'Our Hearts Are Broken': Dog Rescue Ends Fight To Stay In Homewood Space

HOMEWOOD, IL — Even as they were prepping to vacate the space on 183rd Street, Sarah Montgomery and Fido's Landing haven't stopped caring.

With most of its dogs relocated into foster homes ahead of closing the nonprofit's Homewood location at 2207 183rd St., staff took in yet another emergency case—a dog named Scout brought to them by Calumet City Animal Control. The Maltese—that's their guess at his breed—decompressed as they soaked his severely matted coat.

"Meet Scout," the rescue shared on social media. "He officially joined the Fido’s Landing family today, and as you can see, he desperately needs help. ... No dog should ever have to live like this. The matting is painful, restrictive, and completely preventable."

Scout's gratitude quickly showed.

"He’s so friendly, he’s just running around," Fido's Landing Founder Sarah Montgomery said. "You can tell that little soak helped him a little bit. He needs some work done."

Fido's Landing plight to help dogs continues even as its time at the Homewood location ends. Plagued by building issues including severe roof leaks, flooding, mold and HVAC failures, Montgomery is relinquishing the space after just over a year in it.

Rescue leadership had been trying to work with the landlord to address the building's problems, but when improvements weren't made or fell short, they've opted to pull the rescue from the space.

"Our hearts are broken, but the show will go on," Montgomery said. "Today is our official last day here. The teams have been amazing—volunteers have been amazing, just trying to get us out of here."

Now without a physical space to call its own, the rescue shifts back to a foster-based system. It's a return to its roots for the agency, which began as a foster-based rescue. In the last five years, they've helped 854 dogs, Montgomery said.

"All of our dogs are now in foster or adopted, and we’re pushed back into being foster-based," Montgomery said.

It's a disappointing turn of events, she said.

"It's sad, because it takes a lot to get these places," she said. "You don’t just get to move in—there’s a lot of sacrifice, capital and things that you need.

"These people, they don’t care—it’s just money for them."

When pressed to make critical repairs, Montgomery said the landlord seemed to cut corners. The roof, she noted, required complete replacement. The landlord paid only to have it patched in spots.

Additional issues with the HVAC system proved challenging in severe temps. The issues, she said, had been longstanding before they even took over the space, and only worsened in time.

"Problem after problem after problem after problem," Montgomery said.

Ultimately, it came down to the dogs' safety.

"It’s just not a safe space," Montgomery said. "The dogs have to be safe. We’ve had to move dogs around our building any time it’s too hot or too cold, which defeats the purpose of having somewhere safe to be."

Instead of investing every dollar into rescue efforts, medical care, food, spay/neuter services, and lifesaving programs, we have been forced to divert substantial resources toward addressing building-related problems. The financial impact has been devastating, costing tens of thousands of dollars that should have been used to save dogs.

—Fido's Landing

The move to Homewood followed the loss of a space in Orland Park. The rescue had previously pursued a lease in Orland Park as recently as January 2025, but that space slipped away from them. The organization lost approximately $10,500 in funds invested in the space and the move.

"We’ve been through a lot—we're going through a lot," Montgomery said. "We’re all emotional about it, but the show goes on."

She watched as their newest intake rolled happily after a bath. She fielded phone calls from a vet looking to get him in as soon as possible for care.

"It just keeps going," she said, of the demands on the rescue. "Our responsibility is caring for these dogs. It at least needs to be a place where we can do that, and safely.

"We’re trying."

There are benefits, she noted, to a foster-based system.

"It's good for them," she said. "It allows them to decompress at a home. They’ll be safe and cared for."

Still, she said, they'd like a physical space to help dogs like Scout.

"Eventually, we would love to have an intimate space for dogs like this," she said, of Scout. "They don’t have to go straight to foster."

With operations now ceased at the Homewood location, Montgomery and staff have moved essential items and documents back to officials' homes.

"We all are dedicated to the next chapter, but it was so avoidable," she said.

As they search for a new home for the organization, the agency has jumpstarted a $100,000 "Paws, Purpose and Possibility" fundraising campaign.

"For the past year, Fido's Landing has poured our hearts, souls, time, and resources into saving dogs in need," the website reads. "Since opening our brick-and-mortar location, we have helped more than 500 dogs find safety, healing, and loving homes. Every decision we make has always been guided by one simple mission: do what is best for the dogs.

"Unfortunately, we are now facing one of the greatest challenges in our organization’s history."

Montgomery emphasized that the rescue is not closing, only relocation its operations following a crushing defeat. Currently, 13 dogs are in foster homes through the rescue, with Scout on the list to join them as soon as he's ready.

"Our mission remains unchanged," the website reads. "Dogs will continue to be rescued. Families will continue to adopt. Lives will continue to be saved.

"But rebuilding after these losses will take the support of our community."

The fundraising campaign aims to restore critical operation funds, offset losses, cover ongoing medical care for dogs currently in their program, support foster families and create a sustainable future for the agency "without the burden of a facility that drained resources from our mission."

"We’re a little optimistic," Montgomery said of the $100,000 fundraising goal. "We’ve seen miracles happen. We're just trying to raise as much as possible. Some place we can rent for less. You always need a home base—you need a 'home.'

"We’re going to do what we have to do," she said. "Going from a 4,000-square-foot building back to people’s homes is wild. Wild and heartbreaking.

"We're just trying to do what we can."