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It's the time of year to take a look back at the 2024 accomplishments of
Chatham Animal Rescue & Education (CARE). It is with immense respect and appreciation
for all who support CARE that we proudly share this information.
Volunteers, donors, and adopters are the foundation that keeps CARE thriving and successfully serving the homeless cats and dogs in Chatham County every year, in fact since 1975!
Please find time to see the highlights in the 2024 Impact Report,
as told through several of our volunteers and donors.
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You Made a Difference
The lives of 738 cats and dogs in need in Chatham County are better because you care. From beginning to end, you - our volunteers, our foster caregivers, our donors --you each made many lives better.
You Transformed Lives
Sweet Tilly has had her trials, but she has been a trooper throughout. She came into CARE’s foster program as a stray in her senior years. She had heartworm disease and survived the painful treatment for it. She developed pneumonia, which persisted for weeks, despite several rounds of antibiotics. Tilly even made it through a copperhead bite and a visit to the emergency vet. The biggest test of her good temperament, however, came when she unexpectedly – to her human caregivers at least! – gave birth to a single puppy and then became a stepmom to two more puppies. Singleton puppies have many disadvantages, so CARE asked Tilly to nurture two female pups who had lost their mother and needed a new one. Tilly rose to the occasion and raised all three puppies diligently with much love and care.
Tilly is now living a well-deserved life of leisure in a loving forever home. Ever the trooper and a born caregiver!
2024 gaveTilly a new lease on life!
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Biscuit was found among a colony of stray cats in the community by a kind woman who noticed she had seriously infected eyes. Concerned about the kitten, the woman contacted CARE to see if CARE could help. Without hesitation, CARE agreed to take the kitten and contacted their vet partner to have Biscuit seen right away. The vet, seeing how serious the condition was, immediately prepared Biscuit for surgery to have both her eyes removed. Within a couple of days, Biscuit was already exploring with curiosity, seeking affection and learning to navigate her way around. Biscuit's bold and confident demeanor was amazing to observe as she learned to climb up and down the bed, navigate her way to the top of the cat tower and ascend and descend the stairs. Biscuit learned to play, using her keen sense of hearing to find her toys, food and litter box. Biscuit is an easy cat to fall in love with and soon her lucky forever family adopted her. Once again, Biscuit's new family was amazed to see how quickly she adapted. She lives in a home with her mom, dad and two dog siblings who have learned that Biscuit rules! None of this would have been possible without the loyal support of our dedicated donors.
No Challenge is Too Big with the Right Support.
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Volunteers - Fosters - Donors
People Who Care
You Make the Difference!
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Chris Bush — Volunteer
I love animals and have been doing rescue work for both cats and dogs for 29 years. When I moved to Chatham County 21 years ago, I continued to do rescue as the need presented itself. And, unfortunately, it presented itself all too often. I collaborated multiple times with CARE and over time, it became obvious that I could have more impact if I joined CARE. I love working with CARE because we function so well as a team. Whenever a concern arises, it could be a sick cat, a tricky rescue, a person who needs special help, there’s always someone who has an answer, or applicable experience. I love making a difference in so many cats’ lives which is far more than I could do on my own.
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Kimberly Sinnott — Volunteer
My journey with Chatham Animal Rescue and Education (CARE) began in 2005, shortly after our beloved family cat, Paisley, passed away. Paisley had joined our family as a tiny kitten after my brother discovered her abandoned at a lumberyard. Her presence brought so much joy to our home, and when she was gone, we knew we weren’t quite ready to adopt.
That’s when we found CARE and began fostering kittens. It was a way to honor Paisley’s memory while giving other kittens a chance at finding their own loving homes. At the time, my boys were young and loved helping to socialize the kittens. After fostering several litters, we found ourselves smitten with a bonded pair who became permanent members of our family. With a full house and increasingly hectic schedules, we took a step back from fostering.
Like many families, we found ourselves back under one roof during the pandemic. With more time at home and a renewed desire to give back, we decided to start fostering kittens again. Reconnecting with CARE reminded me just how special this organization is. It’s entirely volunteer-run, and yet it operates with a level of dedication and compassion that rivals many staffed organizations. CARE volunteers give so selflessly of their time, energy and hearts, and I have deep respect and admiration for their unwavering dedication to the mission; it is both inspiring and humbling.
