The nominations are in for the 12 Days of Charitable Giving 2010. Our seventh of twelve charities to be featured this year is Canine Adoption and Rescue League, a non-profit dog rescue organization. Since 1996, Canine Adoption and Rescue League has rescued and placed thousands of unwanted, sick, abandoned and homeless dogs.
Here’s what our nominee had to say:
Hello there! A friend forwarded me the information about you highlighting specific charities. I would like to tell you about the dog rescue that I volunteer with. Grab a cup of coffee because I have alot to say!
I have been a volunteer with Canine Adoption and Rescue League (CARL) for approximately a year and a half. We were founded in 1996 as The Humane League, but too many people got us confused with The Humane Society, so we changed our name and go by the acronym.
We are the only non breed specific, no kill shelter in our entire county. When we have a space open up in our program, we go to Animal Control (a very high kill shelter in our area) and pull someone from death row. Once they are in our program, they are in until they are adopted or they die. We’ve had two dogs die this year, one terminally ill (major abdominal cancer), and another that was just diagnosed with mast cell cancer. Another one of our dogs recently fractured his leg and has to have two major surgeries to correct it. Being non profit, we can’t afford the treatments needed for our babies. We’re doing everything we can to raise funds for the surgeries and treatments. So far we’ve been able to do one surgery on the fracture, but there’s still the other to worry about, as well as the cancer treatments.
Since we’ve had such a rough year, we need as much help as possible. Any amount is not ‘little’ because it all adds up. All donations go directly to the care, feeding and supplies for our dogs.
Donations can be made the following ways:
- Through our website at www.carlvc.org – There is a ‘donate now’ button (at the bottom of the page or in ‘how to help’) that will go through Paypal, and a receipt can be printed directly from the transaction.
- In person – We are located at 3203 East Main Street, Ventura, CA 93003. We are open for showings on Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4, and can write a receipt at that time.
- Through Paypal – Any payments can be sent to info@carlvc.org. We can mail a receipt upon request as long as an address is provided.
- Through the mail – Payments can be mailed to Canine Adoption and Rescue League, P.O. Box 5022, Ventura, CA 93005
- By phone – (805)644-(PETS)7387
Now that I’ve babbled about all of that, let me tell you why I love us. Yes, we’re a rescue and yes, we’re ALWAYS at capacity, but if we feel that one of our dogs won’t be happy in the environment provided, we’re not afraid to tell ‘you’ no. Although the adoption board would be the one to deem that decision, we would rather continue to take care of our dogs instead of placing them in a situation that they won’t be happy in. We will then work our hardest to find the perfect match for ‘you’ . If you have specifications of what ‘you’re’ looking for, what ‘you’ can or cannot have, or special circumstances then we will work with it. We are an honest organization and have thrived that way for 13 years.
I started volunteering there so that I could help the dogs, but it’s turned into me going just as much for myself as for them. I love being surrounded by like-minded people that have as big a heart as I do. We have alot of volunteers spread out and everyone does different things, but we’re all there for the same purpose: the help homeless dogs. I get excited Friday evenings because I know that tomorrow I get to go play with my furbabies (I claim every dog we have as my own). I wish everyone was fortunate enough to find something that makes them feel like that, it’s wonderful for the soul.
…
Thanks so much for your time for reading this, and thanks so much for spotlighting non-profits. The people that make them run should all be commended, it’s not an easy thing to do. Please feel free to email me back with any questions or concerns!
Thanks again, and a very merry holiday season to you and your family! I wish you the best!
—
I’ll just say it: I’m a sucker for animals.
My husband and I rescued our mutt, Lyle (in the photo) when he was just a tiny speck of a dog. He weighed 4-1/2 pounds when we got him (he’s now 75 pounds). We joke that he was the size of his head.
We’ve had him for 11 years. He’s traveled the country with us from Maine to South Carolina. And despite some chewed up shoes and a broken glass or two, we’ve had no regrets. He’s been terrific with the kids even when they’ve tried to ride him around the house or pull his tail. He’s just the best.
If you’re looking for a pet, please consider a rescue.
