There are an estimated 97 million dogs in this country. This makes them the most common pet in the United States. The history of dogs as loyal pets dates back to ancient times. Recent literature suggests that the dog was domesticated over 30,000 years ago, more than 10,000 years before the domestication of horses and cattle.
Organizations supporting animals have also been around a long time. American Humane was the first to advocate the nurturing bond between animals and humans. In the late 1800s several societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals had been established throughout the United States. While they had some success locally, they lacked a unified voice. Then in 1877 delegates from different humane organizations met in Cleveland Ohio. The first goal of the newly formed organization was to secure humane treatment for working animals and livestock in transit. In 1884, American Humane became the official name of the organization. Other organizations have formed over the years, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), established in 1980 and the largest animal rights organization in the world with over 9 million members, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Protective League, and others. There are an estimated 49,000 different animal rights organizations in the United States, though many are very small.
One local organization that specifically supports dogs is Women in Love with Dogs (WILD). You might have seen the paw printed van driving around town. WILD was established in 2016 by volunteers who were at the time all dog walkers for Sangamon County Animal Control. Says Jill Egizii, one of the original members of WILD, “We all wanted to help dogs and saw that there was a need in our community. A need for another outlet to help abandoned dogs.” What started out as a hobby for many of the early members has grown into a full-time job. A new group of passionate dog-loving volunteer oriented individuals has stepped up to carry on WILD’s good work. The passionate volunteers number 50 to 60 and help with 550-700 dog adoptions each year and many more transfer cases. When asked about her continued devotion to the cause, Jill sums it up best by saying that “The people involved care about saving lives, and every rescue dog has a human attached to it.” For example, if someone goes into the hospital, but does not have family or friends to take care of their dogs then WILD might get called to mobilize their volunteers to go check on and take care of the dogs. In addition to the active volunteers there are also 75 to 80 foster families that support the adoption effort. WILD was started to help with abandoned dogs and has seen success in that effort. The success not only takes volunteers, but also resources to support WILD’s effort.
One creative fundraising source for WILD is a new thrift store opened last week. The store is located at 1633 N. Dirksen Parkway. WILD Thrift and Sniff was created so those interested in helping support dogs in our community can donate and shop for gently used items with 100% of the proceeds benefitting community animals in need and vet care for these animals. Opening day for the Thrift Store was Saturday, June 15th and the response was amazing. Jill reports “There was a line out the door. The donations have been overwhelming and the items are very nice. It’s like Von Maur on steroids.” For those interested in dropping off items or shopping for something nice, please stop by the new thrift store. The hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, closed on Mondays. Donations are accepted every day except Monday. For more information about WILD go to wildcaninerescue.org
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