» IL-Adoption

Astro Is Now Waiting For Us At The Bridge

David Thurman — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:21:51 +0000

It is with a very sad heart that I am letting everyone know that Astro has passed away at 6:19PM February 3rd 2012 tonight after battling what we can only guess was a disease that had been left untreated for most his life, being dumped at one shelter to another, and no one taking the time to at least pass along what they surely knew. Had we had this information, we could have started treatments when he arrived and saved his life. Unfortunately we probably in our own selfish way prolonged his need to pass on and wait for us, happy, healthy and waiting for a little girl to walk him.

Astro will be deeply missed by all of us, especially Anne, who gave him all the attention and care and love that she could, spending entire nights at his side, and putting aside even her own needs to take care of him in what was his greatest time of need and comfort.

Astro's Final Days

We are honored that he let us know him, and I am honored that so many people cared, and donated to his many tests and stays at the emergency clinic.

Astro Thanks Everyone

I personally am grateful that Anne and her family gave Astro their home and their love, and allowed him to feel what a real home was like, surrounded by people that truly cared, and didn’t walk away when problems reared their ugly head.

We would still like to ask for donations, to help pay for his extensive medical needs.

Again thank you to everyone that sent their prayers and well wishes, and to everyone that donated to help Astro. I know he appreciated all that was done.

ASRM 0062 Parker 14 Week Old Red Merle lethal White Australian Shepherd Puppy in Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:40:28 +0000

Meet one of our latest puppies in our rescue, Parker, a 14 week old red merle lethal white Australian Shepherd male. Parker is deaf with a slight vision restriction. Parker is housebroken, and he is currently up to date on all his puppy shots. He is going to be a big boy, already weighing in at 23 pounds!

ASRM 0062 Parker

parker is very active as most puppies are, he loves to chase and play and interacts with all his bigger foster brothers and sisters. He will bark and yip as he plays, if left alone he will howl until you reappear for him. He is crate trained. He does fine with the family cat, chasing him, but once he has caught him, is not sure the next step and will run away from him as quickly as possible.

ASRM 0062 Parker

We are working with ISU in Normal Illinois on learning sign language and touch commands. Parker is in the excellerated classes in college. If you are familiar with special need dogs, and have the time and energy to dedicate to his well being, please complete an Application today. Reference ASRM 0062 Parker.

ASRM 0062 Parker

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ADOPTED Lucy 1.5 Year Old Red Tri Female Australian Shepherd in Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:33:04 +0000

ADOPTED! Meet our 1 and a half year old red tri Australian Shepherd named Lucy. Lucy is around 40 pounds, up to date on all her shots and is also spayed. Lucy is the result of a downsize in the living space, and as such needed to come to rescue.

ASRM 0061 Lucy

Lucy is a very energetic and playful little girl, she is always looking for a fun romp with her foster brother and sisters, and she will play frisbee or chase a tennis ball until she drops from exhaustion. She would probably make an excellent agility or flyable candidate. Lucy walks great on a leash and is completely housebroken, she knows how t use a dog door for her potty needs very well, She also rides great in a car, soaking up the scenery as it passes by.

ASRM 0061 Lucy

Lucy knows a few commands already, and she gets along great with all the adults in her life, and also with children, though because she has a hi energy level, small children under 7 are not a good fit, as she may chase or nip them with her fun loving enthusiasm. She does chase the family cat, but it’s all in good fun, but she does get loud in her play, she likes to bark and tell you what she is thinking and doing. Lucy also loves to sit in your lap and cuddle and give kisses.

ASRM 0061 Lucy

ADOPTED Strider 6 Year Old Black Tri Australian Shepherd Male In Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:26:04 +0000

ADOPTED! Meet Strider, a 6 year old black tri Australian Shepherd male who weighs around 45 pounds. Strider is up to date on all his shots, and is neutered. Strider was a shelter rescue, and we are glad to have him.

