IMPORTANT: We receive many impassioned pleas requesting we accept, pickup, or rescue animals for various "reasons". Often these stories are heart-felt and heart-breaking. C.A.R.E. does not accept animals directly from the public. If we did, we would become quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume. Therefore, we created the following "Help Sheet". Please read the following "Help Sheet" before you send us email about an animal you think we should "rescue". Help Sheet: Dealing kindly with an unwanted stray or pet. C.A.R.E. specializes in the rescue of "Death Row" animals. When possible we also assist various Law Enforcement agencies 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. IMPORTANT: We do not accept 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 produce litters born into a world already filled with animals that will die because of pet over population. If you, or someone you know would like a discount spay certificate, we may have some available. Owning an animal should be a life long 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 that it is a sacrifice for you to try and find this animal's owner or to find a new home for it 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. 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 a passerby's attention. These posters should be placed on the streets and also in grocery stores, service stations, veterinary clinics, grooming facilities, pet supply stores such as All Pet Supply, Pet Warehouse, Tindle Mills, MFA. Pets-Mart has a bulletin board to post animals. Lost and found reports should also be placed at all area shelters. Advertise in your local newspaper and if possible other area papers as well. Did you know that most newspapers don't charge for a “free to good home” ad? The Springfield News-Leader has a section called The Pet Exchange and “free to good home” ads are placed at no cost to you. In your ad say something positive about the animal. Example; "Ginger" - a beautiful well-behaved black Lab mix, loves kids and likes to play ball. Big dog with a big heart needs a family to love. Always remember to screen the adopter by asking questions. You can learn much by asking about their pet history and what pets they have now. Ask how many animals they have had in the last year and where are those animals now? Do they have a fenced yard if in the city limit or will the animal be kept indoors? Use your best judgment to determine if they are a good home for your animal. Consider vaccinating or spaying the animal 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 breeders cage for the rest of its life. If possible, deliver the animal so you can see the home he will be kept in. If all else fails or you are forced to place the animal at a shelter, the following are other shelters in this area that may be able to help. All Creatures (417) 345-5002 Haven (417) 835-3647 Polk County (417) 777-3647 S.A.F.E. (417) 345-7233 Tri-Lakes (417) 272-8113 Other shelters in this area include Southwest Missouri Humane Society and Springfield Animal Shelter (animal control facility). Both of these shelters put down animals. The minimum holding period for strays at these facilities is 5 days before euthanasia. If an animal is an owner release, it can and may be killed immediately. *Springfield Animal Shelter (833-3592) is a city animal control facility and will only take animals from inside the city limits of Springfield, open to the public weekdays 8:309:30am 12:00-1:00pm and 4:00-5:0Opm on Sat.-Sun. 8:30-9:30am and 3:30-4:30pm Although we may attempt to answer legitimate email messages in a timely fashion, please be advised that we are under no obligation to acknowledge or respond to any email messages we may receive. You may send us email by clicking here. C.A.R.E. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), no-kill animal shelter and sanctuary that specializes in rescuing sick, injured, and abused animals in the Ozarks. C.A.R.E.'s Mission Of Love: Rescue as many adoptable animals from "death row" as we can properly care for. Provide medical treatment to sick or injured stray animals Combine an aggressive spay/neuter program with a high volume adoption program while providing quality lifetime care for unadopted pets. Network with and provide a rescue service for other shelters, ultimately reducing the kill-rate in Southwest Missouri. Castaway Animal Rescue Effort Inc. (C.A.R.E.) is a no-kill, nonprofit, state licensed facility. All animals are spayed/neutered before adoption.