Dark Horse Dogs, NFP

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Dark Horse Dogs, NFP

Rescuing locally, responsibly and realistically. Rescuing locally, responsibly & realistically. Want to make a donation?

https://darkhorsedogs.org/donate

Adoption requirements:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-requirements

Adoption app:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-application

Interested in fostering? Foster FAQs:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/foster-faqs

Not sure what dog best suits your lifestyle? https://darkhorsedogs.org/choosing-the-right-dog

Foster application:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/apply-to-f

oster

Adoptable pets:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoptables

Adoption fees:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-fees-1

Basic supplies for a new dog:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/supplies%2Frecommendations

Training recommendations:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/training-referrals

Decompression info:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/two-week-shutdown

Additional questions? https://darkhorsedogs.org/got-questions%3F

Still have questions? Visit our website:

https://darkhorsedogs.org

16/01/2025

I tried to add Alice to playgroup this morning, but they all just ga******ed her. ~ Andy

15/01/2025

With the good….comes the bad.

I have a really fu***ng hard time posting about our successes, when s**t is going haywire behind the scenes. Running a rescue is so incredibly hard, and you feel like you’re sucking at life…99.99% of the time.

The behind the scenes s**t never comes as individual problems either. If there’s one significant issue that pops up, that means there are about to be more. Will they be worse than the last? Probably.

That’s where we’re at right now. So many issues. Each one worse than the next.

S**t has hit the fan in just about every aspect of rescue, and I just don’t have immediate solutions or answers. I wish I did.

I’m posting these rescue rides because they did happen, but if we are quiet for a bit on social media…it’s because I am focusing on our issues, and volunteers are working on new pulls and foster support. At this time my priorities will be focused solely on DHD dogs, so please excuse me if responses take longer than usual.

From Chicago Animal Care and Control we welcomed Lance, Ed, and Gia this past Saturday, and Bouillon yesterday.

Welcome to the s**t show. 💜

There’s no point announcing a pull hold. Those announcements are almost immediately followed by 27 new foster apps. We aren’t on hold, but I’m stepping away from pulls so I can focus on the more urgent needs.

11/01/2025

We’ve missed posting pulls this week.

Even worse, I realized I haven’t logged into IG since we moved to our new space.

F**k my life.

We’ve had 3 pulls we haven’t posted yet, and we have 3 more tomorrow. All from Chicago Animal Care and Control.

This past Wednesday, we pulled, December.

Yesterday, we pulled, Gretel. Another black pit.

Today, Rejoice.

Welcome to DHD, December, Gretel & Rejoice.💜

08/01/2025

Here at DHD, we are mainly interested in pulling the most desirable dogs.

We want to pull the dogs that will immediately have 20 adoption applications, and that’s what’s inspiring our pulls this week!

On Sunday, we pulled a black pit bull. Today, we pulled 2 more black pit bulls.

And right after I click “post” on this bitch right here…I’m going to send a hold for another black pit bull. We’ll be pulling that mother fu**er on Saturday.

We are fu***ng killing it pulling the “least likely to be adopted” dogs. Lifers.

Welcome to DHD, Bernie & Artie. 💜

06/01/2025

We managed to pull another couple dogs from Chicago Animal Care and Control yesterday.

If my math is correct, we have way more fu***ng dogs than we should, considering we are only 6 days into the year.

Welcome to DHD, Kimmy & Jorie. 💜

New names pending.

04/01/2025

In today’s edition of “Stupid decisions Dayna makes” I’ll explain how and why DHD now has a litter of small breed puppies.

I was contacted last night by an emergency vet about a litter of puppies that were exposed to parvo. 1 puppy had confirmed parvo so they were looking for rescue to surrender the rest to, in case they all ended up parvo positive. We have a great relationship with Naperville Animal Hospital and they just love when I throw a bunch of parvo puppies at them. 🤣

I asked for pictures of the puppies assuming they were pit bulls. Contacting me for anything but, just seems weird. Then I got the pictures and immediately wondered how and why I was contacted. I responded to the VCA that although they’re cute, they are not Dark Horse Dogs. These dogs wouldn’t need our help. Instead of giving everyone the run around, I said we could initially help and then they can go to a rescue that isn’t us. I’d help facilitate, instead of pushing everyone off to other people.

