Who we are
25 years
of rescue,
lOve&
HOPE
C.A.R.E. (Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, Inc.) has been saving lives in Ruskin, Florida since 2000 — one dog, one cat, one family at a time.
Our mission is simple
“To reduce the number of homeless and unwanted dogs and cats through adoption, sterilization, and education.“
C.A.R.E. was founded in 2000 with the vision of Dr. Hal Ott, D.V.M., and a group of passionate community citizens who wanted to save healthy animals from being euthanized in Hillsborough County. In 2001, C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter opened on 2.5 acres in Ruskin with a big goal: rescue, care for, and find homes for stray and surrendered cats and dogs.
We’re a no-kill, 501(c)(3) public charity, funded by donations, adoption fees, fundraisers, business partners and small grants. We do not receive government support — most of what we do is possible because of generous volunteers and donors who believe every animal deserves a second chance.
No-Kill Shelter
Sterilization
Education
Volunteer-Driven
25
2000
501c3
A look back at
25 years of C.A.R.E.
C.A.R.E. Is Founded
The Shelter Opened its Doors
Growing to Serve More Animals
25 Years of Service & Second Chances
Ground Breaks on a New Facility
Be part of the next chapter
We couldn’t do this alone
Our business partners support C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter in meaningful ways, from financial contributions to community visibility and advocacy. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to animal welfare and to the well-being of the community. We are proud to work alongside our amazing partners and sponsors who help make our mission possible.
Got
questions?
what is c.a.r.e.?
We’re a no-kill, 501(c)(3) public charity, funded by donations, adoption fees, fundraisers, business partners and small grants. We do not receive government support — most of what we do is possible because of generous volunteers and donors who believe every animal deserves a second chance.
Where is the shelter located?
C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter is located at 1528 27th St. SE, Ruskin, FL 33570.
What are your public hours?
The shelter is open to the public from 10AM to 3PM Tuesday through Saturday.
Are your animals spayed or neutered?
What is the adoption process?
Adopting a pet is a big decision and we’re here to help make it as smooth and welcoming as possible. Visit our Adopt page to learn about the full process and fees.
Are there any adoption fees?
Yes, and they differ depending on the pet. For detailed information about adoption fees, visit the Adopt page.
How is C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter funded?
when was C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter founded?
Do you accept supply donations?
Yes! Supplies may be used for our shelter or shared with the community through our food pantry. For more ways to donate, visit the Donate page.
How is C.A.R.E. different from other rescue organizations?
How do I become a volunteer? What kinds of things do your volunteers do?
Visit the Volunteer page of the website for more information and the volunteer application. We suggest that you visit the shelter before applying to fully understand our processes. In that we are a mostly volunteer organization, we ask that you commit to a specific day/time each week, so we know that we are staffed to care for the animals. Volunteers help in many ways, providing animal care. Volunteers help us clean kennels and socialize our animals, walk dogs, brush cats, and help guests. Office volunteers also help us with administrative duties. All volunteers are required to be 16 years of age or older.
How do I host an event for C.A.R.E. ?
Send an email to careshelter@aol.com. Subject line “Host an event for C.A.R.E.”. In the email make sure you state the purpose of the event, date of event and contact information along with some information about the event. Note that we will need at minimum 10 business days to review the request and respond to the email.
Will you bring cats and dogs to an event?
We are grateful for the awareness, support, and funds raised through third-party events. However, due to our limited resources and the welfare of the animals, we do not generally take them from the shelter to go to off-site events.