LOVE ANIMALS?  DON’T MISS THE CCARS SPRING FLING!

Mark your calendar for the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) Spring Fling! Join us THIS SATURDAY, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Building in Flora (607 West North Avenue) for door prizes, raffle prizes, special offers, vendor shopping, and to support a worthwhile cause.

Admission is free, and all proceeds from the event go directly to help pay medical bills for CCARS animals. Don’t miss this opportunity to help animals in the community while also enjoying a taco in a bag and picking up FREE tomato plants!

Local vendors will also be on hand with special offers and supply raffle and door prizes. Vendors attending include: Thirty-One, Rodan and Fields, Ace Hardware, Jamberry Nails, Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Magnolia and Vine, It Works!, doTerra, Tupperware and Paparazzi Jewelry.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the non-profit organization that takes care of nearly 700 lost and abandoned animals each year. CCARS must count on community support through fundraisers and donations in order to care for these sweet animals.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL, and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  We don't pick and choose the animals that come to us.  Instead, we work to find homes for all.

Save Lives. Support CCARS.

SUPPORT CCARS THROUGH THE FALL GARAGE SALE

Everything from duck calls to nuts can be found at the 2014 Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) Fall Garage Sale!

“We have a huge amount of children’s clothing, and shoes, as well as hundreds of pieces of adult clothing, priced to sell.  This year all clothing has been sorted by size, so you can quickly find your family members next new outfit” says CCARS volunteer, Nancy DeHart.

All proceeds from the Fall Garage Sale go towards vet and medical expenses for the many animals in CCARS care. With the tiny shelter continually over capacity and additional animals needing help each week, the sale is more important than ever before.  “Recently we picked up a dog that had been hit by a car and left along the road.  We immediately brought him in and evaluated his injuries.  After consultation with the veterinarian it became apparent he would need to have his leg removed.  We believed he was worth saving.  This past weekend he was adopted into a wonderful local family.  Thumper, renamed Jackson, may have lost a leg but because we had medical funds available, Jackson got a second chance,” says CCARS Secretary/Treasurer Shirl Bily.

The Fall Garage Sale will be at 100 W. North Avenue, in downtown Flora.  The sale will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, October 10 and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 11. The $3 bag sale will run from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 12.  Cash only, no checks.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 organization that takes care of lost and abandoned animals in Clay County. CCARS rescues, heals and shelters over 700 animals per year.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

September 13, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter, 618-665-3005
P.O. Box 623, Flora, Illinois  62839

JOIN CCARS FOR FAMILY FUN DAY!

Join Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) for Family Fun Day on September 20! Events take place from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Country Closet & IGA parking lot in Flora, IL. All proceeds from Family Fun Day will go toward medical care and support for over one hundred animals currently being cared for.

“Family Fun Day is going to be a great way for everyone to enjoy time with each other and get to know some CCARS animals,” said Board Member, Shirl Bily. “We’re also planning to have a lunch cookout, bake sale, raffle prizes, vendor booths, and more.  Country Closet will have pony rides and IGA is providing a bounce house. It will be a great time for everyone in our community!”

Raffle prizes include a fancy scooter, a bicycle, gift certificates, and more. Vendors planning to participate currently include Wireless Mike’s Verizon Premium Retailer; Jana Henry, Pampered Chef; Nancy Pearce, crafts; and Brena Blanchard, Mary Kay. CCARS will also have animals available at the event for petting, playing, kisses, and (of course!) adoption.

Special thanks to Country Closet and IGA, who are hosting the event. “When I found out that CCARS has to fundraise and collect donations in order to care for their animals and keep adoption fees so low, I knew I wanted to do something to help,” said Country Closet Co-Owner Sara Frutiger. “We hope this event helps us all rally around an excellent cause.”

