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Dog Rescue Raises $50K in Two Weeks for Bucktown Adoption Center

By Kyla Gardner | May 28, 2015 5:41am | Updated on May 28, 2015 4:46pm
 One Tail at a Time's new dog adoption center and executive director Heather Owen with a puppy.
One Tail at a Time's new dog adoption center and executive director Heather Owen with a puppy.
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One Tail at a Time

CHICAGO — In just two weeks, a local dog rescue has raised more than $50,000 toward its goal of opening a Bucktown adoption center.

One Tail at a Time, which has rescued more than 1,000 dogs since it began 2008, is expected to open the facility Aug. 1.

"It's been a lot of fun," said Heather Owen, executive director. "Any time [the fundraiser] goes up we get really excited."

The group has raised more than $51,000 of its $70,000 goal on fundraising site YouCaring, with more than 50 days left to go.

Kyla Gardner explains how they raised so much, so fast:

The new facility will have a meeting room, adoption room, 10 kennels and a 3,500-square-foot outdoor area.

The facility will be the first brick-and-mortar location for One Tail, which relies on volunteers to foster dogs while they await adoption. One Tail declined to release the address of the shelter before it officially opens so that people will not show up with animals before it is ready, a spokesperson said.

One Tail is taking over the space from a pet sitting company, an organization that was friends with Owen and had thrown fundraisers for the rescue before.

One Tail at a Time is renovating its new adoption facility. [One Tail at a Time]

When Owen heard the group was moving out, she knew it was time for One Tail to lay down roots.

"A lightbulb went off," Owen said. "We took a look at our finances, and all the people that support us, and we decided this was the right space and we have the backing, so it was time to do it."

The Logan Square resident also left her legal career as an attorney to take on One Tail full-time.

"It's the best thing I ever did," she said. "I feel so fortunate to be able to do this and be in a position where I have my dream job and help this group that I care so much about."


Newly adopted Belle with her family [One Tail at a Time]

The new building will increase the amount of dogs that One Tail at a Time can take in with its no-kill mission.

Volunteers will still foster about 40 dogs at a time for the rescue, but the adoption facility will cycle through an additional 10 to 15 dogs, Owen said.

Two opening receptions are planned for One Tail at a Time. Backers who donate $100 or more receive two tickets to a reception on either July 30 or July 31, Owen said.

"We'll be eating, drinking and having a good time, and playing with puppies," she said.

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