Welcome to Cavalier Rescue USA

Gidget in North Aurora, IL

Gidget is an adorable 6-month-old female tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy ready for a loving family committed to giving her the time, patience and guidance every puppy needs. She was born on March 29, 2026 and weighs about 5.5 pounds; she is a tiny girl but has a huge personality, an abundance of energy and plenty of love to give!

Gidget was given to Cavalier Rescue USA by her breeder who wanted the perfect forever home to be found for her after an initial vet appointment revealed a possible heart arrhythmia. Once Gidget arrived into our care, she had a thorough exam at our vet who heard a sinus arrhythmia, which is a normal, healthy heart rhythm where the heart rate speeds up when the dog inhales and slows down when they exhale. Other vets she has seen concur this was an innocent arrhythmia and it has since gone away. She has a small reducible umbilical hernia that can be repaired when she is old enough to undergo spay surgery. Gidget is up to date on core puppy vaccines and preventatives.

Gidget is a social, outgoing and confident puppy who is still learning about the world and needs a family prepared for consistent, positive-reinforcement training. She prefers to potty outside and is making progress with housetraining, though pee pads are available in her playpens while she continues learning. At night she sleeps comfortably in a crate in her foster parent’s bedroom, though as a young puppy she still sometimes wakes them up in the middle of the night to go potty.

Gidget is a friendly, social girl who loves everyone she meets. She even gets to go to work with her foster mom, giving her plenty of opportunities to meet new people and experience new surroundings. Thanks to these experiences, she’s becoming a well-socialized little lady. Gidget is starting to learn how to wear a harness and walk on a leash, so she’ll need a patient family who can help her build confidence through positive reinforcement, consistency, and practice. Her foster family thinks she is very smart, and would likely thrive in puppy training classes. Due to Gidget’s small size, she would be best in a home with no children or children ages 16+ who are gentle, respectful and dog-savvy.

Gidget currently eats three meals a day to fuel her very busy puppy lifestyle. She also loves healthy snacks and is an enthusiastic eater! When she’s not eating or sleeping, she’s a busy girl who is usually on the move with places to go and people to meet! Gidget LOVES to run and play and would be happiest in a home with a securely physically fenced yard where she can safely zoom around and burn off some of her puppy energy. She enjoys playing with her foster siblings, including 2 Cavaliers, a large mixed-breed dog and cats, so having an active furry companion or two that will play with her will be required for her continued socialization and happiness. Most of the time, she’s either running and playing with her foster siblings or sleeping — there’s not much in between! When she is not busy playing, Gidget loves to snuggle with her foster parents and enjoys being close to the people she trusts.

Because she is still young, Gidget needs a family that is home most of the time and able to dedicate plenty of time to training, socialization, play, and care. Gidget requires a family who understands that puppies need time, patience, guidance, and consistency. In return, she promises to bring you plenty of laughter, adventures, snuggles, and unconditional love.

If you meet all of Gidget’s requirements, live within a reasonable driving distance of North Aurora, Illinois, and feel she would thrive in your home, please complete our online application if you haven’t already and send an email to Carrie Thiergart at cavalierrescuecarrie@yahoo.com to let her know that you are interested in being considered.

See Gidget in action! Gidget

Online Application

Alfie in Oak Park, IL

Meet Alfie, a 1.5-year-old (his birthday is 5-5-2025), 11-pound tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is looking for his forever home. He was given to Cavalier Rescue USA by his breeder who wanted the perfect forever home to be found for him. This petite little guy is sweet, friendly, and incredibly affectionate. He falls in love with just about every dog he meets and would be happiest in a home with a small and playful dog of similar size that can teach him the ropes, help get him settled, and curl up with him at naptime. He is currently living with a Cavalier foster sister that he adores and follows her every step. He’s also a world-class cuddler and is happiest when he can snuggle up with his people.

Alfie is a very curious little fellow; he loves to explore every surface he can reach especially if there are treats left out for him to find. He is very sharp and has quickly picked up some simple commands like “sit”, “down” and “crate”. Alfie is mostly house trained and is learning more every day with the occasional accident if not walked frequently enough. He is used to his foster mom being home most of the time to take him out quite often and spend time with him, so he would continue to thrive in a home with someone who is home most of the day.

