C.A.R.E. Shelter Slumber Pawty

You're Invited to C.A.R.E.'s Shelter Slumber Pawty!

This year, for the first time, C.A.R.E. is one of over 130 shelters across 39 states participating in The Shelter Slumber Pawty — a national collaborative fundraising event that brings animal welfare organizations together to raise funds and awareness for the animals who need us most.

On April 18th, you'll get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at our adoption center and meet our adoptable animals and C.A.R.E.'s dedicated volunteers and staff that care for them.

Every day, C.A.R.E. receives urgent calls about animals in desperate situations – abandoned pets, injured strays, and vulnerable creatures who need immediate help to survive. Your support provides emergency shelter, vital medical care, and loving attention to these animals when they need it most.

Behind every rescue is a story of courage, compassion, and community. Here are just two of the animals whose lives changed for the better thanks to the generosity of donors like you.

Rocky's Story

When C.A.R.E. volunteers first encountered Rocky at Chicago Animal Care and Control, he was barely visible — a small, terrified cat pressed into the corner of his cage, his head and face covered in deep wounds that told a story no animal should ever live. Surgical drains. Staples. Stitches. Broken teeth. The kind of injuries that make most people look away.

And the clock was ticking.

For a cat this frightened, this broken — both physically and emotionally — the odds were devastating. But C.A.R.E. didn't see an unadoptable animal. We saw Rocky. We said yes.

What followed was months of comprehensive medical care: surgery, dental work, and the quiet, steady presence of an extraordinary foster family who understood that healing isn't just about the body. Day by day, Rocky began to learn something he may never have known before — that a human hand could mean comfort, not pain. That the world could be kind.

Today, Rocky is home. Truly, finally home — living the peaceful, happy life he always deserved.

Pretzel's Story

Before

Pretzel Emaciated & fragile ​

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When Chicago Animal Care and Control reached out about Pretzel, a six-month-old puppy in desperate need, C.A.R.E. knew we had to act. Her x-rays revealed a devastating truth: her hind leg had been broken for weeks, left untreated and causing unbearable pain with every step. The damage was too severe to repair — amputation was her only chance at relief.

But her broken leg was just part of the story.

Pretzel arrived covered in scars, severely emaciated, and battling a systemic infection. This tiny puppy had been fighting simply to survive, bearing the weight of a tragic past we may never fully understand.

C.A.R.E. refused to let her fight alone. After receiving the life-saving amputation surgery she so desperately needed, Pretzel was surrounded by dedicated staff, compassionate volunteers, and a loving foster family who helped her learn to trust again.

The transformation has been remarkable. Today, this resilient puppy who once knew only pain is running, playing, and experiencing pure joy in her newly adopted home. Your support makes stories like hers possible.

Together, We Can Save More Lives

There are animals out there right now — scared, injured, out of time — waiting for someone to believe in them.

Your donation directly funds the food, medical care, and resources that allow C.A.R.E. to say yes when it matters most. Every dollar is a second chance. Every gift could be the one that saves the next Rocky or Pretzel.