URGENT Rufus is lost -- Friday May 14th, 2010

Rufus jumped out of his adopter's car in the Petsmart parking lot on Harbison Boulevard. He was last seen in the parking lot of Rooms To Go on the other side of Harbison. Please help us find Rufus.

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Bark to the Park was a roaring (barking?) success.

Not only did we and the CARE dogs who attended have a wonderful time, we also raised over $450.00 for the rescue! That's enough to cover heartworm treatment for one of our dogs who is waiting. Our t-shirts were a huge hit. If you missed out, they will be available for order soon on our website. We met lots of new friends in the rescue community and found some neat dog-based businesses, like this one.

Thank you, Midlands, for supporting CARE and other rescues, for the love of dogs.

Check out our photos from the event!
While you're there, you can join our cause on Facebook.

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Avery's Coast to Coast Adventure

Avery is the star in an unusual chain of events that led to a happy ending for four dogs in peril. Avery is a 2 year old German Shorthaired Pointer who was stolen one year ago from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was one more blow in a string of sad events in the lives of Avery's parents, Bill* and Eden*. Bill's grandfather and Eden's father were both diagnosed with terminal cancer on the same day. They made a last minute trip to Ohio to say goodbye to Bill's grandfather, and Avery was left with a friend in Colorado. While they were away saying their goodbyes, Avery was stolen.

Bill and Eden tried everything to find her and eventually resigned themselves to the idea that they may never see her again.

"We had in one sense given up on ever finding her, yet I still hung onto a little bit of hope. I look at the pets section on craigslist on a fairly regular basis in an apparent attempt at torturing myself by looking at all of the unwanted animals. Every time I saw a female GSP I would check to see if it was her. If the pictures were lousy or taken at a distance, I would compare a picture of Avery to them to make sure the markings weren't similar. I had some hope I would find her, but I never dreamed she would get to come home. I figured if I found her she would be living with some other family who loved her and had taken her in when she needed a home. I tried really hard to not imagine that she had been hit by a car or something of that nature". Eden

Their excitement was tempered with the realization that they could not afford the flight to bring Avery home. CARE Volunteer, Lil, put the same determination to work to raise the funds to get Avery home that she used to track down Avery's family. In less than 12 hours, we had the funds for her plane ticket and airline safe crate. We cannot thank the folks enough who generously contributed to help Avery get back home. Without your help, Avery's family would have had to settle for knowing that she was safe, but they would never see her again. Thanks to you, Avery has been reunited with her family back in Colorado.

As mysterious as how Avery found herself in SC are the events that helped her find her way back. So many things had to come together in just the right way that one has to wonder if it was divine intervention. Avery's mom believes her Dad had a hand in it. Eden's Dad understood more than anyone how much Bill and Eden loved Avery. He passed away this summer. Perhaps he did help Avery get back home as his way of helping Eden through her first holiday season without him.

"I can never possibly thank all of you enough for saving her. I don't know for sure what set in motion this whole chain of events. I don't know how she found you all who definitely went above and beyond every step of the way for her, but I guarantee I will never forget any of you or the generosity people showed in donating for her flight home. After having our family really torn apart over the last year, we can finally add a piece of it back in. I can look forward to another fun-filled Christmas baking season of trying to keep Avery from stealing all the Christmas cookies off the counter as soon as I bake them and knocking the Santa train off its tracks every time it makes noises. My husband can finally look forward to running with another live being that has the stamina to keep up since neither basset hounds nor cats are exactly endurance runners and teenagers just tend to complain a lot." Eden 

Avery is back home, now, and Bill and Eden say she fell right back in to her old routines. She still likes to steal food whenever she gets a chance. The only family member not thrilled that Avery is home is Desmond, the cat. He'll come around.

Avery is not the only dog with a happy ending in this story. CARE Volunteer, Kelly, was at the shelter that day looking for Missy, a CARE foster dog who had dug out of her fence and gotten lost. Missy was found safe and has been adopted. When CARE Volunteer, Lil, went back to the shelter to bring Avery home, she saw a St. Bernard and a German Shepherd Dog who needed to get out. She contacted a local St. Bernard rescue group who bailed out the St. Bernard, and Lil is fostering Jemma, the German Shepherd Dog herself.

