throw another. He also likes to chew on sticks.

Carl’s anxiety is with unknown humans encountered outside his yard, not dogs. Carl gets along well with the other dogs in his foster home & has shown interest in other dogs he has met. 

Carl has become friends with a few people who met him & strictly followed our meeting protocol. Once he gets to know & trust you, you remain his friend, even after you leave him at the vet for a procedure. Carl does love his foster grandpa. While Carl is quite fond of sitting or lying on his foster grandpa on the couch, he needs & loves to run and play.  A small dog secure fenced yard is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY for Carl. Carl likes to spend significant time outside every day. Carl likes car rides & to explore on a leash walk.

Carl will often growl & bark at strangers, but calms down when not forced to interact. When he senses no danger, he will willingly walk with strangers with or without dogs. In the company of people he does not know, Carl naturally seeks reassurance from his foster grandpa.

Do not expect Carl to go out in the rain, without you attached to his leash.

Carl needs an active & patient adopter without children with whom he can thrive. While prospective adopters’ children & Carl may form a mutual admiration society, it’s too much to expect their friends to understand just how different Carl’s fear makes his behavior.

Carl’s trust in his foster grandpa has since achieved a level where his foster grandpa now shaves & cuts Carl’s coarse curls over a span of several days. Prior to that, Carl had to be sedated, completely knocked out to be groomed every 2 months. For nail trims, his foster grandpa picks him up (Carl won’t allow the vet personnel to do so), puts a cloth muzzle on Carl & holds him while the vet tech snips.

We encourage you to see & learn more about Carl on his public Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563018184933, or search FB on Carl Heather’s Foster Dogs.

If you are considering adding Carl to your family, please think about the unusual consequences of Carl’s fear of strangers. You are going to have to have a minimal stress strategy for grooming. You are going to have to figure out how periodic veterinary exams & vaccinations can be safely navigated. What will be the solution if Carl needs to be left in someone else’s care? You will be responsible for dealing successfully with such issues, not your vet, your groomer or anyone else.

Carl is housetrained, neutered & microchipped as well as up to date on his vaccinations & monthly heartworm, flea & tick preventatives.

Half of Carl’s $400 adoption fee has been sponsored.

If you believe Carl is for you, then using the menu at the top of the page, click on “Adoption Application” to find our electronic application.

Submit your completed application & you will be contacted. No meetings will be scheduled without a reviewed application. The application serves as a basis for a conversation.

We will make arrangements to meet with prospective adopters for Carl only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.

***Please note that we are a foster based group located in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Carl’s adopter must live in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.***

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Sheldon           Dachshund/Yorkie Mix

5 Year Old, 20 pound Neutered Male

Sheldon is a four and a half year old mix breed, possibly Yorkie and Dachshund. We started him on a weight management diet (he’s a bit pudgy at 20 lbs). In his heart, Sheldon is a sweet, loving little guy. Regretfully, something in his past, of which we know almost nothing, has made him distrustful and snapish.  What we do know of his past, he was surrendered by his owner at three and a half years of age with raw feet and large spots of missing hair on his back from an untreated flea infestation.  The fleas are long gone and the hair has grown back, gaining his trust has been another story. After several months in a foster home he has come to adore his foster mom. She is allowed to do just about anything, even baths!  For nails he goes to a groomer and really doesn’t put up a fuss.  He is normally fine with his foster dad, but less trustful and has bit him, nothing horrible, more of a warning. Sheldon gets along OK with the resident dog. He would, however, would probably prefer being an only pet. We know it’s a long shot but Sheldon needs a home of his very own. We feel he’d do well with an experienced dog owner,  someone who is loving, compassionate and would allow as much time as necessary to gain his trust.  Sheldon has been OK with adult visitors. He will bark at them until they sit down, then he’ll approach for pets.  We do not trust him around children. He’s put in a room with a gate when kids visit.  When no one is home he’s happy in his crate with a special treat. He will bark to alert you if he hears something. Therefore an apartment or condo would not be a suitable living arrangement. Sheldon loves to go outside to chase the squirrels, sniff around for other critters and he likes you to stay out with him.  He does not like the rain or the snow. He enjoys being brushed and then rolling around on the floor to mess it all up again.  He lives to sit in your lap so you can gently rub his ears.  If you think you might be interested in adopting Sheldon, please take the time to fill out an application.  Sheldon is up to date on vaccinations, neutered, microchipped & current on heartworm & flea preventatives. Sheldon’s adoption fee is $350. Interested in adopting adorable Sheldon? Then use the menu at the top of this page & click on “Adoption Application” to find our electronic application. Submit your completed application & you will be contacted. You must submit an adoption application before a meeting can be scheduled. The application serves as a basis for a conversation. We are located in the south suburbs of Chicago and generally serve the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

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MANNY              Corgi Mix

11 Year Old, 20 Pound Neutered Male    

I’m Manny. I’m looking for a special home to spend my golden years. I’m very loving and get along with dogs and cats. I take my time warming up to new things. I am house trained. I am blind but get around fine and have no problem with stairs.

