SAN ANTONIO – Cressie Animal Refuge and Enrichment or CARE is a San Antonio non-profit that helps dogs find their forever homes.
It's mission is to save the lives of dogs that are facing immediate euthanization -- by providing transitional fostering that can help lead to a permanent loving home.
"Most of these dogs would never have a chance," said Karen Lutto, who works with CARE as a foster mom for dogs in transition.
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Lutto is one of CARE's most helpful foster parents. She fostered 100 dogs last year, meaning they live with her, her family and her three big dogs.
"When people come to adopt these puppies they are acclimated, and they are socialized, so they don’t have the issues others have coming straight from shelter. They are ready to go to their forever home at that point," Lutto said.
Puppies learning from the big dogs is very important to the process.
"The little dogs learn to follow when I say time to go outside. The big dogs run and little dogs follow. They then start to learn terms, and words like no. They learn outside and they also learn comfort from them, and they lay in a dog bed," Lutto said.
But it's not always easy for Lutto to send the puppies on their way.
"It pulls on the heart strings, not only for us but also for the dogs too. But we know we have three dogs and cant keep any more," Lutto said.
But she knows its for the best.
"As long as they find their forever homes we are doing our job," Lutto said.
CARE has helped rescue 100 dogs from Harvey, and is hosting a fundraiser to get the animals medical treatment.
The gala will be held Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Shrine Auditorium. You can register for the event at Caretx.Org.
"The goal of our program is to get as many dogs into a safe position into a forever home as we can handle. At any given time we have 50 to 60 dogs in our foster program and we probably rescue 600 dogs a year," said Peggy Brink, founder of CARE.
