An Elgin woman’s dedication to finding homes for rescue animals was rewarded Tuesday with an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” where she was presented with an NBC Clear the Shelter PAWSitively Good Award.
Kelly Keefe, founder of the Rescue Dog of the Day foundation and director of marketing and advertising for Brilliance Motor Sales, has found home family for 737 animals being housed by the Anderson Humane animal shelter in South Elgin by holding adoption events at her family’s Elgin car dealership, Brilliance Subaru.
Because of the appearance, Anderson Humane will receive a $10,000 donation from the show.
The focus of her segment was to “tell my my story about why I have a passion for animals and why Brilliance Subaru does what it does,” Keefe said. “They wanted to give us kudos.”
The Randall Road dealership holds biannual adoption events and Keefe brings dogs to the business twice a week to spotlight, something she promotes with photos and videos on the company’s website and via social media.
One of their largest collaborations with Anderson Humane was in finding homes for 177 beagles rescued from a Virginia research facility shut down by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To celebrate the success, she organized a reunion for the dogs and their adoptive families last summer.
It was an NBC 5 Chicago interview with Keefe for the Clear the Shelter national campaign that caught the attention of Clarkson’s producers, who arranged to fly her to New York a few weeks ago to appear on the talk show, which airs at 3 p.m. weekdays on NBC 5 Chicago.
“It was the craziest thing I’ve ever done. It was incredible,” Keefe said. “Kelly was amazing. She made me feel right at home. We sat down and started chatting.”
Clarkson’s $10,000 donation to Anderson Humane was a complete surprise, she said.
“I was in shock. I was shaking,” she said. “Anderson Humane is such an amazing organization, and the folks there are passionate about improving so many animals’ lives.”
Keefe started the adoption events in 2021. Her dad, Kevin, was hesitant at first, but he’s since gotten involved in Rescue Dog of the Day and now has two adopted chocolate labradors, she said.
Her father accompanied her to New York for the filming, she said.
“He couldn’t stop laughing. He couldn’t believe this crazy idea turned into something so much bigger,” Kelly Keefe said.
“I’m very grateful I get the chance to use this platform to enhance animal welfare and talk about Anderson Humane and what an incredible organization it is.”
The next adoption event at Brilliance Subaru will be Saturday, June 15.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
