Forest Preserve Seeks Dogs To Be Featured In 2021 Calendar

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Will County is seeking dog park patrons' pups to be photographed and featured in a 2021 calendar that will benefit the Will County Humane Society, the county's oldest no-kill shelter that has been around for 40 years.

This is the second year of the calendar. The 2020 calendar highlighted some of the most photogenic pups to patronize the district’s six dog parks. The calendar also featured dogs that have been helped by the humane society, including Woodie the Wonder Pup, who was found abandoned after his back paws were severed. Shelter workers found medical care and adoptive parents for him, who was fitted with prosthetics, and is now happily padding about his forever home.

Sales of the 2020 dog park calendar netted almost $6,000 for the shelter. The calendar is designed to highlight the district's six dog parks while also raising awareness — and funds — for an organization that does so much to help find new homes for hundreds of dogs each year.

Humane society shelter manager Malorie Ernst said in a release that the calendar collaboration is a great way for neighboring organizations to help each other.

"Both organizations have a genuine impact on our community and take pride in the work they do to better our community and the animals in it," she said. The shelter runs solely on donations and does not receive funding from the government. This means every item and every dollar donated is imperative to our functionality. Every act of kindness helps the homeless animals in our care."

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Aug. 19. Calendars will be sold online at www.WillCountyDogs.org via preorders from Aug. 17 to Nov. 13. Orders will be shipped the week of Nov. 30 to ensure they are received in time for the holidays.

Calendars will cost $15 each, which includes shipping and taxes, and approximately $10 from each calendar sold will be donated to the shelter.

Dogs being considered for inclusion in the calendar must meet several requirements:

• Dogs must have a current permit for the Forest Preserve District’s dog parks.
• All participating dogs must be socialized to both humans and other dogs.
• Dogs must be current on their rabies vaccinations, as required for a dog park permit.
• Dogs must be able to follow some basic commands for the purpose of participating in the photo shoot.

Applicants will be notified by Aug. 28 if their dog was selected for a photo shoot and inclusion in the calendar. A panel of judges will select the dogs to be featured based on their photogenic nature and how well each entry fits the goal of highlighting a variety of breeds, ages and personalities.

"Last year's dog park calendar was successful, not only because it raised thousands of dollars for the humane society, but also because it highlighted the kinds of dogs – from purebreds to mutts – that romp in the forest preserve dog parks on a daily basis and the canines that wind up in shelters and need a helping hand," said Cindy Cain, the Will County Forest Preserve's public information officer, in a release.

The calendar also featured fun facts that made each dog special, whether it was a cute habit or a harrowing backstory.

"For instance, we learned about a husky that burps, a beagle that loves to watch TV, a doodle that survived a tornado and a lab fighting Lyme disease," Cain said.

To see the complete set of rules, visit here.