Country Closet is also a regular drop-off location for much-needed shelter supplies. When you are shopping, or when you attend Family Fun Day, please consider dropping off items from the Shelter Wish List. These items include cat food, litter (an urgent need right now), kitten food (also urgent), disinfectant wipes, paper towels, and garbage bags.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 organization that takes care of lost and abandoned animals in Clay County. CCARS rescues, heals and shelters over 700 animals per year.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

May 19, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter, 618-665-3005
P.O. Box 623, Flora, Illinois  62839

YOUR SPRING CLEANING CAN HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

As you clean out your closets and reorganize your garage this spring, please consider donating your extra treasures to the Spring Great Big Garage Sale for the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS). With the shelter over capacity and additional animals needing help each week, the Spring Garage Sale is more important than ever before.

“All proceeds from the sale directly benefit animals at the shelter,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey. “The Garage Sale is a great way to help support CCARS and provide care and medical support for the  animals.”

CCARS will be accepting donations for the sale on May 23, from 10a.m.-3p.m., May 25, 2-5 p.m., May 26, 2-5 p.m., May 29, 4-7p.m., May 30, 1-6p.m., May 31, 2-5p.m., June 3, 1-7p.m., June 4, 9a.m.-2p.m. at CCARS Corner, 100 W. North Avenue, Flora. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Spring Garage Sale! Join us for some bargains June 6–8 at CCARS Corner.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the non-profit 501c3 organization that takes care of lost and abandoned animals in Clay County. CCARS rescues and shelters over 700 animals per year from Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

RECORD NUMBERS OF SPAYS/NEUTERS AT CCARS!

The mission of the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption. CCARS is following through on its mission by also helping to spay or neuter community animals as well.

“February was spay/neuter awareness month,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey. “In honor of the month, we took a carload of community spays/neuters to the vet in addition to our regular shelter spay/neuter runs. We felt this special community spay/neuter run was so important we plan to continue it on a once per month basis.”

Spaying and neutering is essential because it helps prevent overpopulation. With so many animals already needing homes nationwide, spaying and neutering actually saves lives.

“CCARS spayed/neutered over 400 animals during our first year of operation,” Bailey said. “And that only spurred us on to do more. Our total number of spays/neuters for February was 62, which is almost twice our previous pace of one spay/neuter per day!”

CCARS has kept up the new pace since February, too, and in the first 122 days of 2014 CCARS has spayed or neutered 158 animals!!

“Thank you to our steadfast CCARS volunteers who make the spay/neuter runs,” Bailey continued. “Thank you to our beloved vets who take care of so many of our animals, and to our community that helps us make a difference!”

If you would like to help support CCARS in its mission to care for Clay County animals, you can send your tax-deductible donation to CCARS at P.O. Box 623, Flora, IL 62839, or donate online at http://www.claycountyshelter.com.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the non-profit 501c3 organization that takes care of lost, abandoned, neglected and discarded animals in Clay County. CCARS rescues, heals and shelters over 700 animals per year.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

LOST PET? CONTACT CCARS!

Losing a family pet is a stressful situation. As you canvas the area, call your neighbors, and put out fliers, don’t forget to also contact Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS).  CCARS can help!

CCARS is the only organization licensed to handle animal control in Clay County, so CCARS is contacted when animals are found in the area.  Dogs and cats are picked up, brought to the shelter, or taken to a foster home while the folks from CCARS try to locate their owners.

“Two sweet labs were found a couple of weeks ago,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey. “We posted their picture on Facebook.  Many people saw and shared the image.  We kept hoping an owner would call us about them, and they eventually did! The owner said he hadn't thought about calling the shelter until a friend mentioned it to him. We’re very happy these two friends were reunited with their people!”

The CCARS Facebook page is a great tool to spread the word about missing pets.  CCARS encourages owners of lost pets to post their information on the shelter Facebook page -- Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter.  The CCARS Facebook page gets the word out to not only CCARS volunteers and the animal control officer, but also to the community at large.  CCARS routinely posts images and information about both animals that have been picked up and pets that are missing in the community.  Many local families have been reunited with their dogs or cats simply by seeing a photo on the CCARS Facebook page and contacting the shelter.

