The Bolingbrook Dog Whisperer

Stephanie Ptak's husband affectionately calls her the Dog Whisperer.

Her children, at times, think she is crazy.

But dogs?

Well, dogs just might think of her as their hero. And a good number of people would agree.

"Stephanie is an angel," said Marty Novak, an officer with the Bolingbrook Animal Control. "Dogs, cats, you name it — she helps us find them so that nothing bad can happen to them. I hate to even think of (what would happen to the animals if not for Stephanie). We don't lose a lot of dogs, but the longer they are here, they are in jeopardy because we have limited amount of space.

"And thank God for Stephanie, because she has helped us with animals that were definitely going to be put down," he said.

Ptak is the president and founder of Aloha Rescue, a foster-based pet adoption service that targets at-risk animals and fosters them until a suitable owner is found.

The Bolingbrook resident has rescued and found homes for more than 300 dogs in less than three years, by her estimation.

Because of the slumping economy, Ptak is needed now more than ever.

Budget cuts have forced the Village of Bolingbrook to reduce staff, including several officers at Animal Control. What once was a three-officer operation has been whittled to two, Ptak said.

"For two years (Animal Control) never had to euthanize a non-vicious dog," she said. "But I don't know what is going on in terms of euthanizing now. I know they are trying to put as many of (the animals up for adoption) on the Internet as they can, but they are just so understaffed that they just don't really have the time."

To combat the issue, Ptak says she regularly heads to Bolingbrook's Animal Control center to take pictures of dogs so she can place ads for them on adoption websites such as petfinder.com.

Ptak and Aloha Rescue are in the process of applying for federal non-profit status. Now just a home-based operation, Aloha Rescue would benefit as a non-profit in allowing individuals and businesses to donate money and supplies and be able to deduct those donations. 

Ptak already benefits from a handful of friendly locals. Petland in Wheaton gives her a significant discount on an array of items, from dog food to chew toys, she said. Her local veterinarian also lends a helping hand by notifying her of soon-to-be euthanized pets and by helping house animals when Ptak is in a bind.

Ptak likes to meet potential owners before she just gives away the dogs she has taken in. After all, they're all her dogs — at least for a little while.

Aloha Rescue researches prospective owners and contacts those who seem to be a good fit for the animal. Ptak will talk to an eager prospective dog owner on the phone to get a feel for what the person is like. If that person passes the test, an application is offered, and Ptak arranges a meeting for the owner and dog to get to know each other.

Aloha Rescue charges an adoption fee, which covers Dog Owning 101 expenses such as spaying, neutering, micro-chipping and obtaining the necessary shots. Ultimately, because of the cooperation between Ptak and her veterinarian, Aloha Rescue can save its adopters a few hundred bucks in startup costs.

Once an agreement for adoption is struck, Ptak makes sure the dog and owner have as easy a transition as possible, even going as far as gradually transitioning the puppy between Aloha Rescue and its new home.

"Sometimes the puppies are shy and need to be worked into a new environment," she said.

Ptak said that because most of her dogs are within the village's limits, she still keeps in contact with the dogs she places in new homes.

For more information on how to adopt or donate, contact Ptak by e-mail at pstndglass@aol.com.