Need a Friend? Adopt one

Do you find yourself lonely?

Do you want a Pal?

Do you want to help others?

Do you long for a loving relationship?

Well, check this out.  October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  Each year, it is estimated 3 to 4 million animals are waiting in shelters for someone to give them a safe, loving home, but unfortunately many never find a hero to adopt them and tragically are euthanized.

Dogs have been proven to have many health benefits for their owners, such as lower blood pressure and their ability to lessen anxiety.  Plus, who doesn't like someone to go on a walk with, take a car ride with and of course, who doesn't like to snuggle up on the couch with a warm loving friend on movie night. 

If your thinking of getting a dog, your in luck.  Springfield and the surrounding area has many shelters and rescue groups.  These groups have worked tirelessly to get dogs (and cats) out of facilities that euthanize and try to get them in to loving homes.  They work with them, either at a physical shelter or a foster home network and get them ready to go to their forever home.

Maybe you can't adopt a dog...Your landlord won't let you have one, you don't have enough time, whatever the reason is.  You can always volunteer.  Many Shelter and rescue groups rely on volunteers to walk dogs, take dogs to adoptions, feed them and just to spend time and socialize with them.

Fall is the perfect time to be a hero and adopt a dog from your local shelter. You’ll be saving a life and greatly improving yours.  Below is a list of many of the shelters and rescue organizations in the
Springfield area.  Give them a call or stop in and see who you can take home.  And let's face it, no one likes to sleep alone and why should you.  Go find a  dog that your happy and proud to take home and have in your bed!

Animal Protective League

Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control

Helping Paw Project

Illinois Humane

Paws for Life

ReGap-Retired Greyhounds as Pets

Menard County Animal Control

Paws Jackson

WILD-Women in Love with Dogs

Pets without Parents

Relentless Animal Rescue

This month's Spotlight on Rescue group is REGAP (Retired Greyhound As Pets) of Illinois. 

Check them out at https://regapgreyhounds.org/

April is Adopt a Greyhound month!

Every year in the overly competitive sport of greyhound racing, hundreds of dogs are "retired" because they are either too slow or have been injured. That's where groups like REGAP come into play. REGAP is a non profit, greyhound adoption group, founded with the goal of finding these retired athletes homes once their racing careers have ended. These are perfectly healthy dogs with a lot of years left and a lot of love to give.


The group is based in Mendota, Illinois but has representatives in several cities around the state who conduct "Meet & Greets" at local pet stores and participate in local events to promote greyhound adoption. Volunteers bring their own personal pets so people can meet a greyhound up close and personal. Adoptable dogs are at the kennel in Mendota and must be seen there and can be viewed online at https://regapgreyhounds.org/available-greys/



They are billed as the second fastest land mammal in the world, second only behind the cheetah. Don't let that scare you into thinking that you will need acres to allow them to run. They also have the nickname of "45 MPH Couch Potato"! They are quiet, mild mannered and actually make great apartment dogs. You do have to commit to not allowing them off leash except in a fully enclosed area. The adoption process is pretty easy but you will have to make 2 trips to the kennel in Mendota as they do not do on the spot adoptions. You can find the adoption process here: https://regapgreyhounds.org/adoption-process/

A Special Thanks to Cheryl Carroll, from REGAP, for providing this information.

Please follow us and REGAP on facebook for upcoming events here at Tails To Remember and to see when REGAP will be here for a meet and greet!