Our Mission Statement
To promote responsible pet ownership through humane education, and to provide shelter and care to domestic companion animals until a loving, responsible home can be found, or lost pets are reunited with their guardians.
Our Story
At Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA) we are dedicated to finding permanent and loving families for the homeless dogs and cats of North Carolina. CARA began rescuing homeless animals from across N.C. in April 2003, and we have placed countless animals in wonderful homes across the country. CARA is dedicated to providing the best service possible to the animals in our care and the families who adopt from us. We take pride in adopting healthy animals and go to great lengths to pair each pet with the perfect family.
CARA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer organization that operates on individual and corporate donations and fundraising proceeds. We do not receive any funding from government agencies or national animal welfare agencies. We are very fortunate to have a caring and dedicated team of volunteers, board members, and supporters.
CARA’s roots began nearly 30-years ago when Dr. Ron Myres, DVM, opened his veterinary practice in Sanford, NC. One of Dr. Myres’ first clients was Pat Sprouse, who became close friends with Ron and his wife, Gail. They joined forces with Sissy and Poly Cohen and Diane and Rodney Harrill to form a team of caring people devoted to finding a solution to the growing population of homeless animals in Lee County. Their collective efforts would later result in the beginning of the San-Lee Humane Society, a facility that eventually became Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA).
As one would expect, the number of homeless animals were more than they could handle effectively without a facility. They entered into an agreement with Central Carolina Community College for two runs in their Vet Med facility allotted to them for their cause. They were able to use the runs to house the animals and do adoptions two nights a week. But, the arrangement was not ideal, so were determined to continue working together to start a Humane Society to help homeless animals in need.
They began to accumulate donations and meet with the County Commissioners and other influential community leaders to help them meet their goals. BBQ fundraisers, Pet Fairs, and other events were held to build funding. Sissy and Poly Cohen secured a bank loan and arranged for Lee Brick and Tile to donate land located at 42 Deep River Road where the facility was built and is still in use. Heritage Concrete pitched in to maintain the road to the building and continues this service today.
So, The San-Lee Humane Society was born out of the love and devotion Dr. Ron and Gail Myres, Sissy and Poly Cohen, Diane and Rodney Harrill, and Pat Sprouse had for the area’s homeless animals they could not ignore. Per Gail Myres, “we never lost focus on the animals. People came and went and there were obstacles galore, but we kept pushing on.” The non-profit humane society had lots of supporters and board members who actively made it a success over the years. But it was this team of seven that were consistently there from the beginning and stuck it out through the good and the bad. They made it their mission to educate the public about the plight of abandoned animals and the importance of spay and neutering to control the stray pet population. CARA continues to find loving forever homes for animals and is committed to a no-kill philosophy.
The facility operated as a Humane Society contracted with Lee County, NC until it evolved into CARA in 2003 – a non-profit, no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Thirty years later, CARA continues to find loving forever homes for animals and is committed to a no-kill philosophy. The original seven continue to actively support CARA with medical care for the animals and through various other means.
It takes the dedication, generosity, caring and support of the community to allow CARA to do what it does. In recent years CARA has cultivated relationships with community veterinarians, dog trainers, and many other organizations and individuals to maintain a network of animal welfare professionals who tirelessly work to advocate for the animals of Central North Carolina.
