TEXAS COMPANION ANIMAL RESOURCE & EDUCATION SOCIETY

To rescue kitties, ensure their health and welfare, and find them forever homes.

We use the term “kitties” for all our kittens and cats, even as they grow older, and show our love for them in ways that you will read about here.

Our kitties, who are typically abandoned and unwanted, come from a variety of sources in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, from being found roaming the streets to being rescued from a shelter.

They receive a complete medical exam by a licensed, qualified veterinarian after they come to us to make certain they are or will become healthy. They are tested for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus infection (FeLV), fecal tested, receive age appropriate vaccinations and microchip. Our kitties are not released for adoption until they are all medically released by their veterinarian. We provide Spay/Neuter & Microchip Vouchers for kittens adopted under 16 weeks of age.

After a kitty comes into our care a one of our foster volunteers agrees to become a foster “parent” for a kitty. Fostering is one thing that sets us apart. Our kitties don’t spend most of their time with Texas CARES only in cages at adoption centers. In-home foster care, which includes socialization with other kitties/dogs and sometimes children, is very important to a kitty’s well-being at any age. We often use photos taken by the cats' fosters. This allows us to have pictures that have been taken in a home environment.

Our kitties are adopted, not sold. We collect an adoption fee to defray some costs associated with medical exams and treatment given to an adoptee. The adoption fee is considerably less than the same expenses if the kitty were “free”. We secure these necessary expenses as a non-profit, something new parents who get a “free” kitty cannot always do on their own. In most cases, today, adoption fees are tax deductible donations.

Kitties take up temporary residence from their foster homes at Texas CARES adoption centers, typically located a pet supply stores. This is where adoptions take place. At the center, volunteers socialize the kitties with each other and provide them with extra love and attention. This is important because some kitties adapt easily to the adoption center while others can be a bit scared. So, any extra love and attention that the kitties receive helps them feel more comfortable. That can make or break a cat's chances of getting adopted.

At the center a senior volunteer discusses whether adoption is a good choice for anyone expressing an interest. The discussion ranges from deciding if adoption is a good choice to the challenges of being a first-time kitty owner. If it is a good choice, the next step is to determine if a cat or kitten should be adopted. Not every home is suitable for every kitty so it's important to confirm it's a good fit. And, if it's a first-time kitty owner, the senior volunteer helps them to understand the responsibilities and commitment.

Approximately 350 people play one or more Texas CARES volunteer roles, from board members to our Kitty Care volunteers, who help keep the kitties’ cages maintained. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and all ages, from retired teachers to high school students. Each person applies to become a volunteer. The application can be found on our web site.

Volunteers, as such, are not paid in monetary terms. However, they are paid in very special ways, including the love that is returned to them by our kitties as they wait for adoption and the joy in seeing them adopted into their forever homes.

A Board of Directors, under the general supervision of the president, manages Texas CARES’ activities, property, and affairs.

A group of lead coordinators are responsible each stage of a kitty's time with Texas CARES including Intake Coordinator, Medical Coordinator, Foster Coordinator, Adopt A Pet Coordinator, Senior Coordinator, Lead Adoption Coordinator, and Kitty Care Coordinator. Other key roles include Social Media Coordinator,Fundraising Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, and Technical Coordinator.

Other volunteer roles include Cat Rotation Coordinator, Foster Volunteer, Senior Volunteer, Adopt a Pet Volunteer, Kitty Care Volunteer, Laundry Volunteer, and Transport Volunteer.

The final step in our mission is to find forever homes for our kitties. We use our website and social media to showcase our kitties. Adoption applications can be completed online at our web site. We enter into partnerships with pet stores and other pet-related stores that provide us with adoption centers in which we hold adoption events and other cat/pet related business that allow us to stage pop-up adoption events. And we will occasionally finalize an adoption at a foster home.

Assuming that this question is for the current year 2019.

We have 46 kitty adoptions through June 16th and are on track to meet our 2019 goal.

We have a positive cash flow through May along with sufficient cash reserves that can be used as needed.

Goals and financials were reviewed/assessed positively during our Board of Directors second quarter meeting.