ASRM 0058 Stryder

Strider immediately fit right in when we brought him into foster care. He bonded with his foster family as soon as he walked in the door. Strider also started to play with his foster brother as any normal Aussie will. Strider gets along with cats, and seems to be very tolerant of children, though we have not tested with small children, though Strider’s energy level is more on the low side for an Australian Shepherd. We feel with proper monitoring he will be fine around little ones.

ASRM 0058 Stryder

Strider pulls just a little on leash, but is being worked with. He loves to ride in a car and seems to take great pleasure when cursing the town. He seems to also enjoy his brushing times and we don’t see Strider as an alpha dog at all.

ASRM 0058 Stryder

ASRM 0057 Mini Cooper 3 Year Old Blue Merle Lethal White Australian Shepherd Male Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:19:44 +0000

Meet a true white, fluffy teddy bear, one that will be a great addition to a home with another Aussie or any gentle breed. Mini Cooper is a special needs 3 year old Blue Merle Lethal White Australian Shepherd who is partially deaf and blind, but he doesn’t let on that he is. He loves the company of humans, and the security of another dog to help be his eyes and ears, as he will follow the other dog, many times leaning into follow.

ASRM 0057 Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Sitting Sharp

Mini Cooper is neutered and up to date on all his shots. Mini Cooper is crate trained, and for the most part housebroken, though he needs some additional work on that. He is not a hi energy Aussie at all, preferring to just follow you around the house all day, mainly to steal pets and cuddles from you. Weighing at only 36 pounds, he is your dictionary definition of a lap dog. He gets along with anyone, young, old, male, female, dog, cat, and we bet even a canary. Mini Cooper is not a real fan of car rides as he has not had a lot of experience in car rides. We are and we expect his adopter to help him with this.

Mini Cooper is One Happy Guy

Because Mini Cooper is a special needs Aussie, we ask you research and understand the needs and limitations of the breed and the special condition, being a Double Merle/Lethal White he will require your understanding.

ASRM 0057 Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper Walking Large

To adopt this gentle soul, Mini Cooper ask that you complete an Application today. Reference ASRM 0057 Mini Cooper.

Complete Our Adoption Application

ADOPTED Jack 2.5 Year Old Black Tri Australian Shepherd Male Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:06:46 +0000

ADOPTED! Meet Jack, a great black tri Australian Shepherd who is of a medium size, around 45 pounds. Jack is neutered and up to date on all his shots. Jack came to us because he was set to be euthanized at a local shelter. He was turned in because he nipped one of the children in the home, and as such, he was on a list, which is very typical for most Aussies surrendered to a shelter with a bite label attached. The shelter felt that he deserved a chance and if an Aussie Rescue would meet him, maybe he would have a chance and not be another statistic in the world of dog rescue.

ASRM 0056 Jack

Well all we can say is Jack is great! The day we sprung him, he was a totally different boy then the guy we met at the shelter. He was wiggling his Aussie Butt (something all Aussie lovers know and love to see). He was already housebroken, and he let his temp foster mom interact and play with him. He was a buddy to everyone he met, man, women, dog, cat and even children.

Jack Claims The Bed

ASRM 0056 Jack

Jack knows many commands already, loves to play with a tennis ball, we think because he can jump so hi he would make a great agility candidate. Because Jack has a hi energy level, looking to see what dirty dishes you left in the sink, jumping up to look out the window, to trying to give gentle, yet firm hugs, he will need a family that can work with the energy level he has. Jack let his foster brother chew and bite on him all day when he arrived, loving and playing the whole time.

Jack Takes A Bath!

ASRM 0043 Rascal 5 Year Old Black Tri Australian Shepherd Male Mini Illinois

David Thurman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:58:30 +0000

Meet Rascal, a 5-year old black tri Australian Shepherd mini, weighing in at only 20 pounds. He loves being outside and playing with his foster brother. He is very patient when being groomed and bathed.