He has done well around older children that he has met on his own terms, but would not tolerate being grabbed or chased, so he would be best suited in a home with mature children who are respectful, gentle and dog-savvy. Alfie has not been around cats. Alfie is an excellent guard dog, keeping his foster family safe from the neighborhood squirrels and birds!

Alfie was neutered while in the rescue’s care. He is up to date on his core vaccines, heartworm, flea/tick preventatives and he is microchipped. Alfie should have a dental cleaning in the next 12-18 months. While an overall healthy young pup, upon intake Alfie had an echocardiogram which revealed he has ACVIM stage B1 with a grade 2 heart murmur. No medications are warranted at this time; however, heart-safe anesthesia protocol must be utilized for him when undergoing anesthesia for future dental cleanings, etc. In addition, his adopter is expected to follow up with a repeat echocardiogram 1 year from the initial visit, which would be in September 2027. Annual echocardiograms for Alfie might be needed and therefore an adopter must be prepared to provide that care for him. Alfie has grade 2 medial patellar luxation bilaterally; this does not appear to cause him any pain, so surgery was not recommended at this time. Alfie has been taking supplements to support his heart and his knees while in his foster home.

Alfie sleeps through the night in a crate, but being the cuddlebug he is, he would most likely enjoy being invited up the big bed even more! Alfie is excellent walking on a leash wearing a harness, but would also enjoy exploring a fenced backyard with his future furry sibling. Alfie is not a big barker, but due to his neighborhood watch duty tendencies, he would do best in a quiet, suburban neighborhood.

If you meet all of Alfie’s requirements, live within a reasonable driving distance of Oak Park, Illinois, and feel he would thrive in your home, please complete our online application if you haven’t already and send an email to Carrie Thiergart at cavalierrescuecarrie@yahoo.com to let her know that you are interested in being considered.

Online Application

Amy in Arlington Heights, IL

Hello! My name is Amy and I am looking for my forever home! I am a very petite 12-pound female black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sweetheart with the shiniest coat you’ve ever seen. I was given to Cavalier Rescue USA by my breeder who wanted the perfect forever home to be found for me. I am a 3-year-old (my birthday is 8-21-2023) very healthy girl; I have a good heart and knees, was spayed and had a dental while in the rescue’s care. I am up to date on my core vaccines, heartworm, flea/tick preventatives and I am microchipped.

I am a love bug who is looking for nothing more than a warm lap and lots of cuddles! I can come across as shy with new people and sometimes I even scoot away from my people, but once they scoop me up, I am happy to snuggle into their arms for as long as they will have me. Other places I like to be? Any place my people are, especially my foster mom. I stay close but not underfoot, and perch myself where I can keep an eye on her and also my foster siblings (3 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) – who I get along with very well, by the way. I don’t steal their food or treats but if they happen to leave a crumb on the floor or in their bowls, that’s fair game. I haven’t found any toys to be as interesting as my people so they won’t need to worry about sharing toys, but sometimes I get a little jealous and wiggle my way between my mom and my foster siblings. They don’t seem to mind since I’m so tiny and we all curl up together for a nap in the afternoon.

When I’m not napping or looking for a lap to nap in, I can get excited and turn around and around in circles! Recently, I learned that it is fun to roughhouse gently with my smallest Cavalier sibling and even my foster mom. I would enjoy having another easy going but playful small dog for a playmate and to curl up with at naptime, since I am used to not being alone. I would be fine in a crate for a few hours if I have to be home alone, but I would do best with someone who is home most of the day.

I’m getting more comfortable walking on a leash wearing a harness, but I really enjoy just exploring the backyard with my foster siblings. Because I am small and kind of timid, my forever home will need a fully physically fenced yard. I am working on housetraining and have made great improvements; I am about 75% there so will need a family that has the patience to work with me.

I hardly ever bark and for some reason, on the rare occasion that I do, it’s the non-dog animals on the big screen tv that make me howl. Go figure. What about kids, you ask? I would probably be fine with older children who are respectful, gentle and dog-savvy, but I’m really too tiny and timid for much more excitement than that. I am a very sweet, calm, lovable girl who would thrive in a home where I can feel safe, comfortable, and part of the family; once I knows you, I am ready to give you all the love I have.

If you meet all of Amy’s requirements, live within a reasonable driving distance of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and feel she would thrive in your home, please complete our online application if you haven’t already and send an email to Carrie Thiergart at cavalierrescuecarrie@yahoo.com to let her know that you are interested in being considered.

