Pet rescue to break ground on shelter
Thanks to a $100,000 donation from Pat and Vince Foglia of North Barrington, Palatine-based Young at Heart Pet Rescue has reached a capital campaign milestone enabling it to break ground for an adoption center and sanctuary for senior pets in Woodstock.
In November of 2015, Young at Heart announced a capital campaign to open the center. Thanks to animal lovers' generosity and a recent $100,000 gift from The Foglia Family Foundation, Young at Heart has reached its $950,000 fundraising goal to break ground.
"Our first dog was an Irish setter, Brandy, who lived until she was 17. She was raised with my children and potty trained with my son," said Pat Foglia. "We have lots of fond memories, and laugh when we think of her."
The Foglias now have a 10-year-old rescue dog, Mugsy. They don't know his background, but he loves people. When Pat Foglia learned about the project to build an adoption center for senior pets, she knew she wanted her family to be a part of it.
"This incredible gift from Pat and Vince Foglia has helped Young at Heart cross the finish line so that we can break ground this spring," said Dawn Kemper, executive director and founder of Young at Heart. "We are so very excited that their gift will also help us provide on-site exceptional care."
The center is set to open in late 2017 on eight acres and house approximately 50 senior dogs and cats in a cageless environment.
The veterinary suite will be named after the Foglia family, and other naming opportunities are available.
An anonymous donor has offered a matching gift challenge of $50,000 through March 31. For more information on the capital campaign, or to adopt, visit www.adoptaseniorpet.com. Donations can be made online or to P.O. Box 1293, Palatine, IL 60078.
The new center will be designed specifically for older pets, providing a homelike environment with lots of windows for natural light, couches for animals to lounge on, heated floors for the comfort of older joints, large yards for dogs to run in, fresh-air enclosures for cats and a caretaker on-site 24 hours a day.
It will also include a grooming area, veterinary suite and room for the senior pets to have one-on-one time with staff, volunteers, and adopters. Most importantly, it will allow Young at Heart to help four times the number of senior pets each year it does currently.
Young at Heart's mission is to rescue senior pets and to help them find loving homes. It provides comprehensive medical care, enhancing quality of life and increasing "adoptability."
The 501c3 not-for-profit organization, which only works with dogs and cats older than 7 years, was founded in 2005. It can be reached at info@adoptaseniorpet.com or (847) 529-2025.