ASRM 0043 Rascal

Rascal has lost the use of his right eye, as the result of chasing the wrong horse a few too many times. The eye is healthy and won’t hurt him as it is; however, we are looking into possibly removing the eye and either replacing it with a glass eye or stitching it shut. We are looking for donations to offset the cost of the treatment.

ASRM 0043 Rascal

Rascal came to us from a shelter where he had been for several months. He had apparently never lived in a house before his foster home. He has now become accustomed to all sorts of new things, including tile floors, stairs, and blenders. He is still learning indoor bathroom rules, but is improving all the time.

ASRM 0043 Rascal

Rascal seems to get along with all animals, including cats, but we would recommend not having him around horses, since he seems to like them a little too much. He particularly loves dogs, and would be best fit in a home where there is at least one other dog to socialize with. He is a follower, in both good and bad habits, and will imitate his pack mates.

Rascal is very shy of people touching him, and does not seem to enjoy excessive cuddling and petting. He will take time to get to know his owners. He likes to be near people, and will happily follow his owners around the house or yard just to be near to them. He tolerates petting, and does very well with small children, but he shouldn’t be made to cuddle too much for his own happiness. Rascal has made great strides in this area and enjoys his foster families’ companionship and petting more each day.

Rascal is up for adoption, he is in the Central Illinois Area and is eagerly awaiting a home. We suggest no horses as he is not good with them, but he is fine with everything else. Complete an application and reference ASRM 0043.

Complete Our Adoption Application

PENDING: ASRM 0049 Merlin 2 Year Old Blue Merle Male Australian Shepherd Illinois

David Thurman — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:46:06 +0000

PENDING! Meet Merlin, a 2 year old blue merle male Australian Shepherd. Merlin has a very odd history, he was being offered on Craigslist, then he was offered to our rescue, and before we could make a connection, he ended up on the doorstep of a caring family in Kankakee Illinois. We were full at that exact moment, and he was having adjustment issues, well he ended up at the shelter, and we were able to rescue him in a few days with the help of a new foster home, just for him.

ASRM 0049 Merlin

Merlin weighs 40 pounds soaking wet, and he is fully vetted, and neutered. He is a great guy that blended right into the foster family. He walks well on a leash, he rides great in a car, and he seems to get along with everyone he meets. We are very grateful to have had the chance to save this boy, and he is now ready for a great home.

ASRM 0049 Merlin Sitting

Merlin is being fostered in the Kankakee Illinois area and is looking for a castle to ply his magic. If you want this grand wizard in your home, complete an application today. Reference ASRM 0049.

Complete Our Adoption Application

The Rescuer Needs Rescued | Meet Mocha

Jeanine Standard — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:29:03 +0000

Often in this world of animal rescue it isn’t just the lonely animal being saved. There are times that the line blurs when one helps a dog…because many times it is actually the dog saving the rescuer.

Mocha When 1st Year

So goes the story of Mocha and David…yes, our very own David Thurman. Four years ago David found Mocha, a poor, confused young dog suddenly in a shelter due to his owner needing to be placed in a nursing home. The dog was shaking horribly, and each time David would approach the kennel Mocha would shake and cry even more. You see, it is hard for a dog to understand when their happy, comfortable home is suddenly a concrete floor surrounded by metal fencing.

Day After Surgery

David eventually took Mocha home to live with him and his girlfriend. But the story doesn’t end there. Eventually the relationship between David and his girlfriend ebbed, and Mocha became the pawn in the game of who gets to keep what. The girlfriend wanted Mocha, so David only got to see the dog now and then. Missing Mocha horribly, David decided that instead of finding another Aussie to make his own, he would find relief in helping other dogs just like Mocha.

Mocha Relaxing

To-date, David has rescued nearly 400 dogs, an accomplishment that comes with an awful lot of time and financial sacrifice. Oh, and Mocha? Soon Mocha did come to live full-time with David where today he enjoys time with his two brothers Cruise and Hager, constantly telling them what to do.

