C.A.R.E
specializes in the rescue of “Death Row” animals.
When possible we also assist with Law Enforcement and the Department of
Agriculture with neglected and abused animals. We are working at
full capacity to rescue, rehabilitate, spay/neuter and adopt hundreds
of animals each year that would otherwise be killed.
We
do not take animals directly from the public.
Domesticated
animals are a responsibility. Their very lives depend on our
kindness and care. Unfortunately, many pet owners allow their
pets to produces litters born into a world already filled with animals
that will die because of pet overpopulation.
Owning an animal
should be a lifelong commitment. If circumstances change and you
can no longer care for your pet, then it should be your job to find a
new home for it. Did you know that millions of animals are killed
in shelters and pounds in the U.S. each year? Shelters are forced
to deal with the public’s mistakes and many animals pay the price
by losing their lives. If you are giving up your pet, please be
responsible and do your best to find a good new home for the animal on
your own before deciding to leave it at an already crowded
shelter.
If you have found
a stray, we realize it is a sacrifice for you to try and find this
animal’s owner or to find it a new home on your own. If you
can make a genuine effort to locate the owner or to place the animal in
another home, you are truly doing something to help make a
difference. You are the animal’s best chance; his life is
literally in your hands.
It is a popular
misconception that shelters can do a better job of placing an animal
than an individual. You are just as capable of screening for a
good home and can probably do a better job than some shelters simply
because you only have your animal to focus on.
Here are some
suggestions to help you find a lost pet’s owner or find a new
home for an animal:
1. Lost and found or free to good
home posters are effective if placed in the right areas. A
picture is worth a thousand words and will capture the passerby’s
attention. These posters should be placed on the streets as well
as in grocery stores, service stations, veterinary clinics, grooming
facilities, and pet supply stores such as All Pet Supply, Pet
Warehouse, Tindle Mills, and MFA. Pets-Mart has a bulletin
board. Lost and found reports should also be placed at all area
shelters.
2.
Advertise in your local newspaper and if possible other area
newspapers as well. Did you know that most papers don’t
charge for a “free pet to good home” ad? The
Springfield News-Leader has a section called “The Pet
Exchange” and “free to good home” ads can be placed
at no charge to you. You may also post a photo and description of
the pet on Petfinder.com. Go to the “Classified”
section from the homepage and “post free pet ads.” In your
ad say something positive about the animal. Example:
“Ginger- a beautiful, well-behaved Lab mix. Loves kids and
likes to play ball. Big dog with a big heart needs a family to
love.”
3.
Always remember to screen the adopter by asking questions.
You can learn a lot by asking about their pet history and what pets
they have now. Ask how many animals they have had in the past
year and where those animals are now. Do they have a fenced yard
if in the city limits or will the animal be kept indoors? Use
your best judgment to determine if they are a good home for your animal.
4.
Consider vaccinating or spaying the animals and asking for
reimbursement of some vet costs. Many responsible adopters will
be glad to pay for a healthy vaccinated or spayed animal. A
purebred animal that is spayed or neutered will have a much better shot
at a good home rather than ending up in a breeder’s cage for the
rest of its life.
5. If
possible, deliver the animals so you can see the new home it will be
kept in.
C.A.R.E
is a nonprofit
501(c)(3), no-kill
animal shelter and sanctuary that specializes in helping injured,
abused and neglected animals in the Ozarks. Unfortunately, the
associated medical costs, along with the cost of spaying or neutering,
vaccinations, and deworming, are expensive. We do not charge enough in
adoption fees to offset
these costs. C.A.R.E. relies entirely on
donations. You can save a life. Make a difference!
