Common Ground CRN

06/08/2026

Maximus Monday…a reminder of this incredible life we hold dear. We met this gorgeous boi March 2023 and brought him into our rescue April 2023. He’s still here. Shining brightly from his foster vantage point. No one told Max he’s in limbo. Luckily for him, he doesn’t really know what that means. He wakes each day tucked into an embrace so dedicated that it feels in the cracks of time while he waits. Honestly, don’t tell anyone, but Max thinks he is home. After this much time, he has his routines. Loves his momma Natalie more than the moon and stars. Poppa joejoe is a nice second fiddle—but he’s a momma’s boi.

Rescue is not a direct path. Occasionally the journey is long and unknown because we don’t jump—we walk out the lives we take in like our own. So what do all these days and nights equate to? Max’s momentous memories flowing outward with each rise of a new day. We have him tucked in tight, no matter what. He has captured our hearts. What have we learned?

❣️He is obsessed with balls!
❣️Loves the outdoors and walks in the woods.
❣️Absolutely a mommas boi!!!
❣️Loves when his foster Dadda picks him up.
❣️Uses talking buttons to ask for hugs, outside, water, treats. Smarty pants to the max!! 🙄
❣️Prefers people over pets. And has what we call a Focker circle where he adores his pack. His dedication to his family is deep.
❣️Water is his thing! Give him an inch and he’s swimming the channel!
❣️ Toy and food tester for Common Ground. He can scent out a dud!
❣️ Knows the Northwoods by scent and begins excited dances when close to the woods and water.
❣️ Understands the joy of a warm fireplace on a cold night.
❣️ Might have some vision hiccups coming up but doesn’t stop him a bit. Just makes him a tad more wary.
❣️ Has a circle of Aunties who love him beyond words. Delivering kisses, burgers and hugs his way.

This is our Max. 100% a lover and a life who may not have found forever but certainly living his best life in his foster family home. Like we said—no one told Max he’s in limbo so today, he woke up believing he’s home. And there is nothing wrong with that belief.

We all need hope each day. It’s the fuel of dreams and an elixir for the unknown. Thank you those who have donated to our charity. Provided supplies. This is just one life you help us keep fed, enriched, vetted and loved. One day at a time is all we need.

Your support matters to lives like Maximus.

Commonground-crn.org

06/07/2026

Sweet, sweet Ember—the last of our precious gem litter to find their place but that is ok because her fairytale has arrived. Azura, Seraphina and Nyra are howling for joy that their sister is finally and officially home!!! And, how lucky are we that Ember’s adoptive family is friends with our rescue team so we get to watch her continue to soar. You are exactly where you belong with a little human sibling for all your days. Adventures are made in these moments. Talk about how happy we are that you connected with the right place in time.

Ember was the most assertive and dominant of the litter. Yet came to events like it was her job. She would sit pretty with 2 paws crossed merely observing the gatherings. Almost as if they were a show for her to watch. Such grace and poise in such a young pup was odd. Yet let her and Fern Lily cross paths then it was on with puppy antics!! She rocked her canine obedience class with her foster momma Mallorie. Only to find herself lingering. Waiting. Watching.

Enter her forever family. Sharing days of memory making with a new sibling to grow up watching over. Learning and leaping through life. We are over the moon that Ember crossed paths with the star-crossed trajectory that can only be written in the stars. Where true gems are born. Our most heartfelt thanks to her foster families for watching over her from pup till home. Christy and Mallorie [entire families] — we are so grateful for all of you as Ember’s heroes.

We can’t wait to watch all the ways she rises in life. The beacon of her families dreams. Our hearts are full. Our baby girl is home.

Thank you to those who support charities like ours. Your aid sustains a grassroots approach to the foster-to-adopt process we use. Slow and steady always shows us the way. Always.

Commonground-crn.org

06/06/2026

Need a little levity and light today? Head over to our YouTube page and fall into our rescue story. One ripple at a time:

https://youtube.com/shorts/1Vue2JWnDpQ?si=cYqh94WQWtBS5CC0

https://youtube.com/?si=O2xtd3Q1XLQJS_3T

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/06/2026

Grab a seat, we have a rescue revival tail to share with you. Spoiler alert…there is a fairytale ending. 💫

December of 2024 our organization was alerted to a Senior pair found existing in a room inside the apartment of their family. You see mom and dad were Seniors themselves without critical layers of support. Before they knew it, they were both in an emergent state while attempting to keep their family dogs safe. The wife was hospitalized by the time someone arrived to lend a hand. Mork and Mindy were found after their owners were taken away for assistance. Both have received the aid they required and ended up in a care home after medical was completed. During this time, a caring nurse reached out for help with the dogs and before we knew it—they became ours. 2 neglected lives who had existed in that one room for 1-2 years. Never leaving or feeling the wind ruffling their fur or catching scents upon the air. Their coats were horribly matted. Nails were grown into their pads. Ear infections and horrendously obese. But they were all ours. Every beautiful inch of them.