As I became more involved, I realized that my corporate experience could contribute to CARE’s operational needs. I’m honored to be serving my third year on the Board of Directors. It’s been incredibly rewarding to support an organization that not only saves lives, but also builds a caring, connected community. It is rewarding to know that the work I do behind the scenes helps our many volunteers and foster care providers with saving dogs and cats each day.
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Jean Kirby
For over 28 years, I’ve had the joy and privilege of working as a professional pet sitter and dog walker in Chatham County. During that time, I’ve built strong bonds not only with countless beloved pets but also with the compassionate, animal-loving community around me.
As a long-time supporter and proud donor to CARE I wholeheartedly believe in the organization's mission. CARE’s commitment to rescuing and rehoming cats and dogs and providing vital spay/neuter services is a huge commitment to continuing to support our backyard needs and beyond!
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Supporting CARE is deeply personal to me. I started when I became a pet sitter in 1997. Since then, many of my clients have become happy pet parents after adopting their furry companions through CARE. I even had a client this year adopt a dog! It’s an honor to be part of a circle that gives animals a second chance at life and love.
As a self-proclaimed “grandparent” to many of the fur babies I care for, I cherish every opportunity to make a difference in their lives. Whether it’s through my work, donations, or simply spreading the word, I remain a proud advocate, cheerleader and constant supporter of CARE.
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Julia Wood, Robbie Cox and Sydney
Both of us have loved animals since our childhoods, and we’ve had the good fortune to have 7 cats and 4 dogs in our “pack” over the years. In 2017, a year after our third dog had passed away, we saw a photo of a Lab-Australian Shepherd mix on CARE’s website and asked to meet him. Amy, who volunteers with CARE and was fostering the dog, brought him to visit us in our home, and we were smitten. Now, 8 years later, Sydney (for Sydney, Australia in honor of the Australian Shepherd in his mix) is a spirited, funny, stubborn, loving dog who lives happily at Galloway Ridge and has a white poodle as his girlfriend—we call the two of them the Lady and the Tramp.
We are deeply grateful to CARE volunteers for giving a second chance to dogs and cats who are down on their luck. The love, time and energy CARE volunteers and staff invest in needy animals is inspiring. Giving to CARE is part of our lifelong commitment to animals and the organizations and people that protect them.
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Our Community
Our Success is Your Success
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We have good news and want to share it with you all. CARE’s number one strategic goal is and has always been to reduce pet over-population and euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats in Chatham County. We have sought to do this through promoting and supporting spay/neuter programs for all pets in Chatham including our own Lillie’s Fund targeted spay/neuter program and our Community Cats program.
We are proud to report that we have made significant progress in achieving our goal. In 2024 CARE spayed and neutered 738 cats and dogs through our various programs. This included 369 dogs, and cats like Curly, belonging to low-income families through the Lillie’s Fund targeted spay/neuter program, and 250 cats sterilized through the Community Cat program. In addition, we spayed/neutered 119 cats, and dogs like Carey, who entered our foster care programs.
This would not be possible without your support, which enables us to provide access to these surgeries and to spread the word in the community in a meaningful way. Our success is your success. Together, we are reaching our goal!
Your generosity is humbling. We thank you.
| | | | Take time to check out our adorable, adoptable cats and dogs. | | |
About Chatham Animal Rescue & Education (CARE)
The mission of Chatham Animal Rescue & Education (CARE) is to promote the health and safety of all dogs and cats in Chatham County, NC. CARE foster caregivers provide loving, stable homes to homeless cats and dogs, helping them become the best possible pets for their future forever families. CARE works with the Chatham County Animal Resource Center to save the lives of unwanted cats and dogs, manages feral cat colonies, and serves as an educational resource. CARE’s Lillie’s Fund is a targeted spay/neuter program, subsidizing sterilization surgeries for pets owned by lower-income families in Chatham County. CARE is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that has served the community since 1975 and relies on individual and corporate donors for support.
As a volunteer-based organization, we are completely reliant on the dedication of our wonderful volunteers to support our mission.
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