Frequently Asked Questions

I'm interested in adopting a pet I saw on your website. What do I do?
The first step is to fill out an application, in its entirety, and send it to caretoadopt@gmail.com. One of us, usually the foster parent, will be in touch with you as soon as possible (usually the same day). This will get the process started. We prefer to receive applications via email, and it speeds up the process for you. Applications can also be snail mailed to PO Box 969 Swansea, SC  29160.

If I submit an application, am I obligated to adopt that pet?
No. Submitting the application gets the process started for checking references. If you change your mind, we are ok with that. We want you to want the pet you get! In fact, we REQUIRE via contract that you return the animal to us if you decide you no longer want them, for the life of the pet. We simply ask that you give us 2 weeks to find room for them. 

I have questions about a pet I saw on your website. Who do I contact?
All of the pets on our website live in foster homes until they are adopted. The foster parent of the pet you are interested in is the best person to contact for information. They live with the animal and know them best. The foster parent's email address is listed on the pet's profile page at the top of the list above their Description. You will get a faster response by emailing the foster parent directly than by using the main organization email address because the recipient will have to forward the email to the foster parent. Skip the middle-man and go straight to the source!

How much do your pets cost?
Our pets are not for sale. We do not, nor do we wish to, make a profit from the "sale" of animals. The fee that we charge is an adoption fee, not a sale price. Your adoption fee (almost) covers the cost of vaccinating and altering the animal and providing any other necessary health care. Some pets require more health care services, so any "extra" we get from adoption fees covers these extra costs. We could not continue rescuing animals if we did not charge an adoption fee because we would have no money! This is similar to adoption fees charged by human adoption agencies.

The adoption fees vary depending on the species of animal. The adoption fee for each animal is listed on their profile in the list above their description.  

Why do you charge an adoption fee when so many pets need homes?

The adoption fees we charge allow us to provide necessary medical care for the animals. They are vaccinated, altered, and put on heartworm prevention. Many of the animals who come to us need additional medical care such as heartworm treatment, dental surgery, epilepsy medication, and more. The funds we collect from adoption fees help cover these costs, in addition to our fundraisers. We do not make a profit from adoption fees, and CARE Volunteers donate a lot of their own money to keep the animals healthy.  

Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible. 100% of the donations we receive are used to support program services. We have NO paid staff members. You can find information about our charity on the SC Secretary of State's website.

How can I make a donation?
Let me count the ways.

1. You can use PayPal to make a donation online.
2. You can send a check made out to CARE to PO Box 969 Swansea, SC 29160
3. You can use the links on our home page when you shop for pet supplies, and CARE receives a contribution from the retailer.

4. You can use http://care.prodege.com as your search engine, and CARE receives a donation for your searches.
6. You can shop iGive.com and designate Cullen's Archangel RescuE as your recipient.
7. You can shop our CafePress site.

Where are you located?
Nowhere. Everywhere.

OK, not really. CARE does not have a physical shelter. All of our pets stay in foster homes until they are adopted. Our foster homes are spread out across SC and Augusta, GA.

How can I meet a pet if you don't have a physical location?
We hold adoption days on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month at SuperPetz on Decker Boulevard in Columbia, SC. If you are interested in meeting a particular pet, contact the foster parent using the email address located at the top of the pet's profile page, and ask if they are bringing the pet to the next adoption day. Be sure to do this because not every pet attends every adoption day! If the adoption day schedule or location is not convenient for you, simply email the foster parent and request a private meeting. A completed adoption application is required for a private meeting.

Do you adopt out of state?
Yes, we will adopt out of state to a good home. There are exceptions. If a pet will require medical care at a later date to be provided by CARE, we cannot adopt out of state. Also, pets will not be shipped. Out of state adopters must come to SC and pick up the pet themselves. A home visit will be arranged with a local rescue group.

Do you microchip pets prior to adoption?
We recently started microchipping dogs prior to adoption. We waited to begin this practice until we had enough information to satisfy our minds that it is safe for the pet. After much research, we have determined that it is safe and are now routinely microchipping our dogs.

Can I adopt a pet who is NOT spayed or neutered?
No, there are several reasons why we cannot adopt out an unaltered pet.

One is that our organization does not exist solely to find homes for stray animals. Part of our mission is to eliminate the pet overpopulation problem so that someday, there will be no more stray animals. Please see our Information page for more about our organization's mission. There are approximately 4 million cats and dogs put to sleep every year because there are not enough homes to go around. There are many more cats and dogs in existence than there are humans, so it is mathematically impossible for all of them to find a home. Spaying and neutering pets is proven to be the most effective way to reduce this problem.

Two is that we are bound by our bylaws. In order to get tax exempt status from the government, we have to draw up a detailed mission statement outlining specifically how our organization will help the public. As stated above, altering pets is one of the most effective ways we have of helping the public by reducing the stray pet population. It is written into our bylaws that we will not adopt out pets unless they are altered. If we break this rule, we could lose our tax exempt status.

Finally, there are health reasons. Altered pets have a longer life expectancy than unaltered ones. Altering reduces the risk of certain cancers and completely eliminates the risk for others. It simply gives the pet a better quality of life, and possibly increases the quantity of life.

How can I become a foster parent?
Fill out an application and submit it to caretoadopt@gmail.com. The approval process is much the same as for adopting. You can find the application and learn more about fostering on our Become A Pet Foster Parent page.

Can I surrender my pet or stray to CARE?
Our foster homes are always full. We also require adopters to return any pet they adopt from us if they can no longer keep it, for the life of the pet. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough homes to go around. We want to help you, and it breaks our heart when we can't, but we can't take your pet or stray.

If you don't take owner surrenders, where do all of your pets come from?
They find us. Most of our pets are found as strays, many in very poor condition. Sometimes, they are dumped at our homes by people who know we are rescuers. When we are able, we pull them from high-kill shelters before they are put to sleep.