January 2025 started the journey of Mork and Mindy via an angel foster family who raised their hands to step in. They requested 3-months of temporary support as they had a dog at home that did not like other dogs. It became a year and a half tucked into a loving embrace. Mork & Mindy began to reverse age. Proper medical care increased their quality of life. Slowly dropping weight. Ear infections cleared. New food regiment. A whole new rescue family to rejoin the world plus all kinds of new toys, love and light. We walked them outward with us showing up at every event. They would shine like a light. Mork stepping out ahead perhaps wearing a taco costume to engage or Mindy wrapped up like a burrito in someone’s arms. Most often Momma Stacey who craved her little face next to hers. More than a dozen events until it happened, they found the other halves of their hearts. One unplanned, chance encounter became forever.

Enter unsuspecting Sarah coming out of the grocery store with ice cream when she spots Mork and Mindy walking outside at our pOpshelf in Arlington Heights, IL adoption event. Sarah places her ice cream in her car thinking she’ll be right back and proceeded to disappear for the next couple hours. Heavily invested in meeting this bonded pair of loveliness. Mork and Mindy had this way of entering your soul by staring directly into your eyes. Stealing your will till you were all theirs. We all fell for it time and time again. Here we are watching the magic unfold but this time it appeared they found exactly who they were waiting for. Hubby was woken from a nap at home and asked to pop up to the store to meet 2 new friends. The future they say—was written in the stars and melting ice cream.

It was clear as day that these 2 found home after a month foster-to-adopt transition period. They glowed. They are in synch with peace, love and happiness. How lucky are we to find a couple so ready for our bonded pair! Recently retired and embarking on the summer of M&M. Learning, loving and living with nothing but joy in one another’s hearts. You can tangibly feel the cohesion. Mork & Mindy are so very home!!! We extend our gratitude to Sarah and Steve for adding our babies to their family. The light in their eyes is our greatest gifts. We thank you from the bottom of our rescues hearts.

To Veronica and family, thank you for keeping Mork & Mindy safe from the first day you invited them into your [temporary ❤️]foster home. Without your part—we would not be here today. Thank you for never looking back on taking not just one, but two and in such bad shape.

To our team of volunteers that transported, walked, handled at events, groomed, donated and loved these two like their own–we are blown away by your united parts. We balanced like a true team: Laurial and Brad for adoption event handling plus drives, Sammi for drives and walks, Adriana for your beautiful grooming done with all-heart, Joanna from Popshelf for allowing us to show up at your store, Kotaa for event training support, A Sound Beginning Chicago/A Sound Beginning Program for your adoption support, Rescue Pack for the unbelievable dental grant applied to Mindy— and to ALL our volunteers for the love they gave each time M&M showed up. A year and a half is a long time to wait together. This story was a big one for us and our family. We hope you enjoyed the ripples that brought us to this moment in time. To anyone donating to a charity like ours—these are the days you fund. Two lives arriving broken but embarking on a brand new journey completely whole. This right here is the best part of charity when all the steps walked outward arrive at the right juncture—a place called HOME.

Commonground-crn.org
Showing up for people and pets.

🎥 VIDEO JOURNEY:

https://youtube.com/shorts/yN6dfyakpoo?si=ZANgUtZm_Bl3GAII

https://youtube.com/shorts/mfXz3bC-oEs?si=qrBqapbDVLxWh_Gr

https://youtube.com/shorts/8vAa0IFrgHY?si=E8IXhl48UKp98wDB

https://youtube.com/shorts/oAcObFLtobY?si=qOfkOf_NAJAxmayc

https://youtube.com/shorts/5GA9C2pD530?si=dMhW4CWZKCgbf9-Y

https://youtube.com/shorts/lAM7tXm6VZ4?si=yXqHNE1qaZZ0kAO3

06/05/2026

Feline Friday continues with our Smokey Grey a social and loving gentlemen feline. Housemate of Alexander who arrived together from an owner losing their home. Both boys are not bonded but each enjoy the companionship of other cats. So this is a prerequisite unless of course—you take the boys together. 🫶 Let’s get down to purrs and wishes. Who is Smokey Grey?

SMOKEY GREY
💫Green-eyed social butterfly. Around 5-years old, fully-vetted, big-boned pudgie comes in at just under 16-lbs. 🫣 He knows, he’s working on it.
💫Loving and purring machine. All he needs is your invitation (or not) and he’s in your lap. 💫Purring like it’s a job. This guy has love crackling in his veins. Great with people and down to kittens as one of his BFF’s is a young kitten.
💫Will follow a laser to the moon and back. Loves and enjoys the neon light!
🚩Prerequisite is adding Alex or existing social cat(s). This guy needs another feline friend to play away the days.
💫Enjoys looking out the window and laying in the sun. Give him a tunnel and a wand to see his playful side spill out.
💫Needs other playful cats because he is dedicated to winning everyone over...one way or another.

Sound like what you need? Let’s start the conversation. One hour from Des Plaines, Elgin, Antioch, or Streamwood, IL.

