About Mixed Up Mutts
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Mixed Up Mutts (MUM) is an organization committed to taking the joys and benefits of dog rescue full circle, from people helping pets to pets helping people and back again. We work to give both pets and people a second chance by building relationships on trust, love and respect.
Mixed Up Mutts is both a rescue organization and a training center. We find troubled dogs in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and bring them to the Westville Correctional Facility to be placed into our award winning Prison Tails program. There, they are partnered with an offender who is a certified dog handler for 4-8 weeks of 24 hour-a-day care, attention, and obedience training.
Mixed Up Mutts’ staff tests and certifies each of our graduating dogs and works to find them new homes. Families get loving pets, dogs get new homes, offenders learn new skills, and our circle begins again.
The Force Behind MUM and Prison Tails
WHO WE ARE...
SARAH STEVENS - MUM FOUNDER & PRESIDENT CRIS STEVENS - MUM FOUNDER & SPOKESMAN~PRISON TAILS LEAD TRAINER
Sarah Stevens
*Fostered and studied hundreds of dogs
*Currently employed as a Registered Nurse at Hope Hospice
*Purdue School of Nursing Graduate 2007
*Prison Tails co-creator. Nationally recognized by the –AKC as “Program of the Year – 2005” and Indiana Department of Correction “Program of the Year – 2005”
*Participated in mission to rescue animals in New Orleans post Katrina(2005)
*Also helped to support and volunteer at the only animal hosp/rescue camp in the city of New Orleans, post Katrina (2005)
*New York City 2001, deployed to Ground Zero for recovery efforts after September 11th.
*Mixed Up Mutts Animal rescue group founder in 2000.
*AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
*Historic Preservation, Charter Member , Past Secretary for “People Engaged in Preservation”
*Accomplished interior decorator.
*Married Cris Stevens 1989
Cris Stevens
*Professional Dog Trainer 2010
*Fostered and studied hundreds of dogs
*Pet Care Services Certified “Pet Care Technician I & II” 2009
*AKC- Canine Good Citizen evaluator 2007
*Led two missions to rescue animals in New Orleans, LA and Pearlington, MS after Hurricane Katrina (2005)
*Also helped to establish, support and lead operations for the only animal hosp/rescue camp in the city of New Orleans, post Katrina (2005)
*Prison Tails co-creator. Nationally recognized by the –AKC as “Program of the Year – 2005” and Indiana Department of Correction “Program of the Year – 2005”
*New York City 2001, deployed to Ground Zero for recovery efforts after September 11th.
*Mixed Up Mutts Animal rescue group founder in 2000.
*Historic Preservation, Charter Member Past President “People Engaged in Preservation”
*Tail Wagon Designer/Builder of pet wheelchairs.
*Retired Firefighter Specialist, Mechanic and EMT for the City of LaPorte, Indiana (1995)
*Purdue University: studied Building Construction Technology (2 yrs)
*Accomplished restoration carpenter
*Married Sarah Slawson 1989
“We are literally changing the world every day. We take ‘damaged goods’ that Society has written off and give them value and purpose.”
Cris and Sarah, began to focus on dog rescue in 2000 after a visit to the Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org) in Utah.
Having had up to 15 dogs at a time, today they maintain a modest pack of 4 dogs and have grown to appreciate the sophisticated simplicity of dog behavior. The Prison Tails dog training program has given Cris the opportunity to facilitate learning and give hope to those needing it most.
REGAN DIETZ - MUM VICE PRESIDENT & PRISON TAILS DIRECTOR
Regan Dietz
*Fostered and studied hundreds of dogs.
*Prison Tails “Program Director” (2007)
*YMCA Management 10 years
*Prison Tails co-creator. Nationally recognized by the –AKC as “Program of the Year – 2005” and Indiana Department of Correction “Program of the Year – 2005”
*Participated in evacuation of dogs from New Orleans, post Katrina (2005)
*Mixed Up Mutts Animal rescue group, Vice President (2004)
*Realtor 4 yrs.
*Washington Park Zoo – Zookeeper handling exotic and dangerous species.
*Veterinary Assistant, Michigan City Animal Hospital
*Animal Care Specialist
*Pet retail specialist.
*Equine trainer – Drill team & Dressage
*AKC-Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
*Married Bill Dietz 1994 & proud mom to Tiernan, Eryn, & Liam and fur-mom to 5+ dogs & 2+ cats. Grandma to 3 adorable little boys:)
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LINDA GURGEL-MUM SECRETARY
Mixed Up Mutts' Annual Dog Walk
Our wonderful, once a year fun and only fundraising event takes place each Spring, just in time to break your cabin fever. This event is sponsored by Prof. Carrie Higgins' communication class from Purdue North Central. This group of students takes this event from start to finish and does their best to out-do the students from the previous year.
Dog lovers from all over the Chicagoland area bring their Mixed Up Mutts and pedigreed pooches for a relaxing afternoon enjoying the beautiful open and wooded spaces of Bluhm County Park in Westville, IN. Not only are visitors treated to lovely winding paths, but they are invited to utilize the 3 acre fenced dog park featuring select pieces of agility equipment.
Please check back for more information about next Spring's Dog Walk. Until then, enjoy our Dog Walk Photo Galleries.