“In one instance, the owner of a local dog was on vacation hundreds of miles away and saw their dog posted on the CCARS Facebook page,” Bailey said. “The dog was in the care of a family member but slipped away from them. Needless to say that family was overjoyed to know that he was found and safe in the care of CCARS!”

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the non-profit 501c3 organization that takes care of lost, abandoned, neglected and discarded animals in Clay County. CCARS rescues, heals and shelters over 700 animals per year.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL and can be reached at 618-665-3005.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

SUCCESSFUL CLEANING SUPPLY DRIVE FOR CCARS

Thanks to community support, the Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS) is now stocked with basic cleaning supplies!  CCARS held a supply drive over the holidays, and Clay County residents pitched in to help the local animal shelter.

“With the large number of animals that we’re housing at the shelter, we go through a lot of basic items like paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and bleach,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey. “We’re thankful that area residents donated these items. CCARS would also like to thank Cargill for their generous donation of dog food and Flora Walmart for their donation of various cleaning supplies used in the CCARS ‘Shelter Wish List’ window display in downtown Flora.  The donations allow us to use more of our limited budget for medical care for the animals, including spaying and neutering.”

CCARS is grateful to the following local businesses for serving as drop-off locations for CCARS donations:  ACT Automotive, McLean Implement, Precious Memories, Orscheln Farm and Home, Etchison Appliance, and Heritage Woods.

If you would still like to contribute, CCARS is in need of kitten and cat food, kitty litter, new or used wire cages and new or used pet carriers.  Items can be dropped off at the shelter during regular hours or pickup can be arranged.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization who manages the Clay County Shelter.  The CCARS mission is to provide animal control services for Clay County, to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.  CCARS operates out of the old county building on the south end of Louisville.  CCARS can be reached at P.O. Box 623, Flora.  618-665-3005

Make sure your family pet is protected against this fatal disease. Vaccinate.

Thank you to Dr. Abby Deuel of Deuel Vet Clinic in Salem, IL for sharing with Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) the following article she wrote addressing distemper. CCARS just heard about another recent local case of distemper, so we want to help get the word out to local pet owners.

Distemper

Two confirmed cases of distemper have been identified in Marion and Clay counties in 2013. This is a disease that was believed to be eradicated in our pet population due to diligent vaccination starting in the 1950s. However, with the recent outcropping of the disease in our area, we are once again on the frontlines in the battle against distemper.

Spread of Distemper

Unfortunately, distemper is a smart virus. It is passed via urine, blood, saliva, and feces. Sneezing and coughing are often associated with distemper and the fluids produced during these bodily functions can be infectious as well. Therefore, sharing food, water bowls, cages, kennels, pens, and room air can all lead to the spread of distemper.

The good news is that the virus itself is not hardy and does not persist in the environment. Body secretions are infectious for 30 minutes at 60 degrees or three hours at room temperature. The trick is that a dog can shed the virus for two to three months, making it a risk to other dogs. The highest level of virus shedding occurs in the first two weeks of infection.

Distemper historically was the cause of widespread death in dogs in America before the introduction of the vaccine in the 1950s. While we have come a long way with the vaccine, the virus has remained the same clever killer. If we don't vaccinate our dogs, we will see the same epidemic we thought we had outgrown with modern medicine. The lesson: vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!

Symptoms of Distemper

There are three main forms of distemper, which can occur simultaneously or in sequence. Typically the virus will start in the respiratory tract and then progress through the body to cause digestive and neurological signs.

• Respiratory: A dog may have sneezing, coughing, and thick mucus coming from the eyes or nose. There is often crustiness around the nose and eyes.
• Gastrointestinal: First, there may be loss of appetite and depression. This may be followed by sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
• Neurological: Initially, tremoring of the jaw can be seen which causes the "chewing gum fit" that most people associate with distemper. The virus travels to the brain to affect the nervous system to cause tremoring in the legs and twitching in the body. This usually occurs one to three weeks post initial infection. Unlike a seizure, distemper does not occur in phases, but rather is constant, often worsening over time.