🎥 VIDEO:
https://youtube.com/shorts/4n7Flylf8-4?si=BBBOSpSBrUHLKscI

PETFINDER Bio: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/smokey-88c7f7da-b752-4a0c-b860-b673a5ca30ca/il/elgin/common-ground-community-rescue-network-il1019/details/

Commonground-CRN.org

06/05/2026

Welcome to Feline Friday where we show off our unbelievable adoptable cats!! First up is Alexander the Great. This orange ball of stocky boy captivates with his engaging eyes. Social boy who loves people and other cats.

Alex is a mellow boy! But absolutely goes crazy for the wand toys- jumps around like a wild man playing with one! He also has so much fun playing with his housemate Smokey, window watching, and laying around. They arrived to our rescue together after their family lost their home. Not bonded but they have a brofriendship. Each one enjoys other cats while stilling walking out their journey next to one another. We are curious if they will find their place together or start a new adventure with new feline friends.

Fully-vetted at a slim 12-lbs of 2-year old gorgeousness. You will find Alex relaxing 😌 on the couch or climbing high to perch upon a cat tree. Can be a bit messy with litterbox so hooded version keeps order! No spraying or destructive tendencies. Just an amazing Dude! Requires either Smokey or other feline(s) in the home. Has not been around dogs.

Sound like someone you might want to meet? Let’s start the conversation today.

🎥 VIDEOS:
https://youtube.com/shorts/G_H-i0ZxOCs?si=KcYz-KqCmKcoYBsV
https://youtube.com/shorts/aWanYcv2kEg?si=rCOdF1k3zGGCj_9-

💫 ALEXANDER 💫
https://www.petfinder.com/cat/alexander-7dcac1b9-4d7b-4b59-b239-e1d5b40d857a/il/elgin/common-ground-community-rescue-network-il1019/details/

Commonground-CRN.org

06/01/2026

You got them and we will take them to save some lives!! Join our SHOE SAVE LIVES fundraiser unfolding over the next couple months.

We are gathering your gently worn or new shoes from baby to adults. Looking for the versions that still have some miles to go and not the holes in the bottom kind. Sorry to be specific but the only way for us to raise funds is when the shoes still have life left. So please check out the back of the closet for small sizes, styles you no longer adore or shoes you no longer need.

Stay tuned for our list of collection sites around the suburbs where a bin is waiting for YOU. Better yet, fill a bag and we will come pick it up within the NW suburbs of IL. Thank you for considering aiding our charity in raising critical funds to sustain our organization.

Thank you and questions can be directed to [email protected]. Updates to come as we walk this summer fundraiser in across a community near you. Would you like to be added to our DROP-OFF list, let’s talk!!

👢👡🥾👞👟🩴👠🥿

05/31/2026

Our adoptable were unstoppable with their preciousness during our monthly Petsmart Kildeer Adoption Event - May. Our team brought out some of our adorable lives waiting for their happily ever after to begin. PetSmart kildeer invites us to come out the last Saturday of every month to meet community face-to-face. Talking adoption, fostering and volunteering time to change the lives of others.

🐾Bella Liora came out with her pibble smile firmly in place. Greeting all with kisses!
🐾Fern Lily continues to be a soul whose heart is dedicated to the one she loves. Yet forever love continues to elude her with so much depth to her core.
🐾Night Sky litter debuted and stole hearts at their tender young age of 7-weeks. Just getting ready to be adoptable. But not quite yet as still with momma, Chatterbox. Our TNR from Des Plaines who is getting ready to take her no more babies pledge then head back out to her established colony.
🐾Alex and Smokey spent a miserable couple hours hunkered down waiting out the event as these 2 big boys prefer the comfort of more wide open spaces. But their presence affords them the potential of finding home. The place they yearn to be. (Not bonded, but would love to continue to hang together or with other cats. Very social.)
🐾Misty sat pretty and sweet. Green eyes taking it all in. Watching. Waiting. Enjoying cuddles, voices and Miss Robin tending to her coat. Still waiting for home after 1.5 years in foster. August is her 2-year marker. Let’s get our girl home!!!!
🐾Mr Kitty rounds out our adoptables. The man of the hour who has such engagement for people. Our greeter at the front of his enclosure waiting to say hi. He has such gifts to whisper to the one who sees all he brings.

Each one uniquely their own and deserving of the ones who love ever layer of them. We walk this in at each event to meet community and talk. This conversation has the potential to connect with forever and a day so how honored are we to watch each one unfold. Thank you to Petsmart Kildeer for sharing your store with us. And our team for engaging so beautifully with those that stop by for a pet or cuddle. Amazing volunteers: Natalie, Joe, Robin, Ken, Tabitha, Ry, Aurora, Kaitlyn, Nick, Estella, Sandi, Karen, Mari and Charlotte. What a rockstar crew of magic-makers!!!

See you June 27, 2026!

Commonground-crn.org
Showing up for people and pets since 2019.