Castaway Animals Rescue Effort, otherwise known as C.A.R.E., is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals. Established in 1992, C.A.R.E. has saved over 25,000 lives and we are still counting. From our humble grassroots beginnings, we have grown into southwest Missouri's largest no-kill shelter. Operations are still overseen by founder and director, Melissa Sartin. Her compassion for all living creatures drives the organization forward.
Everyday we strive to ease the pain that victims of neglect and abuse endure, offering safety and hope, and finding them the homes they so richly deserve. We are proud to work alongside government agencies and other nonprofits making a difference in the lives of the animals we care so deeply about. Together we serve as a voice for those who cannot speak.
C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue houses hundreds of homeless animals. The Adoption Center in Springfield is open to the public Thursday-Saturday while scheduling adoptions by appointment Sunday-Wednesday. The Adoption Center gives guests the opportunity to meet some of our animals offering a one-on-one experience prior to adoption. Our sanctuary near Aurora is reserved for animals who may need some extra time to fully recover and become ready for adoption. We also house our rescued farm animals at this location. Our unadoptable animals reside at our sanctuary as well, each spending their days with cageless freedom, their nights in warm beds, and receiving lots of love and individual attention.
C.A.R.E. relies solely on the kindness and donations of the public to care for our animals. We are neither city- nor state-funded and all donations are tax deductible. We rescue approximately 1,000 animals a year, including dogs, cats, small mammals, horses, pigs and more. Your donations change the lives of so many animals who would otherwise not have a chance.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
To rescue as many adoptable animals from death row as we can properly provide and care for.
To provide medical treatment for sick and injured stray animals.
To combine an aggressive spay and neuter program with a high-volume adoption program while providing quality lifetime care for unadoptable pets.
To network and provide a rescue service for other shelters, ultimately reducing the kill rate in Southwest Missouri.
Adoption Policy
Adoption Process
• Each animal is spayed or neutered.
All animals are spayed / neutered before they are available for adoption. This helps reduce pet overpopulation in the Ozarks - the highest in the country.
• Each animal is current on vaccinations.
Both dogs and cats must receive three total sets of vaccinations to prevent deadly animal diseases. All animals at C.A.R.E. are kept current on their vaccinations while in our care (All animals are vaccinated for Bordetella or "kennel cough", DA2, PPV, CVK-puppies, DA2, PPV, Lepto-adult dogs, FVRCP-C-kittens & adult cats). Dogs and cats above the age of 12 weeks old also receive their rabies shots and are sent home with a rabies certificate, collar, & rabies tag.
• Each animal has been dewormed.
Worms are parasites that can cause serious damage to your pet. C.A.R.E. deworms all of the animals in our care. No single dewormer will eliminate every type of parasite, so we do recommend that your new pet sees a vet to ensure that there is nothing that we missed.
• C.A.R.E. provides additional services.
Cats are tested for two very common diseases, FIV and Feline Leukemia, before being put up for adoption. Dogs are microchipped and heartworm tested before they are available for adoption.
• Each animal has been given a general health check.
Every pet in our care has been checked for illness and received individual care based on his/her needs.
• Adoption Process
Stop by our adoption center to view our animals, or take a look at our Petfinder page. If you find an animal you are interested in adopting, we will have you fill out an adoption application. Our adoption counselors will review your application and discuss the animal with you to ensure we are making a good match for both the animal and for the adopters. Occasionally we may do a home visit or have a manager review an application before adoption. The minimum donation for most cat adoptions is $100 and dog adoptions are typically $150 which helps us cover the cost of veterinary care. If you rent, please bring a copy of your lease showing that you are allowed to own a pet, or be prepared for us to contact your landlord for approval. Please also bring a photo ID. We may ask for proof of address or proof of home ownership if you do not rent.
We also allow a 30-day grace period for pets and people to adjust to one another. Pets can be returned (along with all adoption paperwork) within 30 days of the date of adoption if the new partnership will not work out.
C.A.R.E. makes every effort to ensure our animals are as healthy as possible before adoption, however we do recommend taking your new friend for a wellness examine at your veterinarian's office after adoption. For instance, if an animal is adopted before 16 weeks of age they may need more booster vaccinations to secure an immunity to disease. This is the responsibility of the adopter. Adoption fees are non-refundable.
https://www.carerescue.org/our-animals
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