WAUKEGAN, Ill. — More than 200 pet owners gathered on a recent Saturday, many well before the 11 a.m. start, for a pit bull health clinic at Waukegan Animal Control, free to city residents. People and pets stood beneath a blazing sun in high humidity with the patience and enthusiasm of fans lining up for Chicago Blackhawks playoff tickets.
The clinic, sponsored by Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation, uses the hockey star’s fame and resources to help pit bulls, widely regarded as the most abused and discarded domestic pet in the U.S.
The clinic administered vaccines; implanted microchips in the dogs; gave out high-quality leashes; collars, harnesses, food, chew toys and training information. Clinic workers also set up 138 appointments for free spaying or neutering at area veterinary clinics.
By all accounts, few if any pet owners left early as the harsh conditions took a toll on those in line.
Waukegan Animal Control Director Susan Elliot said the clinic was a success, but she and Bickell Foundation director Alicia Boemi agreed that Waukegan will need a follow-up clinic in late August, early September, starting earlier in the day to avoid a repeat of the weather stress.
“People were standing out in front of our gate at 8:30,” said Elliot. “What was most shocking to me was that there was not one human-aggressive dog. I was in awe how well behaved the pit bulls were in a situation where it was hot and a million other dogs around them.”
“Any dog we felt was getting too hot, we stuck them in an air-conditioned vehicle, and we kept watering down the dogs,” Elliot added.
Elliot was especially pleased with the high number of owners signed up to get their dogs fixed, to prevent unwanted puppies from a dog breed facing public perception as being vicious, dangerous animals.
Dog owner Douglas Nordlane and his two female pit bulls at one point moved into the air-conditioned animal control office. Nordlane seemed typical of many attendees, with his beautiful, happy and well-groomed dogs, but not enough resources for spaying, shots and other costly upkeep.
“I have two daughters in (college),” said Nordlane, explaining why the free services meant so much. Nordlane hadn’t planned on adopting pit bulls, he said, but took action to save one being abandoned not too long ago, leading to his affection for the breed.
Veterinarian Dr. Jack MacKenzie, owner of Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, manned the front lines at the clinic, along with three of his clinic’s techs, who drove up from Chicago to volunteer their time.
“I was very impressed today with the shape these (pit bulls) were in,” he said. “I looked at least half of these dogs and not a single one was in bad shape at all.”