In my past life, I was very secluded and not cared for. That gave me some triggers. Well really just one — gates, any kind of gate.

Because of Manny’s nervousness and past life, we will plan of multiple meetings.
Also, Manny will need to be adopted within 50 miles of Flossmoor, IL.

Manny is microchipped as well as up to date on vaccines, monthly preventatives. He has had a dental.

Manny’s adoption fee is $150. 

If you are think you are Manny’s special someone and want to talk to his foster mom & meet Manny, then using the menu above, please click on “Adoption Application” to find our electronic application.

Submit your completed application, which will serve as the basis for a conversation, & you will be contacted.

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Ringo – Available                           
Special Needs 9 y.o., 25 pound, house-trained neutered Miniature Poodle Mix 

Ringo is a fun guy and full of personality. Once he gets to know & trust you, you remain his friend. Ringo does love his foster grandpa. That sort of trust takes some time to develop. He loves to run and play. 

***** Ringo has food & environmental allergies. They are currently controlled with a prescription diet & vet visits every 2-4 weeks. Ringo also takes Gabapentin for compressed disks in his spine for which he also has monthly therapy sessions with a rehab vet.*****

We know little about Ringo’s past. He was picked up as a stray & taken to the local animal control as a scared boy who did not want to be touched. It took a while for him to decompress in a foster home.

People must let Ringo show he wants contact. Contact should be limited until Ringo gets to know them. Ringo does have a history from 2020 of 2 non-injurious, one & done warning bites to people. Both incidents involved people sticking their hands in Ringo’s face without a proper introduction & were nipped. Still, Ringo does have a bite history. 

We want Ringo to become as comfortable with an adopter as he learned to be with his foster & for everyone to be safe. Ringo has successfully met & become friendly with several people by following this protocol (see videos from 9 Oct 2021 on his Facebook page).

Ringo needs a patient adopter who will keep him & everyone he meets safe, an adopter who understands that one slip up could cost him his life.

Ringo needs a secure fenced yard. Although Ringo is most active in winter, he likes to spend hours outside every day. Ringo loves to explore & mark on his daily leash walks and enjoys riding shotgun in the car. 

Both because of his willingness to run & his bite history, Ringo can NEVER be let off leash outside of his small dog secure fenced yard. Ringo’s energy level is higher than average. He loves having free run of the secure fenced yard for hours every day. In addition to patrolling the yard, Ringo has been leash walked every day.

Ringo needs a patient family without children or cats in which he can thrive. While prospective adopters’ children may learn to be fine with Ringo, it’s too much to expect their friends to be.

So a patient, experienced adopter can win his affection if they take their time and allow Ringo to set the pace.  He makes a great companion once you earn his trust. Ringo’s curls should be trimmed by a professional groomer every 8 to 10 weeks.

We encourage you to see & learn more about Ringo on his public Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ringo-of-Heathers-Foster-Dogs-103134207905349, or search FB on Ringo Heather’s Foster Dogs. There you can see Ringo getting to know a stranger on videos from 9 October 2021.

Ringo’s adoption fee of $295 has been sponsored. 

Ringo is house-trained, neutered & microchipped as well as up to date on his vaccinations & monthly heartworm, flea & tick preventatives.

If you are interested in meeting Ringo, then using the menu above, please click on “Adoption Application” to find our electronic application.

Submit your completed application, which will serve as the basis for a conversation, & you will be contacted.

We will arrange a meeting with prospective adopters for Ringo only after a submitted application has been reviewed & a phone conversation has taken place.                  

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Are you interested in one of our amazing foster pets? AWESOME! That means you must be ready to move to the next step in the process: your HFD Adoption Application. Please click the link below to complete our Adoption Application via Google Forms. 

 >>> HFD Adoption Application <<<

Please note that we cannot arrange a meet and greet without a completed and approved Adoption Application. Thank you very much.

We often have multiple applications for the same adoptable dog. We will not disclose information about other potential adopters nor will we normally stop accepting applications on that dog until it has officially been adopted.