Oak Brook’s famous stray finds a home with former Lake Zurich resident

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Kristine Kowal, formerly of Lake Zurich, sits between her dogs Maddy (left) and Rusty, which was a stray in Oak Brook for nearly four years. | Molly Wald - Best Friends Animal Society.

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:41AM

Since leaving Oak Brook a year ago, Rusty the dog spent time at a temporary home at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah and now has a permanent home with a former Chicago area resident.

Kristine Kowal has taken in Oak Brook’s famous stray and Kowal couldn’t be happier.

Kowal, formerly of Lake Zurich, moved to Kanab last year, but followed Rusty’s story through local media and couldn’t pass up the chance to visit the famous dog at Best Friends.

“It was amazing this little creature could be living outside and eluding everyone all those years,” she said. “I hooked up with him at Best Friends to see this little rock star in person and just fell in love with him.”

Rusty, who had been wandering the streets of Oak Brook for nearly four years, was finally captured in September 2010. After being treated at the Hinsdale Humane Society for a life-threatening heartworm condition, Rusty was sent to Utah to begin rehabilitation.

Kowal said she didn’t have any intention to adopt Rusty, but her dog Maddy made the choice for her.

“I just wanted to meet him, but Maddy was the one who let me know it was probably a good idea to adopt him,” Kowal said. “Maddy would model that you can go up to people and get pets and scratches. Rusty would hang back, but over time he saw it was OK to get the affection.”

Kowal had volunteered at Save-A-Pet in Grayslake before moving and had adopted Maddy from the facility. She has since been volunteering at Best Friends and takes both her dogs out for long walks throughout scenic Utah. With his reputation of elusiveness, Best Friends attached a GPS unit to Rusty; and Kowal used to attach two leashes to him, but now Rusty walks free during his trips with Kowal and Maddy.

“We ran into five deer in a canyon the other day and he and Maddy chased them up a hill,” Kowal said. “The two of them came trotting back to me after they achieved their mission.

“Out here, he can be off his leash and have his time.”

Oak Brook’s residents and Rusty supporters got together to give Kowal and Rusty money to spend on holiday presents. Kowal bought a Walkman and pedometer for herself, and food, treats and mozzarella cheese for the dogs.

“Fans of Rusty collected $250 for Christmas gifts,” said Forest Glen resident Harry Peters. “None of us wanted to see him go.

“We wanted to get him adopted locally. We’ve come to realize he’s in a loving home and that’s what counts. Best Friends was a good place to go and everything worked out for the best.”

Fans of Rusty can keep track of Kowal’s updates on the Facebook fan page “Rusty Redd is Home.”