Welcome to Fido’s Landing Illinois

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Hey guys!

Okay… deep breath. It’s time for a real talk.

We see what’s happening in the world right now. The economy is tough. Families are stretched thin. Having to choose between expenses and your dog is heartbreaking, and we truly do have empathy for that. We hear the stress in your voices. We feel it too.

But here’s the honest part:

Respect has to go both ways.

When we receive angry calls demanding we take a dog because “no one else will,” please understand, we are not sitting in a giant empty facility twirling our thumbs. We are a small rescue with one intake room, limited kennel space, and a building that needs more rehab than a 90’s reality TV comeback special.

Other rescues are struggling so badly that some have asked us to take a dog or two so they can close their doors. That’s how serious this is.

And let’s lovingly address the elephant in the room… the “surprise facts” that sometimes come out after intake. Every rescue deals with it. The edited missing medical history after checking documents. The “he’s great with dogs!” (except dogs that breathe). The “never had an accident” (except daily). The “ohh what do you mean he’s sick he wasn’t yesterday”… We get it, you’re scared. But honesty matters. It keeps our staff, volunteers, and other dogs safe. When trust gets broken repeatedly, it makes things harder for everyone.

Now for the behind-the-scenes reality:

Our building is small. We don’t own it. Our landlord has no desire to sell. Generous companies have offered to fix major issues for free, but because we don’t own the property, we can’t move forward. So we’re stuck in this weird in-between space.

Full transparency? We may have to move.

And that is absolutely terrifying.

Fidos has always been a blood, sweat, and tears rescue. (Okay, mostly sweat and tears… we try to avoid the blood.) We’re not backed by massive corporations or wealthy investors. We have die-hard supporters, an executive team that gives this rescue everything, and a staff that flat-out refuses to quit. But heart alone doesn’t secure a future. Nonprofits survive because the public believes in them and is willing to support them. 

Every event we host, unless a space is donated, comes out of our own pockets first. That’s not exactly a “strong financial strategy,” but when you’re trying to save lives, you get creative. We do have some amazing events coming up, and we’ve recently met some incredible humans who truly see what we’re doing. We are beyond grateful for them.

Going forward, we’re choosing full economic transparency. We’ve tried the cute “we could use some help ” approach.

Truthfully? That’s an understatement.

We also know we’ll never satisfy everyone. Some say we don’t post enough hardship on social media. Friends… we are busy. We are a small team caring for live animals all day long. If anyone would like to volunteer as our social media coordinator, we will hand you the login with a smile. Truly. 

But our priority will always be the dogs.

So here’s the shift:

Over the next two months, we are launching our donation season with a goal of $20,000.

It sounds big. We know. But we’ve seen this community do incredible things.

The messages saying “please don’t go” have been overwhelming and eye-opening. The reality is, we might have to move if we cannot secure a space that better serves the dogs and the people who care about them. Also the reality of watching other rescues shutter their doors doesn’t make us feel any safer. 

The good news? That brand-new fencing? It’s coming with us. Wherever we land, the dogs are bringing their yard. 

Later this evening, we’ll be sharing new sponsorship levels,  including the opportunity to name three of our meet-and-greet rooms after donors.

We refuse to give up.

But we cannot do this alone, or sadly we will have to close. 

Please be kind. Please be honest. Please stand with us. So we can keep helping dogs like this hunk of burning love, Belco. 

Let’s do this together.
https://givebutter.com/FidosLandingDonations