03/02/2025
Please Read this message from the Chicagoland Eskie Rescue Team (Written by Paula & Tracy):
To the general public, but more importantly, to our adopters, our fosters, our volunteers, our donors, our fellow soldiers in this world of rescue, and of course, our dear friends: It is with a lot of mixed emotions to give notice that Chicagoland Eskie Rescue will be officially closed effective March 31st of this year. We apologize in advance for not announcing this sooner and know that some have already noticed a decrease in our rescue activity. This extremely difficult decision is something we have been working towards for many months. No words can truly express how hard of a decision this has been. CER has been the sun that our team's entire world has orbited around for more than 17 years. With that comes great satisfaction for what we have achieved, but also the notable sacrifices to our personal lives and families. Fighting the good fight day in and day out, to give back and help one of the most vulnerable groups in the world, our companion animals, takes a significant toll. As every single member of our rescue world knows, there is a price we pay for our passion, compassion and dedication. Each one of us carries endless love, plus a multitude of nicks and bruises in our souls in the shape of paw prints. Each one has a face. Each one has a name. Each one has a story. So many we will never, ever forget. Each one is loved to the core and the reason we do this till we fall down, but then get back up, to repeat over and over again. It is the most worthwhile, joyous, and rewarding, but completely heart wrenching “job” all at the same time.
The satisfaction and happiness of completing someone’s family with a new dog to cherish can be perfectly blissful, yet at times this work is utterly so thankless, it makes you want to scream, even cry, and give up. That is what rescue is all about. Like the very dogs we save, we are completely resilient, or at least we try to be. There are times we fall down and then start to have trouble getting back up because we did this “job” until our very last bit of strength gave out. This is where we are. We need more time for ourselves and our families. There is no more “being the hero” if you can't get yourself back up on your feet with the same devotion to give these precious animals everything they deserve. It is with this realization of our own mortality, we know we have no choice but to yield from our mission. The facade of our seemingly unending resilience that we can be just as extraordinary as our rescue dogs is now fading.
The last few years have proven unforgiving in the world of rescue. The pandemic of 2020 hit hard and nothing since has been quite the same. First, it was the initial surge of bored Americans stuck at home insisting on getting dogs for their entertainment, because they now had the time, and then the inevitable flood of animals that were being sent back to rescues, dumped in shelters, or simply “lost,” because people were done with their “entertainment.” The shelters are overflowing with dogs of all breeds. Sadly, it is worse than when we started.
Our core team at CER, has an excess of a combined 85+ years in the rescue world. We are tired. Our families will become our priorities now. We feel very grateful and pleased for the work we have done; no regrets. We have saved many dogs through the years, never afraid to take in difficult medical cases and challenging behavioral dogs. Of course, there are so many more dogs to save, but it’s time for another to step up, take a leash firmly in their hands, and make a commitment to really make a difference in the lives of those who have no voice and are forever at the mercy of the human race.
We will still be around. We aren’t physically going anywhere. We simply need to take a step back and move forward differently. “Right now, the right kind of love is the love that lets go.” (Cyrus)
With lots of love,
The Chicagoland Eskie Rescue Team
PS To the CER Adopters, the Rescue E-Mail & cell phone will not be shut off. Microchips will remain active with the rescue.