Who is most susceptible?

Puppies and young dogs are the highest risk, particularly if they have not received a vaccine. A puppy born to an unvaccinated mother has no protection whatsoever and would be at the highest risk. Secondary, fatal infections in these puppies such as pneumonia are often the result.

About CCARS

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS) wants to make sure our community is aware of this dangerous disease.  CCARS vaccinates all shelter dogs and cats upon intake.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization who manages the Clay County Shelter.  CCARS mission is to provide animal control services for Clay County, to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.  CCARS operates out of the old county building on the south end of Louisville.  CCARS can be reached at P.O. Box 623, Flora.  618-665-3005

Thank you to UniQue Personnel Consultants- Flora for hosting a Blankets and More Drive for Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter from October 28 to November 22, 2013!  Unique collected much needed pet food, cleaning supplies and blankets to help keep the shelter animals clean, well fed and cozy this winter.

"I follow CCARS on Facebook," said UniQue Executive Business Administrator Amanda Powers, "so I am always seeing how generous others are with their donations of time, money, etc., and I wanted to help with this great cause. We posted fliers, put stuffers in all of our associates’ checks, and posted on our Facebook page, making everyone aware of our “Blankets & More” drive benefiting the shelter animals. We had a great response from our associates, and they were all very excited to help out with a local cause!"

CCARS appreciated the generous donation and Unique's efforts on our behalf.

Here is the website in case you know of someone looking for a job or perhaps you are an employer and you would like some help finding just the right employee.http://www.uniquepers.com/

Thanks again, ladies for caring about shelter animals!

Shown are Aimee Lloyd, Amanda Powers, Mandy Hargis, and Whitney Ruger.

January 20, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter, 618-665-3005
P.O. Box 623, Flora, Illinois  62839

LOCAL ANIMALS FOUND HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A record number of local dogs and cats spent the holidays in their new forever homes thanks to Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS)! The shelter was one of nearly 4,000 shelters around the world that participated in the Helen Woodward Home 4 the Holidays Campaign held October 1 through January 2.

 “Our adoption goal at CCARS was to find 45 shelter dogs and 15 shelter cats homes during the campaign,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey.  “I am thrilled to announce that we surpassed our goal. During the campaign, 48 dogs and 68 cats were adopted from CCARS and spent the holidays in their new homes!”

Orscheln Farm and Home played a large part in helping CCARS to surpass the adoption goals this year.  Orscheln’s hosts a kitty cage at their store, therefore making CCARS cats and kittens available daily for adoption.  In addition, Orscheln’s also provides space in their store for dog adoption events on the first and third Saturdays of each month.  “The support from Orscheln’s has been critical to our success,” Bailey noted.

New animals come regularly to CCARS, so each adoption is extremely important to help alleviate crowding at the small shelter. Please help CCARS keep up the adoption momentum by promoting CCARS pets for adoption and by sharing posts of available animals from the CCARS Facebook page. Every adoption means another life can be saved!

Community donations, including memorials and gifts in honor of birthdays and anniversaries,  allow CCARS to subsidize spay/neuter fees for shelter cats, and are therefore able to discount adoption fees to $20 for one cat or $30 for two.  The lower adoption fees are extremely important in order to encourage more people to adopt spayed or neutered cats from CCARS and help reduce cat crowding at the shelter and the overall cat population in the community.  If you would like to help CCARS maintain low adoption fees, please make a donation through the CCARS website or send your tax-deductable donation to CCARS by mail at P.O. Box 623, Flora.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  CCARS rescues and shelters over 700 animals per year from Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

###

Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) is profoundly grateful to our local community for the outpouring of support and love for our shelter animals.  On January 4, prior to the sub-zero storm, we put out an urgent plea via Facebook and WNOI, asking for folks to provide temporary homes for the dogs housed outside at the shelter and at fosters.