So, last night I made a post in a closed group. The group has a large amount of our local rescues in it, and the group is intended to be mostly leadership and decision makers of the rescues.

I’d obviously receive a bunch of rescues who would want them and then I’d hook them up with the owner so they could be surrendered to a more suitable rescue.

And absolutely none of what I assumed would happen…happened. And now these fu***ng puppies are at our vet. I may be the only rescue person in the world who says they do NOT want these puppies and actively looks for another rescue. Yet, here we are.

Turns out, they were apparently Dark Horse Dogs after all, because no one else wanted them. So much regret.

Welcome to DHD, weirdos. 💜 I didn’t name them yet because they aren’t supposed to be ours. For now, I’m going to just refer to them as the “what the f**k just happened?” litter.

I think it’s got a nice ring to it.

04/01/2025

We received a foster app for a dog I didn’t remember from Chicago Animal Care and Control off hand, so obviously I had to look her up.

I had high hopes as I searched “Starry.” Then I recognized the dog that came up, and not for good reason.

I had seen, Starry. She was very memorable and I wish she wasn’t.

I don’t even think this is considered a lazy eye situation. Her eyes just fu***ng quit on her. I’m gonna need her fosters to fu***ng adopt her because marketing this s**t is a nightmare. I even checked all the photos in the comments on her post. Not one of the pictures made this situation better.

Welcome to DHD, Starry. 💜

03/01/2025

We figured we’d kick this year off with a bang.

3 pulls from Chicago Animal Care and Control today, transported via Precious Cargo Rescue Rides, and at least 2 of them appear to be far more puppy-esc than I’d like.

I fu***ng hate puppies.

At least they’re stupid cute.

Snickers, is now, Kurt.
Sweety, is now, Krist.
Finnik, is now, Dave.

Welcome to DHD, Kurt, Krist & Dave. 💜

31/12/2024

And that’s a wrap, folks!

We finished 2024 with one last Chicago Animal Care and Control pull.

Trinadette, was at CACC in 2019 and was adopted in 2020. She had 4 limbs when she was adopted.

In March of this year, Trinadette, was shot in the leg, which prompted her owners to start a go fund me to raise the money for amputation. It was said that Trinadette, and another dog were on a play date and “went to say hello” to a passerby and his dog, and the passerby panicked, pulled out a gun, and shot her.

My interpretation of this story is: Trinadette and another dog were irresponsibly off leash, and allowed to approach a passerby that was walking their dog. LEASH LAWS EXIST FOR A REASON, FU***RS!!! I’d be scared as s**t too if I’ve got 2 off leash dogs coming towards me and my dog. Off leash dogs are one of the biggest issues we face in rescue. It’s fu***ng infuriating.

Trinadette, was picked up as a stray again and brought to CACC on 12/28/2024. Her owners were contacted and we understand the couple split up, one of them moved somewhere that can’t have dogs, and the other just simply, didn’t want her anymore.

There are so many f**ked parts of this story that it sounds ridiculous. The one part that’s not f**ked…is Trinadette, got her rescue ride to a DHD foster home today, courtesy of our friends at Rescueber.

Welcome to DHD, Trinadette, 2025 is gonna be your year. 💜

This rounds out our 2024!

Last year (2023) we pulled 166 dogs in total, 132 of them being from CACC.

In 2024, we’ve pulled 190 dogs total and if my excel filtering math is correct, 175 of those dogs were from CACC. That’s 43 more from CACC in 2024 than in 2023. That feels significant.

Cheers to a new year! Thank you to everyone who has continued to support us so we can keep doing more each year. We are gearing up for 2025 to be the biggest fu***ng year yet.

Now, I’m gonna go power wash some kennels. Ever had dog diarrhea splash back on you while power washing kennels? Would not recommend. Zero stars. Tito’s helps.

Truly grateful,

Dayna

30/12/2024

I’ve spent my day being sick as a dog, and our volunteers still managed another 2 pulls from Chicago Animal Care and Control.

Welcome to DHD, Bruce & Mara. 💜

30/12/2024

I don’t know what day of the week it is, I don’t know what the date is, and my significant other uses some sort of 24 hour clock…to f**k with me in the middle of the night. I have no idea what’s happening these days.

But we’re mother fu***ng pulling.