Online Application

Lincoln in Plymouth, MI

A Gentle Giant

Meet Lincoln a fun, yet gentle and loving 8-year-old male Cavalier who came into rescue when the toddler in his young human family developed a pet allergy. Surrendering Lincoln to rescue was a heartbreaking decision for the people and for Lincoln. He loved playing fetch with the toddler in the home and is constantly looking for children in his foster mom’s neighborhood to play with.

Lincoln is a 24 lb, happy-go-lucky Blenheim male. His love for people extends beyond shorties to adults as well. Lincoln instantly loves every human he meets, immediately seeking attention and wanting to give kisses in return.

He is thriving in his foster home where there is a regular routine and three full-time Cavaliers. Lincoln has lots of wrestling matches with his 6-year-old foster brother and they have daily licking fest. He also enjoys playing with toys and fetching balls. He especially enjoys hanging out on the patio and exploring inside the fenced area at his foster home. He gets very excited when he sees his leash, signaling it’s time for a walk!

He sleeps in a crate next to the people bed and is gated in the kitchen when his foster mom runs errands. Lincoln has marked a few times when arriving at his foster home, which is common in dogs adjusting to a new environment. In the foster home, Lincoln wore a belly band for the first few days so his foster mom could monitor his house manners. After three days, the belly band was removed and Lincoln has not had any more incidents in the home.

Lincoln demonstrates the activity level of a dog much younger than his age. He is always looking for new toys to play with and exploring his foster home. But this activity is not frenetic, rather very polite. He is also very good at following commands and has shown a tremendous amount of sympathy whenever one of the puppies in the foster home makes a whimper. He truly is a gentle giant and has been an absolute joy to have in his foster home.

Lincoln just got his teeth cleaned and had several extractions. He is at a good weight for his larger frame, but his fur-ever family will need to monitor his food intake and limit treats so he can remain at this target weight. He is neutered, micro-chipped, and up-to-date on his vaccinations.

Please complete our online application (if you haven’t already) and then send an email to June Kirchgatter at June.cavaliers@gmail.com to let her know that you are interested in this gentleman, Lincoln. We will only consider applicants that are home during the day and live within a reasonable driving distance to the foster home.

Online Application

Faith in Lebanon, IN

Update 10-4-26: We’ve received several promising applications for this pup so aren’t taking more applications for now. Thank you!

Faith is a lovely and loving 3-month old Tricolor Cavalier puppy. Faith was born into rescue on July 6, 2026 after her mother came into our foster care program. Faith loves to play outdoors with her siblings and is a sweet, adorable pup.

She has started her initial puppy vaccinations. Remaining vaccines will be required of adopter when age appropriate. Also adopter will be required to provide proof of spay at 9 months of age. She is at a healthy weight of 4.5 lbs for her young age.

Faith requires an owner who is home much of the day and who has a physically fenced yard. Also, please note, we will only consider applicants who live within a maximum driving distance of 4 hours of Lebanon, IN for her placement.

If you are interested in this puppy and meet her requirements, please complete our online application if you haven’t already, and then email Sherry Morgan at morgans817@sbcglobal.net. Please read our Process and FAQ pages before contacting us. Thank you!

Online Application

Pearl in Lebanon, IN

Here is Pearl with her new family…

Pearl is an adorable 3-month old Blenheim Cavalier puppy that was born into rescue on July 6, 2026. Her mom was given to Cavalier Rescue USA when her home based breeder was retiring. Pearl is very active and loves to play outdoors with her siblings. She is eating well, is a happy, healthy pup and currently weighs 7.5 pounds.

She has started her initial puppy vaccinations. Remaining vaccines will be required of adopter when age appropriate. Also, her adopter will be required to provide proof of spay at 9 months of age.

She requires an owner who is home much of the day and has a physically fenced yard. She does not know how to walk on leash yet.

Because we anticipate a lot of interest in this pup, we will only consider applicants who live within a maximum driving distance of 4 hours of Lebanon, IN for her placement. If you meet what we are looking for in a home for Pearl and want to adopt her, please complete our online application if you haven’t already, and then email Sherry Morgan at morgans817@sbcglobal.net. Please read our Process and FAQ pages before contacting us. Thank you!

Online Application