As many of you know we operate out of the old county building (circa 1970’s) in Louisville.  The building is old, tired and tiny (750 square feet).  Last year we built outside pens so we could care for more dogs, since the shelter itself only has 9 pens.  With the sub-zero polar vortex upon us, we asked our local community for urgent help.  In a single day we were able to relocate 11 dogs and 3 cats, most temporarily.  This outpouring of love and support brought our numbers down to what we could house inside at the shelter.  Everyone was safe, everyone was fed, and everyone had a warm bed to weather the bitter cold.

Folks, we are all in this together, making a difference to those that rely on us.  Thank you from the animals, volunteers and staff at CCARS.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is the largely volunteer not-for-profit 501c3 organization who manages the Clay County Shelter.  CCARS mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter prior to adoption.

Letter to the Editor:

                We would like to thank everyone who voted for the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter’s Paper Towel Tree in the "Christmas Trees on Parade" fundraiser at Heritage Woods, benefiting "Creating A Bright-R Future." CCARS won Most Unique as well as the Mayor’s Choice award!

                We would also like to thank Flora Walmart for donating the supplies needed to make the CCARS paper towel tree. You guys are awesome!

                Special thanks to Nancy Dehart of Precious Memories  and Shirl Bily for their creative flair and humorous idea.

                Britt Bailey, CCARS Shelter Director

Event:                   Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) “Home For The Holidays” Adoption Event (along with Bake and Craft Sale)

Location:             Orschelns Farm and Home, Flora

Time:                    December 21, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Information:      Come meet your new best friend on Saturday, December 21 at Orscheln Farm and Home!  CCARS will have several adoptable dogs and many cats available for you to meet.  CCARS is working very hard to bring as many animals Home as possible.  Call CCARS at 618-665-3005 if you want to be certain a particular animal is attending.  We can only bring a portion of the animals we care for.

                                Make gift giving easy by purchasing baked goods or handmade items from CCARS!  We will have home baked goods and handmade items available at the adoption event.  100% of proceeds will benefit animals in Clay County!  See you there!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH CCARS

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS) is proud to be one of nearly 4,000 shelters around the world (and one of a few local shelters) participating in the Home 4 the Holiday's Campaign! To help find animals homes for the holidays and to promote the holiday spirit, CCARS has decorated the windows at 100 W. North Ave, Flora.

The Home 4 the Holidays Campaign, organized each year by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, helps shelters find orphaned animals a loving, adoptive home. It educates the public about adopting from animal shelters, and it also tracks adoptions at participating organizations from October 1 through January 2. The campaign goal is to have over 1.3 million pets adopted over the holidays!

“CCARS participated in the Home 4 the Holidays Campaign last year,” said Shelter Director Britt Bailey. “This year we raised our adoption goal to 45 shelter dogs/puppies and are currently at 34 adopted.  With a shelter high of over 80 cats and kittens, 47 have been adopted since October 1.  While this exceeds the modest goal we set, we still have nearly 40 cats and kittens still in our care.”

CCARS needs YOUR help to meet the Home for the Holidays adoption goals. There are a variety of ways to help, even if this is not the time for you to adopt another family member.

1. Donate items on the CCARS wish list. CCARS regularly needs items such as cleaning supplies, cat food, and gift cards. The wish list is on display in Santa’s sleigh in the windows at 100 W. Main, Flora, as well as on the CCARS website. Drop off your donations in Flora at ACT Automotive, Etchison Appliance, Heritage Woods (Parade of Trees), McLean Implement, Orscheln Farm and Home or Precious Memories.

