Who is L.E.A.R.N.?
Labrador Education And Rescue Network is an all volunteer non-profit organization committed to placing abandoned and unwanted Labrador Retrievers in new homes. Serving the Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area, L.E.A.R.N. also concentrates on educating adopters and the public on the importance of spay/neutering and the humane treatment of pets.

Where do the rescued dogs come from?
Labrador Retrievers come into rescue from various situations. Reasons such as... 

1. Owners no longer want the Lab after the cute puppy stage.

2. Owner is no longer able to care for the pet.

3. Strays from animal shelters.

4. Job transfer.

5. Moving into apartment that does not allow animals, etc.

Whatever the reason may be, L.E.A.R.N. is dedicated to finding these lovable dogs a new suitable home.

How does L.E.A.R.N. operate?
Labs in need of a new home are first evaluated, and then brought into our organization by being placed into one of our foster homes. The foster home is an important part of our program. This is where the Lab is watched and evaluated on many different levels. In order to place the Lab in the appropriate home, we must learn as much as possible about each specific dog's behaviors, fears and habits.

After much thought and discussion the L.E.A.R.N. Board of Directors has adopted a policy, we will no longer adopt a dog to anyone with children under the age of five if they have no previous dog experience.

How do I adopt a Lab?
The process is rather simple but thorough. First you need to provide L.E.A.R.N. a detailed application which tells us about your daily routine and the environment you would provide a Lab. Once your application is received, one of our volunteers will visit your home to ask and answer any additional questions you may have. After your home visit has been completed and you are considered an "approved adopter," our volunteers work to find the best match for you. Sometimes, this process may take a long time, depending on what your requirements are. By staying in close contact with L.E.A.R.N., you can usually expedite this process. If you see one of our dogs that interests you, please e-mail us. 

Is there a fee for adoption?
L.E.A.R.N. requests an adoption donation to help us pay for all necessary veterinary and medical expenses.
$250 for puppies under 6 months
$200 for dogs over 6 mos.
$175 for dogs 8yrs and older

Is a rescued Labrador healthy?
Once a Labrador is brought into L.E.A.R.N. he/she is checked over and brought up to date on heart worm testing/prevention, as well as a DHLPP (distemper/parvo) booster, rabies vaccination, and fecal exam. Each Lab is also spayed or neutered before being adopted. Paperwork providing dates and any vaccinations given to the Lab is provided to the adopter.

How soon can I get a Lab?
Upon approval of your application and home visit, our volunteers begin to locate the Lab that best fits your needs. Finding the best match may take a couple days or several months. Some things affecting this time frame are: 

1. Number of dogs in rescue at that time.

2. Location of adopter in relation to a foster home.

3. Specifications of what type of Lab you are looking for (i.e. "I prefer a Chocolate Male, well trained, at least two years old and that is good with cats").

Why adopt a Lab from a rescue organization?
There are many, many reasons to adopt a Lab from rescue. How about...

1. Saving the life of a healthy, happy dog.
2. Getting a pet that is already house broken.
3. Getting a pet that may already be well trained.
4. Knowing the temperament and behavior traits before bringing a pet home.
5. And did we mention saving the life of a healthy, happy dog?

Take a look at our past Success Stories!

What can I do to help?
Our organization relies solely on volunteers and donations. The more volunteers we have, the more dogs we can save. Volunteer efforts can be as minimal or extensive as you are able to provide. Some key areas of volunteering that directly contribute to saving Labs are: 

1. Foster Homes - learning about and caring for a rescued Lab until adopted.
2. Dog transportation - moving a rescued Lab to a foster home. 
3. Home site visits - visiting potential adopters to ask and answer questions about adopting. 
4. Fundraising - working within your community to help raise awareness of rescue and donations. 
5. Trade show booths - setting up and spending time at our booths to raise awareness of rescue and more.

Please contact us at (847) 289-7387 (PETS)

For more information about our organization, about adopting a Lab or about becoming a volunteer. You can send e-mails or U.S. mail to:
L.E.A.R.N.  
P.O. Box 164 
Island Lake, IL 60042