About Us

ABOUT US...

Terri’s love of animals was apparent growing up she would always bring home stay and injured dogs, cats, squirrels, birds, lizards and even snakes! This was well before “Rescue” was known as it is today. She “rescued” her first bully breed dog when she was 21 years old and has been a bully breed advocate every since. Always dreaming of someday being able to “work full time with animals” she was introduced to Rescue later in life where she began fostering and transporting for several other rescues. It wasn’t long that she knew starting her own Rescue was where she could make the greatest impact in Rescue, Her goal; Rescue 8-10 dogs per month. In 2014 she realized the need for rescuing these abandoned animals was far beyond her capability as a “foster based rescue” so the Wags 2 Wishes Rescue Center was built. Since opening the Rescue Center in 2015 Wags 2 Wishes has been able to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home over 2000 animals! Terri is dedicated to educating the public on responsible pet ownership , spay/neutering and yearly vet visits.

Alyssa’s love of animal rescue and animals in general started at a very young age. She dreamed of having her own horse, working with animals, and becoming a special education teacher ever since she was little. In college, Alyssa worked at a veterinary office which partnered with a local rescue. After only a few short months, Alyssa become involved and became an active member, serving on the Board of Directors for years and enjoying all of rescue life.

Alyssa met the W2W President while they worked a hoarding case in North Chicago in 2014 during a snow storm. Immediately the two hit it off and worked well together. After a few short months of building a friendship Alyssa was fully on board with Wags 2 Wishes. Alyssa has been able to intertwine her passions as she has adopted a three legged (but only two working) lab at only days old, a 5 month old Aussie with no eyes, a hyperactive Great Dane, and now a young spaniel mix who is also blind. She trained her lab and Australian Shepherd to be therapy dogs and enjoys helping educate young children about animals, especially with her dogs by her side.

Wags 2 Wishes is a licensed , 501(C)3 Not for profit ALL BREED Animal Rescue that started in 2013. Located in Plainfield Illinois our mission is to rescue abused, sick, abandoned and forgotten animals facing euthanasia due to over crowding or being too medically intense for the current facility/owner and provide a loving and secure transition into our rescue program. While our medical and neglect cases enter our foster home program, many of the animals we take in can enter our Rescue Facility and find their loving forever home in just a short time.

See some amazing transformations here: http://www.w2wrescue.com/transformations.html

Kendra has been a volunteer at Wags for just over 5 years. She started long distance running because of her first rescue dog's love of running. She has been a charity runner for the Chicago Marathon for 11 consecutive years, fundraising tens of thousands of dollars to save homeless pets. So when she left her career of 20 years she knew she wanted to spend her extra time devoted to rescue. Kendra has played a vital role in day to day operations at Wags often doing multiple shifts per day.

From cleaning, walking, dogs meets, adoptions, vet runs or cleaning the dock there isn't a task she will not do and do with a smile on her face!

Kendra juggles many things with ease which includes her husband , Gino, their hobbies racing - marathons and Ironman distance triathlons, two children: Kylie (14) and Dominic (13) and their 2 dogs Mia and Kaiya (adopted from Wags).

HER WORDS: Being a part of Wags has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Elyse

Intake-Adoptions-Medical-Transport-Foster

From Elyse: I began volunteering at Wags in 2018, my very first shift was a Wednesday morning, and I was trained by Laurie H (and Jen on later shifts, also). What started as an idea to help for a few hours a week now consumes most of my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. We moved to Indiana (right over the border in St John) in 2019 and again I thought I would find a rescue closer to home, but Wags has something special - so I keep coming back.
I did lots of transports and vet runs (and I still love driving dogs, so I do sign up to transport when I can. I took home my first foster (a mangey sharpei/pittie pup- Opal [😍] ) a few months after I began volunteering and have definitely found my niche- puppy fostering brings me so much joy (and craziness). My favorite age to foster is 4-8 weeks - and if you like puppy pics- send me a friend request or follow my page- I post lots. I also have a soft spot for the sick ones, and almost always have a hospice foster (right now-Little Bear). Currently I work on managing email, adoption applications, vetting for all the dogs, intakes, petfinder updates and scheduling - also I’m in house every Saturday helping with open hours.
I’ve been married to Phil (PJL3) for 12 years but we’ve known each other since we were teenagers, we have one human son, Jonathan. We have 4 personal dogs- Bentley, Scooter, Jack + Noodle and one hospice foster- Little Bear.

Laurie

Adoption Specialist - Shift Leader

Thank you all for your dedication to Wags 2 Wishes Animal Rescue, Inc.

In 2018 we were blessed with Stephanie walking through our doors in need of community service. She quickly fit in with the Wags family and became a vital part of our operations. From running shifts, assisting in meets, adopts and helping at events there is no task or request Stephanie will turn down when it comes to the dogs.

