Thursday, September 17, 2009

Looking for a Large Heart - Maybe Yours?

For Susan and Mike Kelms, their four dogs were like their children. And they always hoped they would stay together if anything happened to them.About two weeks after the Kelmses were both killed in a fatal motorcycle crash over the Labor Day weekend, their family and a Burr Ridge shelter is looking for someone to adopt the pack.They've had inquiries about one or two of the dogs, but no one has stepped up yet to take all four, said Kathy Deets, manager of the Chicago Canine Club in Burr Ridge."Their last wish was that they could be adopted together and they are an interesting little pack,'' said Deets. "They're just best friends, these four dogs."

They are 6-year-old Anacortes, a 47-pound female American Eskimo lab mix; 3-year-old Cedonia, a 34-pound female husky mix; 7-year-old Tacoma, a 92-pound male lab mix; and Everett, a 4-year-old, 47-pound, male Austrian Shepard lab mix.She said the shelter has been boarding the dogs since the accident as a niece of the Kelmses searches for a home. Deets said the dogs have an unusually close bond and tend to hang out together in the shelter.According to a letter posted on the shelter's Web site by Kim Mayer, the Kelms' niece, the dogs were adopted over the past seven years."Their dogs were the only children they ever had,'' Mayer wrote.Deets said she understands it will be difficult finding homes for all four dogs, and said they have had inquires from neighbors and friends of the Kelms."To adopt two dogs together is a huge challenge ... four could be impossible,'' said Deets.But she said the dogs are very well-mannered and show signs that they were well taken care of by the owners. "The dogs are super sweet.'' The dogs, all rescued from area shelters, are spayed and neutered and are up to date on vaccines.-- Carlos Sadovi

10 comments:

Dexter said...

Oh good luck to that family to stay together. What a sad story.

Slobbers,
Mango

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a sad story - we hope they can find a new family.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

Kelly said...

Thanks for sharing this story with us. It is such a sad one, and I am so hopeful that it has a happy ending for those sweet dogs.

Kelly said...

PS I think Dozer is innocent of yesterday's accusations... just for the record.

ClassyChassy said...

Sad - hope they find a new family!

^..^Corgidogmama said...

This...is why I always want to take the dogs along with me, or us, when we go somewhere. I'm terrified that we'll be in an accident, and something would happen, just like this to our furkids. I'd rather that they be with us, no matter what our fate.
Such a heartbreak.

Martha said...

Oh dear, what an awful sad story - we so hope these dogs can stay together.
You are right though it will take someone with a big heart to take on four dogs!
Paws crossed.
love
Martha & Bailey xxx

Moco said...

if only the crazy old bat had her old dogs home.

Hoover said...

I really hope these doggies can stay together. Somehow there's just gotta be a happy ending.

It makes me (almost) wish I had a a brudder or sister.

BTW I'm totally up for some covert operations involving something pink.

Hoover BPD

Moose said...

Oh so sad! We hope they find a home looking for a ready made pack! We know how hard it can be to keep even 2 dogs together so imagine it will be tough, but they sound like awesome pups so we will keep our paws crossed they find their new home soon!
We are new to your blog but saw about your knee on Hoover's blog and we are very bummed for you. Moose had knee surgery and we know how tough it can be. We poked around your bloggie and see that you have done this all before. I have heard some say that recovery from the 2nd one is easier and we hope that is true. Hang in there buddy!
Moose + Dana