2. Do you have an animal lover on your Christmas shopping list? Make a donation to CCARS in honor of that person! Your honoree will receive a handsome card stating that a donation was made on their behalf. Donations can be made on the CCARS website or mailed to P.O. Box 623, Flora, IL. 62839

3. Sponsor a shelter pet!  Each shelter pet found on the CCARS website (www.claycountyshelter.com) is available for sponsorship.  Money received will go toward expenses for that animal and to reduce adoption fees.

Let’s help our local shelter animals have the best holiday season possible!

Thanks to Etchison Appliance for allowing CCARS to decorate the windows of their building on Main Street in Flora.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is your non-profit 501c3 organization who manages the county shelter and takes care of animal control for Clay County.  CCARS takes in over 700 animals per year from Clay County.  Your shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  CCARS mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter as many as possible prior to adoption.

CCARS THANKS COMMUNITY FOR SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE

Thanks to the support of the community, the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) Fall Garage Sale was a huge success! CCARS was able to raise nearly $3,000, all of which goes to pay veterinary bills and medical expenses for the 700 animals that pass through the shelter each year.

“The Fall Garage Sale really showed the community’s support of our efforts to help the animals in need in our area,” said CCARS board member, Phil Wiley. “We saw a lot of community members benefit as well. Several people were able to afford warm winter clothing through the sale that they would not have gotten otherwise. The sale was set up to help CCARS, but in reality, it supported both CCARS and our local community.”

During the sale, CCARS sold as much of the donated merchandise as possible, and included a special $1 bag sale on the final day.  Spring and summer clothing that did not sell were put aside for the CCARS spring garage sale. Winter clothing was donated to Castaways in Flora and a few winter coats were donated to the Champaign Canteen Run for the homeless. All remaining items were sold in bulk and will eventually reach people in third-world countries.

Special thanks to Joe and Myrna Etchison for allowing CCARS to once again use their building for the garage sale.

CCARS will now accept donations for our spring garage sale.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  Our mission is to care for and find homes for Clay County animals, and to spay or neuter as many as possible prior to adoption.

CELEBRATE “ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH” THIS OCTOBER

Did you know October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month? Help the Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter (CCARS) celebrate by adopting your next furry family member from CCARS!

Over 30 dogs and 80 cats are currently available for adoption from CCARS. The shelter is over capacity, so many animals are living in foster homes in the area as they await adoption. Shelter hours are 1:00–3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours Wednesday from 1:00-5:00 and Sundays 1:00–4:00 p.m. (except holidays). Adoption events take place every first and third Saturday at Orscheln Farm and Home in Flora from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

If now is not the time to welcome a new animal into your home, you can still help CCARS celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! CCARS is currently in need of volunteers to help in a variety of capacities. Email volunteer@claycountyshelter.com or hook up with us on Facebook to find out more about how you can help our local shelter.

CCARS is also in need of a several items used daily at the shelter.  Visit www.claycountyshelter.com/info/donate to read more about the CCARS wish list or to make a donation.

Finally, CCARS could use your contributions for the fall CCARS Garage Sale. Start sorting through your garages and storage areas! Donations can be dropped off at the shelter on Wednesdays 1:00p.m-5:00 p.m., Fridays 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. or Sundays 1:00p.m.-4:00p.m.  The garage sale will be held November 2-3.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  Our mission is to run a low kill shelter, take the best possible care of animals and to spay or neuter all adopted animals.

October 28, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter, 618-665-3005
P.O. Box 623

Flora, IL.  62839

SUPPORT CCARS THROUGH THE FALL GARAGE SALE

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure! Whether you’re cleaning out your attic or looking for a new household gem, the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) Fall Garage Sale is the place for you!

All proceeds from the Fall Garage Sale go towards vet and medical expenses for the many animals in CCARS care. With the shelter currently over capacity and additional animals needing help each week, the sale is more important than ever before.

Etchison Appliance is once-again allowing CCARS to use their corner store at 100 W. North Avenue, Flora, for the Fall Garage Sale. The sale will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 1 and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 2. The $1 bag sale will run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 4.

