C.A.R.E.’s efforts to build new animal shelter under way

About 100 people interested in helping the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort build a larger, more modernized, no-kill animal shelter helped kick off of its Build It! capital campaign to raise $3 million. The event took place at May 31 at the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce.

Veterinarian Hal Ott, C.A.R.E.’s founder, Penny Smith, its current board president, and veterinarian Bob Encinosa, its medical director, cut a red ribbon to symbolically get the fundraising started. Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith, members of the Sun City Center Area and Greater Riverview chambers and the public participated.

The original building housing the shelter was built in the early 1960s, is in continual need of repair and is too small to meet C.A.R.E.’s growing needs to serve the community.

Donations can be made on Facebook through Penny’s fundraiser for Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, at https://bit.ly/2WlrMgi or by mailing a check with Build It! in the note field to C.A.R.E., 1528 27th St. SE, Ruskin, FL 33570.

Lois Kindle

Penny Smith, C.A.R.E.’s current board president, reveals the proposed floor plan for a modernized shelter the organization plans to build as soon as it can raise $3 million. LOIS KINDLE PHOTOS

Hal Ott, C.A.R.E.’s founder, center left; Penny Smith, its president; and veterinarian Bob Encinosa, its current medical director, get ready to cut the ribbon for the organization’s Build It! capital campaign. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith, left, and Debbie Kirkland, membership director of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, visit with C.A.R.E.’s medical director Bob Encinosa DVM. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

C.A.R.E. exists to help homeless animals like Marmaduke, left, and Angelina. The new shelter C.A.R.E. wants to build will enable it to provide temporary shelter and rehabilitation for more stray and abandoned animals than it can now. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

C.A.R.E. needs the community’s support to fill in this thermometer representing the amount of donations being collected as the campaign proceeds to its goal of $3 million. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith, left, chats with Sun City Center resident Lynn Kessel at the kick-off event for C.A.R.E.’s $3-million capital campaign. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

Build It! attendees hear the details of C.A.R.E.’s need for a new no-kill shelter to replace the original building housing the shelter that was built in the early ‘60s and is in continual need of repair. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO

An audience of about 100 area residents and Sun City Center Area and Greater Riverview chamber members listen as C.A.R.E. President Penny Smith explains why the nonprofit organization needs a new shelter facility. BETH STEIN PHOTO

Penny Smith, left, talks with Angie Frazier, co-owner of Canine Cabana in Riverview. LOIS KINDLE PHOTO