Best part of this stupid s**t is…I’m from military people. I was born in Guam. I should know the day, date, time, (even when the time isn’t real people time) and which state I was born in.

Guam isn’t a state, so that’s pretty difficult when you’re trying to do paperwork and you don’t understand where you’re supposed to be born.

From what I understand it’s still 2024 and we’ve had 2 pulls today. And we aren’t fu***ng done. We should be. I’m just not that smart.

Welcome to DHD, Scotch Pine & Eeyore. 💜

24/12/2024

It doesn’t matter how busy we are, I cannot say “no” when Chicago Animal Care and Control volunteers want to pull a dog.

They took plenty of photos which they claimed were terrible but these 3 are stupid fu***ng cute.

And they showed up in style. They’re representing for DHD and Rescue Chicago!

Looks like, Jude, hit the fu***ng jackpot.

Welcome to DHD, Jude. 💜

22/12/2024

I continue to assume we will be done with pulls for the year…and our fosters just keep fu***ng showing up. Time and time again.

It’s so damn impressive.

This rescue isn’t s**t without volunteers and fosters, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them.

Chicago Animal Care and Control’s, Rio, got his rescue ride, and a new name today.

Welcome to DHD, Vern. 💜

21/12/2024

We know it’s almost Xmas and people are gearing up for holiday madness, or drowning their sorrows with Tito’s but for the first time ever, DHD has multiple, adoptable dogs, ready and waiting!

Approved applicants can literally come and meet these boys today. In the same place! At the same time!

F**k shopping.

They’re vaccinated, microchipped, neutered, and heartworm negative. Dog and kid friendly.

We are still in the process of getting this space in better shape so we are not open to the public. Dog meets will be by appointment, with approved applicants for the time being. There’s still a lot of work to do but it’s coming along (we have professionals working room by room) and we will start sharing pictures of our progress very soon.

Name: Cracker Todd
Breed: Dogo Argentino
Age: 1.5 years
Weight: 90lbs (underweight currently)
Bull in a china shop. Young. Mischievous. Too big to be so stupid and clumsy. You hate him and love him simultaneously.

Name: Murphy
Breed: Pit mix
Age: 3
Weight: 37lbs (tiny)
Pics don’t do his cuteness justice. Loves food/water bowls. Will dump an entire bowl of water that was just put down, because he must carry it around. Wicked side eye. Takes a minute to warm up, but is a doll once he does.

Apply at: darkhorsedogs.org

21/12/2024

We had another rescue ride yesterday that we missed posting, and apparently it’s almost Christmas. Which I fully realized today.

F**k me. I couldn’t be less prepared. Everyone I know is getting a handle of Tito’s, and a dog. Even children. Those are the only things I have an abundance of.

Welcome to DHD, Wyatt Earp. 💜

19/12/2024

His teeth are whiter than I normally like but he was too handsome to turn down.

Welcome to DHD, Tristan. 💜

17/12/2024

WARNING! GRAPHIC PHOTO!!! The last photo is bad. Don’t scroll if you don’t want to see it.

We welcomed Alice, from Chicago Animal Care and Control yesterday but we weren’t supposed to. Alice was one of the 20 dogs that were vetted under DHD at our vet. The goal of that was to make sure those 20 dogs had everything they needed medically, so they could immediately be adopted from CACC, and go home with families the same day. Alice’s recovery from her spay was unremarkable overall and she was doing well.

A few days later the staff left CACC for the night, and Alice was found the next morning with her intestines hanging out, and she had lost a lot of blood. Alice had ripped open her sutures and the scene was gruesome.

Thanks to Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control and MedVet Chicago, Alice got the emergency medical care she needed, and she survived.

To be honest, I’m fu***ng shocked she made it. I didn’t think she would. I guess I’m a pessimist these days. Knowing she was alive and being discharged, we happened to have a spot for her, so we were happy to help.

Welcome to DHD, Alice. 💜

15/12/2024

Rescue ride for Chicago Animal Care and Control’s Idolina. And we’ve still got more planned before year end.

Welcome to DHD, Idolina. 💜

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Aveya got her rescue ride out of Chicago Animal Care and Control and has been safely delivered to Naperville Animal Hospital. Stay tuned for updates. Welcome to DHD, Aveya. 💜