29/10/2024
We have some BIG f**king news. So big…thinking about it makes me want to cry and have diarrhea simultaneously.
We’re even doing a fundraiser, so you know this is big. It has been 457 days since we posted a DHD fundraiser. Prior to that, it had been 370 days since we posted a fundraiser for ourselves. We value our supporters and followers, and we try to ensure that our page isn’t constantly asking for donations. Yes, rescues need money and it’s normal for them to regularly fundraise. DHD is not normal (if you’re reading this – you likely know that already). We operate a little differently than most, and it works for us. We try to be as impactful as we can locally, and that’s what has allowed us to naturally grow, while maintaining financial stability.
The Rosenthal Family Foundation has generously offered to match donations up to $15k. Meaning, if we can raise $15k, we will receive $30k. Now, we’ll get to all the big s**t we’ve got happening, and why this fundraiser is so important for us. The big DHD news is at the end of this post so don’t skim this s**t.
For those that don’t know, the situation at Chicago Animal Care and Control has recently gotten worse. The mayor made huge budget cuts which have dramatically impacted CACC, their staff, volunteers, and most importantly…the ANIMALS we are all trying to save.
Summary of the CACC s**t show: Due to new Chicago budget cuts animals aren’t getting spayed/neutered the way they should. The backlog of surgeries is bad. Adoption events have been successful in finding adopters, but the events have been unsuccessful in getting animals out of the building! They can’t leave with adopters if they aren’t spayed/neutered. Same day adoptions are basically nonexistent, and these budget cuts are forcing kennels to hold dogs that should have gone home with adopters already. And then the staff and volunteers are s**t on because dogs are dying due to space. These dogs have homes to go to! CACC staff and volunteers are NOT causing this. Euthanizing due to space is already some bulls**t because of the sheer quantity of animals that come in vs. outgoing, but there is an entire list of dogs that have been sitting in kennels waiting for surgery so they can leave with their adopters. These dogs are placed on “adoption hold” and then everyone has to f**king hope these people actually come back.
This situation is unacceptable, but our complaints won’t do s**t right now and they won’t provide immediate resolution. These dogs with adoption holds deserve resolution NOW. Incoming dogs deserve an open kennel and they need that NOW. We can complain, or we can try to come up with a legitimate solution.
At 5:18pm on Wednesday, 10/23/2024 I (Dayna) discussed a potential idea where I’d ask our veterinary partners if they might do a full day of spays/neuters on a day they’re normally closed. We’d do everything under DHD, and the bill would come to DHD. Chicago wasn’t going to pay it…obviously. I figured with some notice and good planning; Naperville Animal Hospital (NAH) would likely be willing to help. Then CACC’s Sia, had a day in mind for this potential plan. She wanted to do it Sunday. Sunday a few weeks from now? No. Sunday next week? No. She wanted to do it this Sunday. In 4 days. It was Wednesday night! In 4 days Sia hoped we could find volunteers to transport 20 large breed, CACC owned dogs, from CACC to NAH, our veterinarians would spend their entire Sunday vetting dogs that aren’t DHD dogs, and then volunteers would transport those 20 dogs back to CACC after surgery. This was f**king ludicrous.
But…what the f**k? I’ve got nothing to lose by asking, right? NAH also seemed to grasp that this timeframe was utterly ridiculous as well. The manager did the same thing I did and said she’d talk to their doctors, but this would be tough.
If we executed this plan, it would mean 20 dogs could leave CACC with their adopters, and 20 kennels would open for incoming dogs. These are 40 living beings. It seemed worth the ask while still being a long shot.
IT FU***NG HAPPENED!!! Not only did Naperville Animal Hospital say “YES” but they had 2 vets doing surgery, and one of their vet techs helped with transport when we didn’t think we’d have enough. At 7:30am on Sunday, 10/27/2024, we had cars of volunteers loading up CACC dogs to make the drive to Naperville. These volunteers included CACC volunteers, DHD volunteers, and Rescueber. Of course, CACC’s Sia was helping to load each car.
I didn’t sleep Saturday night. I was stressed as f**k about anything and everything that could go wrong. Even worse, these weren’t DHD dogs. The weight I felt to not f**k anything up feels even greater when I’m not ultimately responsible for my f**k up. So much could go wrong.
It didn’t. It was a long day, we were tired, sweaty and gross, there was a lot of diarrhea (not mine) and my adrenaline was at an 11 all day…but nothing went wrong. All 20 dogs got to Naperville without issue, 20 dogs got the vetting they needed (including some extras that they wouldn’t have gotten at CACC), and 20 dogs were returned to CACC the same day. All 20 dogs could now leave with families. CACC, Naperville Animal Hospital, Rescueber, and DHD all worked their asses off for no other reason than wanting to save some dogs. Some of these dogs are already in their new homes and holy s**t…if I didn’t tear up seeing some of those pictures. I could not be prouder to know these people, volunteer with these people, and it’s incredibly humbling when people step up to help, just because they believe in your mission, and want to be part of it. Small rescue can make a big impact when there’s support. And sometimes, small rescue naturally grows. This accomplishment was a reminder to myself that DHD isn’t so small anymore.
With that…our big news. On December 1st, 2024, Dark Horse Dogs, NFP will officially have a physical location we will call “home” in Chicago! I signed our lease yesterday, and then I s**t my pants. We will be taking over a space that is currently utilized by another rescue. This wasn’t ever my “plan” but at some point, having a physical location becomes necessary. DHD has grown too large for it to be 100% foster based now. We need a space that can house some dogs for different reasons, and we have so many ideas to make this space beneficial for our dogs, our foster families, the local community, and future dogs.
Our mission remains the same. We will continue to focus on local dogs ONLY, we intend to continue providing quality medical care and supplies for our dogs, and we hope to be able to support our foster homes even more with this space.
I’m f**king terrified. I didn’t ever try to force our growth. The growth kept coming, even when I begged for it to stop. That reality is not lost on me, and I still can’t grasp it. I cannot thank our supporters, followers, donors, volunteers, veterinary partners, shelter partners, transport partners, friends, and family enough.
Now, I’m panicked about new monthly costs, all the things we need to get our space ready to invite people in…and those 20 CACC dogs…that are going be on our next bill. Sheer panic. I’m sweating right now thinking about it. If we can raise $15k and get it matched, it will relieve my daily stress diarrhea. Diarrhea Dayna is a super catchy name, but I can’t get much done if I’m always on the toilet, and DHD has a s**t ton of work to do so we can continue this bulls**t we call rescue. And the hope is that we continue to do it better each year.
From the bottom of my cold, dead heart, I humbly thank you for your support. 💜
Dayna – President
Dark Horse Dogs, NFP
P.S. After I wrote this, I started compiling pictures from messages and I saw a message from Sia that said "Dayna, if you make a post can you not swear so I can post it on the official CACC page?"
That's f**king impossible. Sorry, Sia.
P.P.S. I would also like to thank, Tito's Handmade Vodka. I wouldn't be able to do what I do, without vodka.
P.P.P.S. If you think the dogs look real f**king high in these pics...it's because they are. High as a god damn kite.
Link to donate 👇🏻
https://www.facebook.com/share/b8yUtyyt6CgiEtWh/
