HIGH TAILS ANIMAL RESCUE NFP

High Tails Animal Rescue, NFP is a licensed 501(c)(3) not-for-profit animal rescue and welfare organization. We are both volunteer-run and foster-based serving the Greater Chicagoland area and Northern Suburbs of Illinois. Our organization rescues cats of all breeds and ages and finds them permanent homes while helping the occasional dog. We rescue primarily from animal controls and shelters, and assist our established partners with owner abandonment cases and friendly strays. Owner surrenders and strays found by the public are handled on a case-by-case basis. Within our organization, our animals are prepared for adoption by receiving personalized care in a certified foster home and medical attention from our veterinarian partners. To achieve our mission, we network amongst fosters, volunteers, rescuers, transports, and pet professionals. Not only are we dedicated to saving lives, but we are also actively committed to advancing the cause of animal welfare. We strive to be an educational resource for families to promote responsible pet ownership. By preparing not just the pets, but also their families, we can ensure adopting a rescue pet is filled with enjoyment and happiness for all.

We aim to save, care for, and adopt out as many dogs and cats as possible without surpassing our means through our adoption services and our foster and volunteer programs. By working with a broad network consisting of volunteers, rescuers, organizations, and businesses, High Tails is able to save pets deserving of a second chance every year. High Tails provides the care needed to meet the individual needs of all our animals and safe temporary housing until our animals can be placed into their permanent homes. We also aim to serve as a resource to our local communities by providing information on proper pet ownership and owner assistance. Through our efforts, we emphasize the importance of necessary medical care such as spay or neuter surgery, training, hardship assistance, general welfare, and more. We believe animals should not be euthanized due to lack of a home, and we are actively working towards the day when that is true for all companion animals.

Goal One: All animals in our care are tested for common diseases, assessed behaviorally, provided with necessary medical care, vaccinated, and altered before they are adopted into permanent homes.

Goal Two: Providing good customer service where every person feels welcomed and a commitment to making the adoption process seamless, ensuring all animals find permanent homes no matter how long it takes.

Goal Three: Educating and promoting responsible pet ownership including the importance of spay and neutering, annual vaccinations, and the significance of training, if needed, to prevent surrendering of pets.

Our leaders actively engage in leadership development in three ways. The first is by continuing our education through online learning and resources. We complete online educational courses from credible organizations such as Maddie's University and Fear Free Shelters. These courses allow for self-paced learning and help us build upon our prior knowledge and skills. Secondly, our team actively participates in cross-functional projects. By encouraging each other to take on different responsibilities and collaborate on projects, our leaders gain valuable experience in various fields. Thirdly, our leaders schedule quarterly meetings to give and recieve feedback to identify areas for improvement while also recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses.

We had a successful start-up in August 2022 and have diligently continued our efforts to grow our programs and services to save as many lives as possible. We are going to continue growing our foster and volunteer programs and expand our networks and partnerships, all for the good of animals in need of our help. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not receive any government funding, we rely on the generosity of others consisting of donations, sponsorships, and grants to help us continue our mission.