Matchmaking Angel

Going To The Dogs

Teacher spreads the word about adoptions

By Barbara Cooke
 

Casey, Peedee, Lucy, Foxy, Clarence, and Emmy are some of Pam Kramer’s biggest fans. If these dogs and cats could talk (and some of us think our pets can) they would say, “We owe it all to Pam.” Kramer however, would simply shrug and say, “If I don’t do it, who will?” Just what is it that she does? Kramer finds homes for animals. In the last 10 years, she has matched close to 100 pets with happy guardians.

Kramer also personally fosters and adopts stray cats and dogs in her Deerfield home while scouring Chicago’s northern suburbs for more families with open arms. Plus, she writes a free weekly column which highlights dogs or cats from area shelters that are looking for homes. This “Pet of the Week” column which runs in the Pioneer Press newspapers boasts an astonishing 90 percent adoption rate.

Just how she finds time to do this is a mystery to friends and family, considering Kramer works full time as a fifth grade teacher at Red Oak School in Highland Park, attends night classes for advanced teaching certifications, and runs a busy household with three teenagers and a husband who is a well-known local bandleader. Abby, 18, Franklin, 17, and Lizzie, 15,  have never known a house without an animal of one kind or another. “Pam’s maniacal about animals,” says husband, Jack. “She’s on a lifelong crusade to get animals homes and make life better for them.” Currently, the Kramer menagerie consists of 6-year-old-Dobermans Casey and Peedee; mixed-breed Lucy (who was roaming Chicago’s streets 12 years ago); cats Momma Cat, Clarence and foxy, a rabbit, two rats, and a few frogs.

Kramer, 48, has been an animal magnet practically since birth. She admits that when she was first married, she got a Bouvier from a breeder. Then one day she suddenly realized how many dogs and cats were waiting for loving homes in crowded shelters. After that moment she knew. “You need to go to a shelter to rescue animals rather than get them from breeders. When you adopt from a shelter, both the people and animals are helped. It’s a winwin situation,” she says.

Although she has a law degree, Kramer’s passion steered her into education to get a master’s degree in teaching in order to spread the message of humane education to young people. Now each school year she gets the chance to empower 50 kids by teaching them not only the three Rs, but also the big “L” for love of animals. Class service projects include collecting blankets and towels for shelters, and searching the internet to track animal welfarerelated events.

For her weekly column, Kramer contacts a local shelter such as Orphans of the Storm in Riverwoods, Save-a-Pet in Grayslake, Adopt-a-Pet and Heartland Shelter in Northbrook, Aid to Animals, and several other rescue groups. She likes to highlight pets who have been waiting for

a long time, the ones who might be a little shy when potential adopters come to browse. She then goes to the shelter, spends some time getting to know the cat or dog, and snaps a picture that captures their personality—and hopefully someone’s heart.

“So many dogs are there for months and even years, sitting patiently, waiting for the right person to discover them, and they get overlooked in favor of a cute new puppy that just arrived,” Kramer explains. “I try to explain why each dog is a special being with the desire to be loved.” Besides the particular pup’s character traits, Kramer also describes the specific breed, explains how to take care of him at home, why obedience training is important, the advantages of older dogs, how shelter dogs might be trained to be therapy dogs, and much more.

Visiting shelters each week has its own “hazards” as Kramer says, because she often becomes so attached to the animals that she is anxious for them to be adopted. She once brought home a friendly pooch named Emmy-the-dog from Orphans of the Storm who had been returned because she was “ugly and smelly” as a result of her allergies. Kramer and her daughter Abby gave Emmy special vinegar baths each week until she grew a new coat of fur. Emmy was ultimately adopted by a loving family who read about her in the column.

Everything about Kramer reflects her love of animals and fierce dedication to finding shelter animals the right home. Her website, www.TakeMeHomeCD.com describes some moving stories that will leave you smiling and feeling good.

“I like happy endings,” Kramer says. “Everyone can make a happy ending by adopting a homeless dog or cat from a shelter.”