Mocha and Hagar

Mocha has always had a weak set of back legs and arthritis. He somehow tore his ACL and after many rounds of laser therapy and medications it has been decided that Mocha needs surgery. A $1500 surgery in fact.

Why Dave Is In Rescue

Not many people have that kind of money sitting around for dog surgery, so yes, this is a request for you to throw a little something in the hat to help the guy who has helped so many others. Look down at your dog right now. Did David help bring your animal into your world? If so, then help David keep Mocha happy and healthy in his world. Mocha is still a young dog, with many days left of enjoying rides in the car, sleeping on the bed and worrying about thunderstorms.

Any donation, no matter what size, will help. Thank you for your help, and thank you David for all you do for all the Aussies in the Midwest searching for that forever home. So many would still be lost without you.

ADOPTED Tres 7 Month Old Black Tri Mini Male Australian Shepherd Puppy Illinois

David Thurman — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:53:40 +0000

ADOPTED! Meet the impeccable Tres, a 7 month old mini black tri, who is said to stare a cat straight in the eyes! Tres is up to date on all his shots and is neutered and housebroken. Tres weighs around 23 pounds.

ASRM 0026 Tres Laying

ASRM 0026 Tres Sharing

Tres gets along with everyone, dogs people and those sneaky, stealthy cats that want to stare him down! He is said to be talking with his other Aussie pals about possible cat-tactics and the possible corralling of said cat(s). As the pictures show, Tres needs to be with other dogs, Aussies if you have them, as he just finds a pillow pal or becomes one himself.

ASRM 0026 Tres Playing

ASRM 0026 Tres Aussie Bundle

Tres plays great, walks well on a leash and rides great in a care. Tres has recovered from a very painful dew claw removal, one that seemed to had gone horribly wrong. We want to thank everyone that donated to help us cover the costs of his additional surgeries and office visits.

Discussing The Cat Problem

ASRM 0010 Cookie 8 Year Old Blue Merle Aussie/Healer Mix Female Illinois

David Thurman — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:38:53 +0000

Meet a super sweet treat, our very own Australian Shepherd Rescue Midwest Cookie, though we don’t suggest you take a bite, as all you will taste is hair. But our Cookie is a real neat treat. She is on the small side at 30 pounds, and she is great with her foster brother. Cookie is up to date on all her shots.

Cookie 8 Year Old Blue Merle Aussie/Healer Mix Female

Cookie likes walks, and rides in a car. She gets along with other dogs, cats and enjoys people. She was a candidate for the last walk when we were called to rescue her. She has proven to not be a mistake for us, and we think she would make a great companion to a older person, who is looking for a friend for those hot summer nights or blistering cold winter days, either way our Cookie is the one for you.

Cookie 8 Year Old Blue Merle Aussie/Healer Mix Female

Complete an application today at Australian Shepherd Rescue Midwest today and reference ASRM 0010.

Missing Blue Merle Australian Shepherd with Tail in Aurora Illinois

David Thurman — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:38:58 +0000

Ava is still missing, we had numerous sightings over the Thanksgiving holiday, but nothing as of late. As a rescue of course our funds and our hours to search are always limited. She has been spotted in the Simmons Park area off of the E Indian Trail area, near the Aurora Police Department. She was also spotted south of the railroad tracks in Aurora.

Below is a map of last sightings and a picture of Ava.

Ava Missing In Aurora Illinois

If spotted, please contact our local on call person (331) 444-2282. We are offering a reward if located.

If you would like to help, you can download our color flyer, and print copies and handout or place in the areas she was last spotted on our map. Ava Rescue Flyer

View ASRM 0039 Ava Lost Map in a larger map

If found please contact ASRM Lost Dog Hotline at (312) 291-1442 and let them know where she can be picked up.

To help offset the rescue efforts, please donate below. We are collecting donations to cover the costs of printing flyers, a profession animal trapper and a Pet Amber Alert.