About Famous Fido Rescue and Adoption Alliance
OUR FOUNDING: My name is Gloria Lissner. I am the Founder and Executive Director of Famous Fido Rescue and Adoption Alliance. I have always loved animals since I was a child and bonded with them almost immediately. Over forty years ago at age 18, I started a grooming shop where I gained a vast knowledge of dogs and cats, handling the most abused and fearful. In 1980, we opened the first dog bakery and cookie company. The Famous Fido Doggie Deli was featured world-wide. Dogs came from everywhere to eat special dinners. Many dogs were being dropped off at the grooming shop and left behind. Some dogs were being put in boxes and dropped off at the front door or thrown over the fence. I was rescuing animals before there was such a thing as rescue groups. MISSION FORMATION: The more I saw, I became very committed to the no-kill movement. I sheltered a few animals while they awaited adoption in my grooming shop. Many of these animals had experienced abuse and neglect. Soon, I became a Partner with Homeward Bound of the Chicago Animal Care and Control and pulled many lost and owner surrendered animals, just prior to euthanasia and placed them up for adoption to a loving home. Sadly, I learned that many people who want to adopt animals are not suitable to do so. They are from either an unstable home environment or lack a sense of responsibility and commitment to an animal. These were failed adoptions and the animal was brought back to our store. Famous Fido has developed an intensive adoption process of interviews and a home check to ensure that the animals will be safe and secure. We have had a high success rate of animals being adopted into forever, loving homes. CURRENT NO-KILL CONDITIONS: Too many animals continue to be placed on the euthanasia lists in open-door shelters, even when they are young, healthy and highly adoptable. For those who are seniors, have special needs, non-terminal illnesses, or who have trauma-induced behavorial issues, there is little effort made by any open door shelter to treat the symptoms or find adopters. Every day we receive numerous calls from guardians who want to consult with us about their unwanted dog or cat or let us know about a lost animal they found roaming the neighborhood. An animal wants to be in a loving home without a lot of changes in their life. Whenever possible we educate the guardian to keep the animal while we coordinate a re-homing solution. Re-homing is a large focus for us. We encourage the guardian to work with us until we can find a foster home that is suitable or someone who is interested in adoption. FAMOUS FIDO EXPANSION: As of January 4, 2016, Famous Fido has expanded into a 9,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art-facility. On an average we have 50 animals residing with us awaiting an adopter. We have a dog and cat sanctuary with a total of ten rooms designed for our animals comfort. Each room is furnished with cozy sofas, chairs, lots of toys, luxurious cat beds, a dog run area to keep our dogs fit and active and a backyard for play. The rooms provide an opportunity for the animals to socialize with one another. Our animals are given the highest quality foods for optimal nutrition. We provide the very best vet care and never euthanize until end stage terminal illness with pain. Our new facility has a Learning Center with various programs for the community. A Computer Lounge is equipped with computers to research animals that are available for adoption from our center or from others, a Micro-chipping center, Spay/Neuter Outreach and workshops to educate for proper care and training. We have a Rescue Store in which 100% of the proceeds go towards overhead expenses, vetting and caring for our animals. No volunteer, including myself as Executive Director takes a salary. All donations go 100% into the Rescue. THOUGHTS: I once read: "Heroes, it has been said, are made not born. The character qualities that make a hero are courage, sacrifice and vision. Heroes are those who dream bigger than most and live out their purpose and ideals in the face of danger, threat or hardship. In the end a hero saves lives, confronts evil, and someone lives to tell the tale." I don't consider myself a hero by any means. I found a passion for all animals needing to be saved from the injustices in this world. Now I am advocating that passion for animals by doing everything humanly possible to make Chicago a No-Kill city. Everyone must be educated and get involved. Without a united front this will not happen, not in my lifetime anyway.