To donate items for the Fall Garage Sale, simply bring them by the sale location. Drop-off times are Tuesday  11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Wednesday 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.   Please call 618-665-3005 to arrange pickup of large quantities.

Thanks to Etchison Appliance for use of the sale location! Thanks as well to all who have already donated items for the sale.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  Our mission is to run a low kill shelter, take the best possible care of animals and to spay or neuter as many animals as possible prior to adoption.

CCARS IS AT CATpacity!

The Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) is at CATpacity right now with over 80 cats and kittens at the shelter and in foster homes. With additional cats and kittens still waiting to come to the shelter, CCARS could really use your help in a variety of ways.

1. Adopt! If you are interested in bringing a new cat or kitten into your home, please consider adopting from CCARS. Adoption rates have never made it more affordable to find a new forever family member. Fees for a single cat or kitten are only $20. If you can adopt two, the rate is only $30 for both animals. All available cats and kittens are spayed or neutered, and adoption fees already include those costs.

Meet the cats and kittens available for adoption at Orscheln Farm and Feed in Flora.  Adoptions are available during their regular store hours.

2. Consider adopting through our barn cat program.  Hire a working cat or two to help out in your barn or out building.  CCARS has several cats and kittens that are less cuddly who need good homes.  Our barn cats are spayed or neutered just like all our adoptable cats and kittens.  Cost for a barn cat is FREE!  You will still need to provide food and water for the barn cats and they will pay you back by working hard.  If interested, fill out an on-line application at www.claycountyshelter.com or call the shelter at 618-665-3005.

3. If a family member or friend is considering a new cat, please encourage them to adopt from CCARS. Options are endless with over 80 animals waiting for homes.

4. Visit the CCARS Facebook page and help spread the word! Many available animals are featured on the Facebook page. Share and like the photos to help the cats and kittens find their forever homes. www.facebook.com/pages/Clay-County-Animal-Rescue-and-Shelter or just search under “Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter”.

5. With the influx of animals, CCARS also needs cash donations to purchase kitten food and litter. Donation links are available on the left side of the CCARS website (www.claycountyshelter.com) or mail your tax-deductible donation to Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter, P.O. Box 623, Flora, IL 62839.

CCARS strives to help every animal find a home. Thank you for supporting CCARS and helping make a difference for all of the cats and kittens currently in CCARS care!

 Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a volunteer managed non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL.  Our mission is to run a low kill shelter, take the best possible care of animals and to spay or neuter animals prior to adoption.

Frontier Community College Computer Club

Donates New Computer to CLAY COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE & SHELTER

Animals at the Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter (CCARS) now have a better change at finding forever homes, thanks to the Frontier Community College Computer Club.  The Club recently donated a brand new HP Pavilion computer to CCARS.

CCARS has been without a computer at the shelter for some time, making it difficult to track animals, adoptions, treatments, and microchip information. The computer is also essential for connecting to local law enforcement systems and documenting calls to specific residences made by CCARS Animal Control Officers.

“Having a computer at the shelter will also help us showcase our adoptable animals both in shelter and in foster,” according to Shelter Director Britt Bailey.  “Many times people stop by to see the animals at the shelter, but ask about other animals in foster that are not onsite.  We can now pull up our website, claycountyshelter.com, and show them pictures of animals in foster while they are still at the shelter.”

Gene O. Darrough, weekend animal control officer at CCARS, is a student at Frontier Community College.  Darrough approached the college about a computer and then helped facilitate the donation.

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is a non-profit 501c3 that takes care of animal control for Clay County.  The shelter is located on the south edge of Louisville on Hwy. 45 in Louisville, IL. The mailing address is P.O. Box 623, Flora, IL. 62839. The CCARS mission is to run a low kill shelter, take the best possible care of animals, encourage shelter adoptions and to spay or neuter as many animals as possible prior to adoption.