Some Orphaned Lake County Animals Have Nowhere to Go

Animal Rescuer Sandy Wisniewski wants Lake County residents to be aware of the plight of orphaned pets in Lake County. There are just two animal shelters in Lake County, Save-a-Pet in Grayslake, and Orphans of the Storm in Riverwoods.

Animal Education and Rescue, the organization founded by Wisniewski, has no facility. When AEAR finds abused or abandoned animals, it needs to find foster homes willing to take them in until they are adopted.

AEAR is currently working with a family in Park City who is being evicted. The family had taken in homeless cats. AEAR still needs to find homes for six of the couple’s 12 cats. 

“Save a Pet and Orphans of the Storm are jam packed with animals. Where are these animals going to go? It’s a really, really sad thing, particularly for cats,” Wisniewski said.

“We have six cats still with no placement. They have to be out by Jan. 9. They have nowhere to go. They will have to leave the cats behind inside or outside and then become the burden of the village or community,” Wisniewski said.

AEAR only works with animals found in Lake County. Wisniewski said there is a big problem with orphaned animals right here. 

Wisniewski said AEAR would like to build a shelter someday. She said the rescue organization has a strong focus on education in the hopes of someday  alleviating the problem of orphaned animals.

"We're all about education. I don’t want to be doing this in 20 years; this is the hardest thing, besides raising children, that I have ever done," she said.

She said there are ways that Lake County residents can help now. These include:

• Consider volunteering for a local rescue organization.
• Donate to a rescue organization.
• Spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
• Adopt a pet.

“If someone is thinking about getting another animal, stop thinking about it. Go on petfinder.com or adopt from a local rescue or shelter. Bring another animal home for the holidays,” Wisniewski said.