Rescue group sends reinforcements to North Chicago dog pound
by judy masterson jmasterson@stmedianetwork.com February 15, 2012 8:04PM
Dana Deutsch, a licensed humane investigator and co-founder of Ralphie’s Place, and animal warden Ted McClelland greet a recently found pit bull, at the North Chicago pound. Ralphie’s Place is working to help the facility improve its operation. | RUTHIE HAUGE~SUN-TIMES MEDIA
Learn more about Ralphie’s Place at Ralphiesplace.org.
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Updated: April 16, 2012 1:43AM
NORTH CHICAGO — A local animal rescue group is coming to the rescue of the city dog pound.
Named after a Great Pyrenees mix rescued from a flooded New Orleans junkyard in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Ralphie’s Place is working to help North Chicago’s small pound improve its operation, offer higher quality care for animals and assist the city’s lone animal warden, Ted McClelland.
Dana Deutsch of Round Lake, a former firefighter who helped rescue Ralphie in 2005, enumerated recent positive changes at the pound for members of the North Chicago City Council on Monday: Raised beds, a new power washer and cleaning protocol, standard operating procedures in progress, and evening visits by a designated police officer.
The pound and the city have been under intense criticism since November when dogs were discovered neglected — in the absence of McClelland, who was on vacation. The city paid a $200 state-imposed fine for the incident. But animal rights activists have continued to protest the slow pace of improvements.
“Ralphie’s Place is going to be involved from this day forward,” said Deutsch, a licensed humane investigator and co-founder of Ralphie’s Place. “We’re in as long as they want us in.”
The city is expected to announce a formal partnership with the group, under which Ralphie’s will recruit and train volunteers who will help with tasks around the pound while McClelland focuses on patrol and enforcement. Ralphie’s, which has applied for not-for-profit status and which adheres to a no-kill philosophy, will eventually arrange fostering and adoptions.
“We’re still defining our relationship,” said Angela McCray, city chief of staff. “We envision a model in which the city owns the facility and Ralphie’s Place will be the entity running it. It will be more of a rescue site. Ted will remain the city employee and will have space there, but individuals with more animal knowledge will be in place as well.”
McClelland said he welcomes Deutsch’s help.
“Her main interest is the care of the animals,” McClelland said. “She’s nonpolitical and her attitude is non-combative. She’s very positive.”
McClelland said he needs more time for enforcement, especially of the city’s tough stance on pit bull ownership. Owners of the breed must register and pay a $500 fee per dog.
Three pit bulls were the only residents of the pound on Wednesday.
Deutsch talked to the dogs like a very patient mom to her toddler. She’s determined, she said, to find a home for the youngest dog, a chocolate-colored female, who was found running loose by McClelland.
The ultimate “dream” for the pound is a new facility. Immediate needs include computer software for data entry on animals and flaps for the kennel doors — to help keep out the cold.
“People love their animals,” Deutsch said. “So when you’re taking care of animals in the community, you’re taking care of residents at the same time. And you’re protecting them.”
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