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 In 1973, it was estimated that 13 million cats and
dogs were taken into the nation's pounds.
Spay/neuter programs and adoptions reduced that figure down to
between 6 million to 8 million by 2014.
Today rescue groups and animal sanctuaries continue to spare the
lives of pets by finding matchups with owners.
Locally, Logan County has two all-volunteer groups facilitating
adoptions. When people need to relinquish a beloved pet permanently,
a cat or dog can be taken to Animal Control or the Humane Society.
Pets are cared for there until a suitable new owner finds them.
Another national average from the 2014, “80% of adoptable cats and
dogs taken into animal control agencies never find homes,” is being
directly impacted today by the other local group.
Lesser known, but working persistently and quietly for the past 11
years is the Logan County Animal Rescue (LCAR.) This skeleton group
operates to transport animals from the pound to no-kill shelters
where there is a want. Additionally, LCAR aids in creating local
awareness of pets that are up for adoption.
It takes a mom on a mission
In 2006, when Kelly Cale’s kids entered school she found herself
with some time on her hands. Cale wanted to make that time count.
Her email address demonstrates her passion: Kelly Cale <blacklabbuster@gmail.com>.
Cale’s love for animals led her to the Logan County Animal Control
pound in July 2006. Her mission was “to see who was there, bring
attention to them and get as many (cats and dogs) as possible
adopted out.”
Cale began the work with another volunteer using her own funds. She
worked with Cherie Preston sorting out what would be doable and most
effective at saving pet lives. Cherie has since moved out of the
area and helps animals where she lives now.
Connections
What makes LCAR effective and valuable are the connections it
provides between Animal Control, the local public, and no-kill
shelters.
Cale coordinates the local work between Animal Control Warden Jane
Whiteman and LCAR volunteers Lisa Conley, who keeps up their
Facebook page; Roxanne Rude, who helps with pictures, and her dad
Guy Overbey is by her side on transport runs.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that
loves you more than you love yourself" - Josh Billings, Comedian
Cale recalls her first rescue experience. She loaded four large dogs
in crates and drove them in her own truck at her own expense to a
Schaumburg shelter (west of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport). That’s a long
haul. But she remembers the feeling of giving these dogs a second
chance, “It was a good feeling driving home.”
Future trips to Chicagoland, where most shelters are located,
involved multiple stops and took up to 12 exhausting hours. The
benefit of these early trips was that she saw for herself that the
shelters were good, well-run places and safe for the animals.
“Animals are reliable, many full of
love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions,
grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.” –
Alfred A. Montapert”
Today there is a collaborative transportation system. Cale now takes
cats and dogs to a hub in Champaign where each animal is reloaded to
vans going to specific shelters with an opening for that animal. Two
common destinations are Pilcher Park and Tinley Park.
One of the difficult things with this system is that often she does
not get to know who adopted these pets. It has to be enough to know
she gave them that chance. She trusts the shelters she works with to
place pets in a good home.
The weekly cycle begins when Cale goes to Animal Control to see who
is in there, take pictures and gather information. She then searches
shelters and rescues that have room for the animals that are
available from Animal Control.
In the next step, she makes arrangements with Animal Control for the
processes that must be completed for those animals that will be
transported to a shelter.
Cale says that when a no-kill shelter commits to saving the life of
a Logan County animal, our group pays the medical expenses, which
can be costly.
Dogs are checked for heartworm and receive distemper vaccine. Cats
get a combo feline leukemia and AIDS vaccine.
LCAR uses Facebook, the LCAR website and Lincoln Daily News to
create awareness of pets available for adoption.
Cale also stays in touch with the Springfield Animal Protective
League, who will often call to say they are looking for something
specific or ask for a particular featured pet. And, she will make a
special run if an animal has the opportunity to be adopted out
immediately.
Currently, transport is conducted in a used vehicle that was
gratefully acquired a few years ago through the Woods Foundation. In
the past year she has logged 5,000 miles, mostly by weekly transport
to Champaign.
When transferring at the hub there is a fee of $10 each crate.
Thankfully, Cale said, if compatible, more than one cat can be put
in a crate.
"A happy arrangement: many people prefer
cats to other people, and many cats prefer people to other cats." -
Mason Cooley, Writer
There is also the occasional surprise, like when Cale made
arrangements with a shelter for 10 cats and the next day the number
had become 14. She called the shelter and thankfully they were fine
receiving a mama with four new born kittens.
This is a good spot to mention that Cale strongly emphasizes the
importance of spaying or neutering.
Looking to the future, Cale’s plan remains the same, to get as many
animals out as possible. She sees that there is a need for good
animals that don’t deserve to be out there.
Not all the animals in the pound were caught running loose or a
nuisance. In 2020, there has been a rise in owners relinquishing
their pets.
Logan County Animal Control currently averages 400 intakes a year.
Some cats and dogs are reclaimed by their owners.
In this past year LCAR made 260 saves.
Over the past 11 years, Cale’s love of animals and those she works
with has given 2,768 cats and dogs a second chance.
But, as Cale quotes others who are in strong agreement, “These are
not just numbers. These are lives!”
If you would like to assist LCAR, Cale says there
is always room. Help with fundraisers and new ideas are always
welcome.
You can email Kelly Cale <blacklabbuster@gmail.com or phone
217-735-2105.
LCAR received its 501 (c) 3 in 2009. Donations to the organization
are deductible. Any monetary donation is greatly appreciated.
You can send gift cards for gas or checks for shelter transport fees
and medical costs through the mail to: LCAR at 750 Prairie St.,
Lincoln, Il. 62656
Or you may visit the LCAR website Logancountyanimalrescue.com and
donate through the PayPal button.
Antique Car Show 7-29-12
New van 8-31-12
Van 9-23-12
[to top of second column] |
LCAR mascot ‘Hershey’ 9-23-12
Bake sell at IGA 5-11-13
Sandwich sale at IGA 5-11-13
Balloon Fest 8-25-13
Fundraiser with Dr. Karen.
Christmas parade 12-5-15.
IGA 6-19-16. [005.jpg]
IGA 6-19-16.
Railsplitter 9-18-16.
Big R - bake sell - 11-6-16
Paint Party - Logan Lanes 3-25-17.
Culver's 8-26-17.
String Party 10-16-17.
People donating dog/cat food. 4-7-18.
Paint Party 5-7-18.
Big R - picture contest 5-26-18.
WL-B gave LCAR some money for Valentine's Day 2-14-19.
Pigs & Swins 6-1-19.
Made Terrariums for fundraiser at Kickapoo park. 8-11-19.
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Mount Pulaski Craft Sale 9-8-19.
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