C.A.R.E.- What is C.A.R.E.?

COMMUNITY ANIMAL
RESCUE EFFORT
P.O. Box 1964
Evanston, Illinois 60204
C.A.R.E. Hotline
(847) 705-2653

What is C.A.R.E.?

C.A.R.E. is the Community Animal Rescue Effort, a 501c3 not-for-profit all volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of domestic pets through public education and active involvement with the abused and abandoned animals brought to the Evanston Animal Shelter.

During weekday evenings and on weekends, the 100+ C.A.R.E. volunteers assume responsibility for total care of all Shelter animals. Each volunteer puts in anywhere from 3 to 30+ hours every week, both at the Shelter and in activities outside the Shelter, performing functions such as:

Walking Dogs

Exercising Cats

Cleaning cages and kennel areas

Bathing and grooming animals

Working with frightened, anti-social animals

Paying for veterinary care, inoculations, and vaccinations

Transporting animals to and from veterinary clinics

Working with veterinarians at the Shelter as part of a testing/inoculation program initiated by C.A.R.E.

Medicating animals as directed by veterinarians

Feeding & watering animals on evenings, weekends, and holidays

Washing bowls, toys, towels, bedding, etc.

Working with Evanston Animal Wardens as needed to comply with city rules & assure accreditation by the Department of Agriculture

Interviewing all potential adopters in-depth and then matching appropriate animals with adopters

Conducting all adoptions, filling out required paperwork, administrating follow-up program

Supplementing city food budget with volunteer funds to provide higher quality food for Shelter animals

Purchasing additional equipment not in city budget to maintain quality care for Shelter animals (including such things as cages, kennel fan, vaccine refrigerator, clothes dryer, etc.)

Conducting on-going fund-raising to raise monies to cover all expenses

Conducting community out-reach programs to educate residents on responsible pet care

Volunteers are frequently called upon to take animals into their homes and "foster" them in times of overcrowding at the Shelter and when animals need special care.

With only one visiting room, two washrooms, and a vestibule in which to introduce and show animals to prospective adopters, C.A.R.E. manages to find good homes for more than 700 cats and dogs each year. While the majority of animals adopted out are in the 2-5 year old range, a large percentage of the animals are older; and a very special goal of C.A.R.E. volunteers is to find loving homes for these older animals. Puppies and kittens make up less than 10% of adoptions.

Without the gratis participation of C.A.R.E. volunteers, it would probably be necessary once again to euthanize the majority of animals brought to the Shelter -- because of insufficient salaried personnel to care for them and insufficient dollars to continue the programs and services that C.A.R.E. itself now funds.

Your participation as a C.A.R.E. volunteer or financial supporter WILL make a difference. To see if you qualify and for more information, please read our FAQ.