In Wheeling, Ill., Heartland Animal Shelter welcomed back its furry residents with a grand reopening event. The shelter, which had been closed for seven months due to a destructive flood, showcased its refurbished space to the public. The flood had displaced over 100 dogs and cats, putting their lives at risk. But now, the animals can enjoy their updated surroundings.
The newly renovated facility features an abundance of windows that allow natural light to flood in, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for both the animals and visitors. Jenny Shlueter, the Executive Director of Heartland Animal Shelter, expressed her excitement about the changes, emphasizing the importance of showcasing the animals in a positive light to potential adopters.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“Our goal is to provide a welcoming space where people can connect with the animals they may choose to adopt and give a forever home,” Shlueter added, highlighting the shelter’s commitment to finding loving homes for their furry residents. The reopening event was a success, bringing joy and hope to both the animals and the community.
Sunday’s celebration was as much about the new space as it was a “thank you” to all who scrambled to help that day. That help started with waste management worker Tony Maticic, who noticed something unusual as he was making his rounds on the early morning of June 26.
“All the cats were piled up in the window. They were trying to get on top of each other to escape the water. I looked through this window, and there was at least 2 feet in here,” Maticic said.
The shelter has continued to operate these last several months, first out of a hangar at Chicago’s Executive Airport and later out of a nearby strip mall. It has not been easy, but the dedicated volunteers at Heartland made it happen. They saved more animals than ever in their history last year despite the flood.
“The first thing we want to do is keep them safe. So, the first thing we did was find homes for all of them,” Shlueter said.
Foster parents like Mia Schaffel stepped up to the plate, answering the call along with many others.
“They immediately reached out to the entire volunteer community and said, ‘We have nowhere to put these dogs.’ And so, everybody came in as quickly as they could with kennels and leashes,” Schaffel said. “I ended up with two puppies, and my dogs are older, so it was a fun experience. It was really fun. They got to run around and play.”
As wonderful as their new space is, the one thing Heartland is still limited by is their kennel space. And that is why they need even more people to volunteer as fosters so they can continue their life-saving work of matching furballs like Bunny to their forever homes.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
