TILTON, IL (Chambana Today) – Not all animals in shelters are able to find permanent homes, but the Citizens Animal Rescue and Adoption (C.A.R.A.) animal shelter, does their best to facilitate that. Those pets who don’t find their “fur-ever” home outside the facility, will be cared for and will have a place to call home for as long as it takes.

“We are a no-kill shelter, and every animal here has a home, attention and proper care for as long as they need,” said Rebecca Hickman a third-year volunteer.

Community support is largely what keeps the facility running. Hickman added, “Community support has been a blessing to us, from people who donate much needed items such as food, toys, funding and (most importantly) their time.

One of the biggest needs of the shelter, are volunteers and foster homes that can help care for the many cats and dogs in need. “Right now is a great time for individuals and even families to volunteer, now that school is out. We are looking for people to come spend time with the animals, especially some of the older cats and the younger ones who need to become socialized. We are so grateful for the people who volunteer.”

Animals often come in, just as many are adopted out weekly and Hickman says, that the shelter tends to keep a steady number of animals and has seen as many as 80 or so adoptable animals at one time, making volunteers and fosters crucial.

Volunteers can come out and help with feedings, do clean ups and sweep floors on the free roaming, glass rooms, or the wellness rooms in the two-story shelter that mainly intakes cats and kittens who can stay their whole lives if necessary. C.A.R.A. currently intakes a lesser portion of dogs due to smaller kennel space than other shelters.

Fosters also make-up a for a need to help acclimate young kittens to being handled or who need special feedings as well as for extra care for senior cats during their last years, including extra medical care.

Donations of items such as Purina Cat Chow (blue bag) Purina Kitten Chow (yellow bag), small cat toys, washable cat beds, small blankets, used towels, wash cloths, box flats. paper towels, Dawn dish soap, 42 gallon or larger garbage bags, bleach, high efficiency laundry soap, equine bedding pellets for litter. Cat trees, or monetary donations are also very welcomed items.

Those interested in either adopting, volunteering, fostering or donating can call CARA director Connie Farrar at 217-799-8858 or 217-655-4353 or by email at citizensanimalrescue@gmail.com CARA is located at 609 E. 5th St. Tilton IL. Or follow C.A.R.A. on Facebook.

Adoptions fees for Cats are $110 for cats over one-year-old and $150 for kittens under one-year-old, which includes spaying or neutering, microchipping and all vaccinations. Adoption fees for dogs are dependent on size and breed of each dog.