HER WORDS:
In 2018, I found my way to wags for community service hours. From the moment I started volunteering, my life was completely changed. I’ve assisted in adoptions, transports and fundraisers. I usually volunteer twice a week. Wags has a special place in my heart. While helping to save lives, "wags saved me."

23907 W Industrial Drive N

Plainfield IL 60585

815-254-3110

Stephanie

Shift Leader - Trainer

Kim

Social Media - Communications Director

Kim is another LOCAL business owner who continues to give back by volunteering her time for years as an animal advocate. She has been lucky enough to have both her business (FETCH PET CARE, NAPERVILLE) and her volunteer life be 100% about the care and well being of animals. Kim has been handling our social media and communications for almost two years. As many of you know in Rescue having a good social media presence, good photos and videos is key for finding adopters and supporters. In Kim's short time with Wags 2 Wishes she has increased our followers by DOUBLE! In addition to her social media role at wags she helps field all incoming communications for the hundreds of emails we get weekly. Because of Kim's excellent organizational skills and ability to keep us all on track it allows our adoption specialist time to focus on ADOPTING!

Pound Town, Inc, Wags 2 Wishes Animal Rescue & W2W Rescue Resale

Jennifer

Application Specialist - Shift Leader -Trainer

Our volunteers are made up of approximately 20-30 people at any given time. Everyone dedicated to the safety and well being of the animals we intake every day. As in any organization we have a main crew that run the day to day operations and they are highlighted below.

Alyssa

Manager Northern Division / Board Member

From Laurie:
I started at Wags in 2018 because I wanted to give some rescue dogs (and occasionally cats) the love and the care they need until they can find a new home (I don’t mind having to clean some poop to do it). At Wags, I am shift lead on the Monday AM and Wednesday PM shifts. I do transport pick up, vet runs and events. I have recently become an adoption specialist, helping with dog meets and adopting out our dogs. I also currently have a foster dog.
At home, I have a cat named Princess (and she lives up to the name). She came with the name when I inherited her in October from my husband’s boss’ godmother who had to go into a memory care center that didn’t allow cats. I thought she was 7 when I took her only to then discover she was actually 14. She hated me for the first month and now she hogs the bed. Fun facts: My very first time doing a vet run for Wags, I picked up 9 puppies from Spay Illinois and I was terrified I was going to lose one of them while getting them in and out of the cages in my car (but all went well). The most dogs I ever took to the vet at one time was 12

Kendra

Adoption Specialist - Shift Leader -Trainer

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS HAPPEN...EVERYDAY

Kam

Jr. Op Manager - Adoption Specialist

Jordan

Operations Manager

Terri

Founder / President /Operations Manager

Don't let her age fool you, "though she be little she is fierce" when it comes to saving lives! Kam cam to us many years ago when she helped organize a donation drive at school, too young to volunteer at the center she did what she could from the outside. One day the Founder Terri allowed Kam to stay at the center at help for the day. It was then she realized W2W needed Kam in a more permanent role INSIDE the center. We spoke to her parents, our insurance company and found a way to make that happen as a "one time" exception to allow under 16 years of age to volunteer inside the building. Today Kam has fostered animals, runs shifts, does meets with families, assist in dog pulls and even assist with training incoming volunteers. Quite frankly there isn't a task Kam cant do for Wags. When it comes to love and dedication you will not find a more dedicated volunteer than Kam, she even asked if her first car could be a conversion van to do transports!

You can meet Kam most weekends, holidays and in the summer weekdays too doing what she loves, cleaning cages, walking dogs and handling adoptions!

We are a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization

Jennifer found her way to Wags back in June 2018 looking for a place to give her time since her daughters went away to college. Right away she knew she found her extended family with Wags and a passion to make a difference in the life of every rescue dog that enters our building. She is the mother to us all and often there to lend an ear and offer advice to help us with daily struggles life throws our way.

Additionally Jenifer and her husband are local business owners that have given more than time to Wags they have sponsored many events and covered cost for items needed for the center. On any given day you can find Jennifer deep cleaning kennels or processing adoption applications to ensure our dogs go to the best homes. Although she juggles running her own business, family life - she always has time for wags!

We can't imagine Wags without Jennifer!

Throughout Jordans teenage life she has been involved with Wags 2 Wishes Animal Rescue as a volunteer, foster, employee and then went to work at our sister company Pound Town Boarding and Daycare. Through the years she learned every aspect of the business and eventually was promoted to General Manager. The clients and dogs are always greeted by a fun, energetic young lady who takes pride in her work and taking care of their dogs.

When we decided to add a Rescue Resale, on top of the Rescue and Boarding & Daycare it was apparent that we would need a very experienced and personable person to oversee all aspects of these businesses that share a roof.

Jordan has the experience, knowledge and drive to get the impossible done while putting a smile on every face she encounters. Rest assured be it a rescue or client dog, they are in the best of hands with Jordan.