We may never understand how this all came together so perfectly, but we are all thrilled that it did. Our only regret is that there were many more dogs who we could not save. We can save them all if we all come together. Please check your local shelters and rescues when you are ready for a dog. They are filled with wonderful pets who deserve a chance to live as part of a loving family.  

Avery in the News 

* Names have been changed.

CARE is celebrating the American Humane Association’s national Adopt-A-Cat Month this June. It’s the perfect time to promote cat adoptions because the spring and summer months typically bring a surge of cats to the nation’s shelters and rescues. When cats are not neutered or spayed, they easily reproduce, and the spring and summer is that time of year when cats are more active, resulting in more kittens showing up at our doors.

 

In an effort to make lives better, this year’s Adopt-A-Cat Month is proudly sponsored by 9Lives® cat food, which last year led a nationwide campaign to promote the adoption of 1 million cats from the country’s shelters. It looks like 9Lives® cat food, with the help of shelters everywhere, will soon achieve this goal. To continue the momentum, CARE encourages people to enrich their lives by adopting a cat.

 

American Humane provides these insights to consider when adopting:

 

• Age : While kittens are hard to resist, adult cats are often better suited to families with young children. Mature cats respond better to the clumsy handling of inquisitive toddlers.

• Number : It can be beneficial to adopt more than one cat or kitten, especially if the pets will be left alone for long periods while you are gone. Not all cats enjoy companionship, but many are very social with members of their own species. Young kittens need to engage in vigorous play for several hours a day – another pet can help get the job done.

• Personality : Many cats are under a great deal of stress in a shelter environment. A cat’s true personality may not emerge until he has been in his new home for several weeks. (Organization name) encourages you to visit the cat you’re interested in several times and to read any information from a previous owner.

• Coat : The longer the cat’s fur, the more brushing will be needed to prevent painful matting.

• Nutrition and health : Good nutrition and yearly vet visits will keep your cat healthy and happy. Keep your cat indoors to prevent her from getting into accidents or fights with other cats. Check your cat for fleas, and make sure the litter box is clean and odor-free. Finally, set aside time every day to play with your cat; it is beneficial for you both!

• Tags : Animal shelters take in millions of lost cats each year that are not wearing any identification. Make sure to include your cat’s name and your name, address and phone number on the tag. Even indoor cats can slip outside, so make sure she’s wearing her tag at all times. Microchips are another excellent way of identifying your pet. These tiny chips are permanently implanted under your cat’s skin and therefore can never come off or get lost.

• Prepare your home : Both adult cats and kittens love to climb and explore. Be aware of possible hazards. Keep trash cans closed, toilet seat covers down and cabinets latched. Don’t let cords or wires dangle, and cover any floor heating and air vents. Some houseplants may be toxic, so check with your vet for information on cat-friendly indoor plants. Kids and cats • : Children should be taught that a kitten or cat is a companion, not a toy. Rough handling can lead to injuries to both the cat and the child.

• Dogs and cats : Contrary to the expression, “fighting like cats and dogs,” in reality cats and dogs often enjoy each other’s company. It is not unusual for them to engage each other in play and snuggle up together for a nap. However, great care must be taken when introducing these two species. Some dogs may be aggressive toward small animals and may not be suitable for sharing their homes with cats. If you have a dog, ask the adoption staff if you can bring him to the shelter to meet the cat in a controlled environment before you adopt. The shelter staff can help assess their interaction. Remember that most cats will be frightened the first time they see a dog and will need time to accept a canine companion. This may take several days or even weeks depending on the cat.

 

About the American Humane Association Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link® between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane’s regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”® end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington, D.C., is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. American Humane meets the strong, comprehensive standards of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, has been awarded the Independent Charities of America’s “Best in America” Seal of Approval, and has received a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s leading charity evaluator. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.

 

Morris’ Million Cat Rescue™ is a campaign led by 9Lives® Cat Food’s own Morris® the Cat, who was originally rescued from an animal shelter in Chicago, Illinois, in 1968. 9Lives® Cat Food and Morris® the Cat, supported by his newly adopted pal Li’l Mo™ (the first cat in a million), have traveled the country on a mission to find loving homes for 1 million cats. 9Lives, Morris, Morris’ Million Cat Rescue, Li’l Mo, and Morris’ Million Cat Rescue logo are trademarks of Del Monte Corporation.

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