Statements
Mission
CCR is focused on rescuing homeless dogs & some special cats from high-kill shelters in Tennessee, placing them in loving foster homes until we help them find their perfect, forever family. We pride ourselves on doing whatever is necessary, and it can often take several months to return an animal to good health. When a dog comes into CCR's care, funds must be spent on neutering/spaying, teeth cleaning (if needed), vaccinations, (Rabies, DHLPP, Bordetella), screening for Heartworms and a fecal test. Vetting expenses on a healthy small animal can get expensive and even more so with the larger breeds. The truth is the majority of found/stray/rescue dogs and cats DO require additional vetting. Deworming is always a necessity. CCR routinely treats Heartworm positive animals, pays to set broken bones, treat illnesses and injuries---providing treatment the original owners either didn't choose or could not afford. It is not unusual for the costs of this care to become extremely expensive. We succeed only because of the generosity of loving volunteers who take these animals into their homes, who make them part of the family while providing care, training, and love. The foster environment allows the CCR animals to be assessed for behavioral and health issues and have those issues addressed. Then every attempt is made to find the best possible forever family for each animal.
Background
Critter Cavalry Rescue evolved for two women who knew each other as business associates and then came to realize our passion was unified and focused on saving the tragically the high number of dogs entering kill shelters in Middle Tennessee and throughout the southeastern United States. With the advent of the internet and emails taking off after the unfathomable experience of 9/11, the world became more universal and connected through emails. The exposure of dogs and cats tragically losing their lives right here in Middle Tennessee shelters was overwhelming and mind-boggling to absorb. The reality hit so many of us in the mind, heart, and soul and soon Critter Cavalry Rescue was formed.
Impact
In the past year (2018) we have adopted over 900 dogs and 86 cats to the Middle TN and KY, Alabama area as well as to people in 9 northeastern states.We have adopted over 65 senior dogs that are over the age of 10.We have successfully heartworm treated over 50 dogs.We have expanded our northeastern foster base to include over 20 families.We started a cat rescue branch resulting in 125 cats placements in 12 months.
Needs
Our top 5 needs are: 1. Foster homes that are competent and long-lasting to help us pull more from distressed situations in shelters, and abandonment or people in crisis who need to surrender their dog. The foster homes are the only hold back from helping more dogs and cats. 2. We would love to have a place to bring dogs for assessment and first housing when they first come out of a shelter. Then find the right foster home for them. If we had a place that would allow us to put up 10-15 kennels and someone to help care for the dogs as we assess them and find fosters or forever homes, then we would be under less pressure and could be more productive in our rescue numbers of successful adoptions. 3. We need a dedicated and effective trainer to work with us hands on with aggressive dog dogs and also the shy ones who are overly frightened of life. 4. Funds are always needed to help the sick, the injured and the critically ill that need to be in emergency care for health conditions that arise over the weekend or overnight. We have little time to fundraise traditionally and could use help with passive fundraisers that require little time in planning or performing. 5. We need help responding to email inquiries and making calls on applications that need to be reviewed.
CEO Statement
At Critter Cavalry Rescue we have always been hands-on and easy to get in touch with the organization. We answer emails promptly, and we try to help those in need that ask for our help. I answer the calls that come in daily for Critter Cavalry Rescue. The first thing that people always say is that it is nice to really be able to "talk" with someone on the phone. That we actually ANSWER THE PHONE ? seems to be a shock and honestly, it is rare in rescue work. I get calls to help people with sick skunks, injured birds, squirrels, and other wildlife emergencies. I handhold and try my best to direct the calls to the proper places that can help them. I get calls from people who have intercepted dogs that are about to go into a shelter, and they don't want the dog to go. As a representative of Critter Cavalry Rescue, I try to counsel, solve problems and primarily lend a shoulder to the callers who call for help. Some I can help and others I honestly cannot. There are so many abandoned dogs out there, and we often say to those people who have found a dog we will be your partner if you will foster. We will vet the dog at our CCR expense if you will care for and house the dog or cat as we assist them in finding a home. Sometimes it works beautifully, sometimes it doesn't. We have some very caring and responsive volunteers and can always use more. Wisdom, patience, and passion are the three most essential elements to helping our rescue. Being intuitive, perceptive and knowing good people and knowing BS when you hear it. Discernment comes with experience and by "doing" the work you gain that experience that is needed to help. We are Critter Cavalry Rescue, not "Quitter" Cavalry Rescue. We never QUIT! And we don't want people who do.
Board Chair Statement
Our challenges every day are time to do what is needed and hands and homes to make a place for the dogs and cats that need our help. We need foster homes, educated and professional volunteers to answer emails and review applications for adoption. We need transportation and drivers every day of the week to make dog picks up happen from shelters and vet offices. We are faced with financial needs, but first and foremost we need the people to help us help the precious creatures that encounter death and abandonment. They need our voices, and Critter Cavalry Rescue has successfully adopted over 9,000 dogs and cats over the past 12 years. We have grown from 30 dogs in foster care to over 125 at all times. We do not discriminate in choosing who we help. Any age, any breed, any health condition. When we pick up the business phone for Critter Cavalry Rescue, we are ready to help if we can. We counsel, we cry, we pray, we offer a plan of action if the people asking for help will do their part. We offer teamwork and team effort, and the team needs to grow through awareness of the need and the knowledge that CCR will do what we say we will do. Foster homes, transportation needs, photography assistance for dog pictures to post, computer assistance to answer emails and application reviewers. Those we must have to use the financial assistance we receive to save more dogs. We are here 24/7 to save more homeless creatures.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Animal Related - Animal Protection & Welfare |
| Secondary Category: | Animal Related - Animal Services NEC |
| Tertiary Category: | Animal Related - Animal-Related NEC |
Areas Served
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Franklin |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Wayne |
