One rescue operation looks out for area's underdogs, cats

From their first dog Charlie to their 100th, Jazzie, a group of Lake County women have turned their love of animals into a safe haven for unwanted dogs and cats.

Underdog Rescue, an all-volunteer non-profit animal rescue based in Lake Villa and Antioch, will celebrate its first anniversary in June.

"There are so many wonderful unwanted animals out there, we just want to play our small role in saving them," said Cindy Rippa, vice president of Underdog Rescue.

Rippa of Lake Villa, Joan Boro and Joanne Widseth both of Antioch, knew each other for years through other animal rescue efforts.

In the spring of 2007, the women decided to start their own group, so Boro headed to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah.

The shelter is the country's largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals and when Boro returned Underdog Rescue was born.

Underdog works with local animal control facilities including Lake County, North Chicago, Waukegan and Great Lakes Naval Base, as well as local police departments.

The group also takes in relinquished pets, which is becoming more common with the foreclosure crisis.

Underdog places dogs and cats in foster families until they are matched with a permanent home.

"This is a job we hope will eventually end, but there is never a shortage of animals who need help," Boro said. "We're just hoping to make a small dent."

In just a year, Underdog Rescue has done just that.

Their first rescue was Charlie in June 2007. Rescues 100 to 103 were Jazzie, an unwanted beagle from Troy, Tenn., and her three puppies, Bebop, DooWop and Boogie.

One of Underdog's volunteers, a 13-year-old girl from Yorkville, was scanning a pet finder Web site and found pregnant Jazzie.

Underdog contacted the small shelter where Jazzie was and at the end of April, right after she had her puppies, the dogs were put into a crate and brought to Lake County.

Jazzie and her pups are now awaiting adoption.

The women from Underdog say the group wouldn't be possible without the help of Lake Villa veterinarian, Ed McGinniss, who treats all of the strays at a reduced cost.

"Everybody is just trying to do there part," McGinniss said.

While nearly all of the animals taken in by Underdogs have been adopted, the group is hanging onto one official mascot, Brynn, a three-legged dog found abandoned in a Waukegan apartment.

Since then, Brynn has completed training for Canine Good Citizen certification and become a therapy dog.

"We've had a lot of fun," Rippa said. "And when you have a bad day, you can always just play with one of the puppies and everything is great again."

For more information or to find out about available animals, visit the Web site underdog-rescue.com or call (847) 529-5959.