Who We Are
Since 1987, Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.™) has been promoting adoptions and care for cats and dogs. C.A.R.E. is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Adoption Center opened in the Summer of 2018 and is located north of Chicago at 4927 Main Street in Skokie, IL. C.A.R.E. offers a combined adoption center and foster home model to better serve the needs of homeless animals as well as potential adopters and the community.
C.A.R.E. is licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Agriculture (License 14383).
Our Philosophy
At C.A.R.E., we believe that every adoptable pet deserves a safe and loving forever home. Our rehoming approach takes into consideration the needs and expectations of the community and adopters we serve, as much as the well-being of the animals. Special care is taken to match potential adopters with the right pets. C.A.R.E. continues its commitment by being an available resource after the pet is in its new home.
Because all animals live in the moment, we are committed to the continual improvement of their quality of life by using volunteer foster homes to meet medical, emotional, and physical needs on a daily basis by stressing training, socialization, and mental stimulation.
C.A.R.E. is a “limited access, unlimited stay” organization. This means that adoptable animals remain with us until the right home is found.
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To improve the lives of pets in need by placing them in safe, loving, lifelong homes through rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming; working to reduce pet overpopulation; and fostering vital community partnership including education and counseling.
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A humane and compassionate future for all companion animals.
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Community
Kindness, Respect, and Inclusion
Passion and Compassion
Leadership, Integrity and Transparency
Adoptions to Date!
C.A.R.E. has helped families from Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Glenview, Morton Grove, Des Plaines, Chicago, and other towns who have had to re-home their pets. We have transferred cats and dogs from local Animal Control Departments and worked with rescue transport partners across the country.
C.A.R.E.’s philosophy and approach for over 30 years has been that all adoptable animals—those who are healthy, capable of rehabilitation, and/or trainable/manageable—be re-homed. To be considered a “No Kill” organization, live release rates must be over 90%. C.A.R.E’s live release rate is over 98%.
We look forward to the day when there are no more homeless pets but until that time, C.A.R.E. remains committed to matching people and pets, and supporting our community.
Our life-saving numbers by year, showing the difference you have helped make possible:
2023 - Live Release Rate 98.32%, 272 Cats Adopted, 132 Dogs Adopted = 404 Total Adoptions
2022 - Live Release Rate 99.51%, 306 Cats Adopted, 85 Dogs Adopted = 391 Total Adoptions
2021 - Live Release Rate 98.57%, 286 Cats Adopted, 58 Dogs Adopted = 344 Total Adoptions
2020 - Live Release Rate 98.3%, 233 Cats Adopted, 52 Dogs Adopted = 285 Total Adoptions
2019 - Live Release Rate 98.14%, 249 Cats Adopted, 118 Dogs Adopted = 367 Total Adoptions
2018 (our Adoption Center opened August 2018) - Live Release Rate 97.58%, 93 Cats Adopted, 104 Dogs Adopted = 197 Total Adoptions
Partners
C.A.R.E. is proud to be a Best Friends No More Homeless Pets network partner. The No More Homeless Pets® Network is comprised of 501(c)(3) public charity rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and shelters actively saving lives and reducing shelter deaths locally.
