On March 12th, Hospice Hearts hosted its monthly adoption fair at the Dog Den. For those unfamiliar with the Hospice Hearts mission, they provide foster and adoption services for dogs and cats whose owners are no longer able to take care of them, whether it’s due to admittance into a nursing home, serious illness, or even death. From both my background in companion animal sciences and personal experiences with terminal illness, I can tell you that wondering what will happen to your pet is a significant stress on the mind of someone who is aging or extremely ill. This can often result in a person making decisions that are better for their pet than for their own needs, and having a sense of security about the fate of their furry friend can put a mind and heart at ease. That sense of security is exactly what Hospice Hearts attempts to provide.
Established in 2015, Hospice Hearts was originally planned as a sanctuary (shelter) for animals coming out of these scenarios, however the strategy was later changed to a foster care program instead. “A lot of animals shut down in shelters,” explained Jessica Sempek, Director and Founder of Hospice Hearts. “Dogs and cats do much better when placed in actual homes. Right now, we’re the only organization of this kind that I know of.”
Below, Sempek (right) talks to a potential foster owner.
Hospice Hearts is an all volunteer run organization, with about half of their 30 members being undergraduate college or veterinary students. The group is also completely funded by donations, which is very important considering the services they provide. Since most of the animals here have been with their owners for many years, a number of them come to the program at an older age and require specialized care or medicine, and Hospice Hearts covers all of the veterinary costs up front.
Below, Henry.
“We spend about $1,000 per dog that comes through, including dentals and bloodworm,” says Sempek. With this high per animal cost and the fact that the group took in 100 animals for adoption last year (and 50 already this year), it’s clear why volunteers are so important to the program. It’s also clear that a lot of love for animals is involved. “I do it for the (dog) kisses,” Sempek says with a smile.
Below, visitors could enter for a chance to win this quilt.
Below, Sammie (sister to Pru; they need to be adopted together) gives some kisses to a visitor.
Below, Pru (sister to Sammie, they need to be adopted together) poses for her glamour shot.
The All Paws on Deck adoption event itself was fairly low-key. The main desk area and front room of the Dog Den were open for the dogs that were up for adoption to wander at their leisure, and the front room also hosted about five cages for the cats.
Below, Intake Coordinator Zoe Kharasch (left) and volunteer Sarah Albert work on getting B-Dog spruced up for visitors.
A variety of individuals and small families trickled in and out over the course of the three hours that the event ran, and the animals themselves were very well-behaved the whole time. Each of the three dogs wandered from person to person to get (and give!) love while the cats mostly napped away the afternoon. Every time a guest arrived the dogs would come to greet them while volunteers made sure that there were no escapees. And, for all the napping that they did, the cats actually seemed to garner the most attention from the visitors- especially the children.
Below, Angel.
Below, Victor. Victor is bonded to Poppy Cat; they must be adopted together.
Below, Poppy Cat is too cool to care that his face is covered in crumbs from diving into his food bowl. (Poppy Cat is bonded to Victor, they must be adopted together)
While no animals were adopted while I was there at least three new people signed up to be foster homes. This was great to see, as even during the event Sempek took a phone call regarding a cat that needed a new home. Hospice Hearts hosts this annual adoption fair the second Saturday of each month, so if you know someone that loves animals and needs a furry companion, make sure to tell them to stop by. Also, if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, there are a lot of ways you can help:
- Be a foster home: You can foster a dog or cat for any time span, ranging from overnight to 3-5 weeks (typically until adoption). During this time Hospice Hearts provides everything the animal needs; beds, medicine, food, you name it.
- Provide help at events: Just like this adoption fair, staffing is always needed and appreciated for events held around town.
- Transport: While some animals are local, they can also come from far away (B-Dog came from Arkansas!). The organization needs people who can travel to pick up animals in need and bring them back for adoption.
Below, Claudia is very shy and is looking for a nice quiet home.
The organization also has a special event coming up. On Sunday, April 17, the Fluid Event Center in Champaign will be hosting the French Market. This will be an open-air market of seventy-five local vendors selling goods for the benefit of Hospice Hearts and will also include a variety of music and other entertainment. Even if you can’t adopt an animal or become a volunteer, this will still be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon while helping out animals in need at the same time!
And if you can adopt, remember: these animals honestly don’t want much, just a home and your love.
Interested in learning more about Hospice Hearts, adopting an animal, or becoming a volunteer? Stop by their website or send them an email.
About Stephen N. Kemp
Stephen is an IT manager for the University of Illinois and has been a photographer for Smile Politely since 2015. Find his photography on Facebook or contact him directly via email.
About Stephen N. Kemp