Bringing Together Our Community that Helped Us Create OUR Furever Home
C.A.R.E.S. is a non-profit organization, servicing the Burien and Des Moines communities with animal care and control, rescuing over 1000 animals annually with a return to owner ratio of 65%. We have been in operation over 13 years and are excited to have purchased our building in 2021 to create a permanent home for our furry friends. To do this, it took the whole community united together and we got it done!
Where It All Started
In 2011, we embarked on a journey to create a lasting legacy for the Burien community. The City of Burien was looking for an alternative to Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) who contracts with 24 cities in the Pacific Northwest region. They were envisioning more local services for their Animal Control needs. Understanding their vision, one dedicated animal advocate put together a proposal for those services and Burien Community Animal Resource & Education Society (CARES) non-profit was founded. Our first location was a small office in a back alley building with an Executive Director and an Animal Control officer. We had a phone, a few kennels, and a lot of drive to make the vision a reality.
This is Toby, aka Primo (for #1). He is the first dog Burien CARES helped find a furever home! Unfortunately, Toby recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but he will always have a special place in our hearts!
It Was a Long Road,
but It Got Us to This Point
After adopting out our beloved Toby, we quickly outgrew our small office. In the early days, we faced both support and opposition in our mission, but our dedication and the invaluable help from our community kept us moving forward. Many generous individuals donated their time, assisted with the care of our animals, and spread the word about Burien’s local animal shelter. We were fortunate to secure an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse for rent, which was both exhilarating and intimidating. We eagerly embraced the challenge of building kennels, cat rooms, and offices from scratch. With a lean budget, we dedicated numerous late nights and weekends to the construction, often taking on the work ourselves. The City of Burien recognized our efforts and continued to renew our animal control contract year after year, further cementing our role in the community.
The Here & Now
We have 16 employees and many dedicated volunteers. Since December 2022, we’ve taken in nearly 8,000 animals, adopted over 4,000 pets, and returned almost 2,000 lost animals. Numerous kittens and puppies have also been born at the shelter.
Our community is essential to CARES. Whenever we need items, you respond. We also get monthly donations from Amazon, Costco, and Mud Bay. Thanks to our supporters, we regularly donate cat and dog food to local food banks to ensure no animal goes hungry.
We strive to give every animal a chance to find a permanent home. While we sometimes face tough decisions, we always prioritize the well-being of the animals in our no-kill shelter. Our success shows that a local nonprofit for animal care can thrive and make a difference.
The Future is Bright
As we celebrate over a decade of service, we’re excited to share our vision for the future. Our goal is to expand our impact by reaching out to nearby cities, replicating the success we’ve achieved in Burien and Des Moines. Our journey has been about building a legacy, and in 2020, we recognized the urgent need to secure a permanent home for our shelter. Faced with uncertainty, we took proactive steps to purchase our building, ensuring continued care for the animals we serve. This achievement not only represents stability for our organization but also reflects the incredible support from our community. We are immensely grateful to our donors and supporters who helped us create our forever home in 2021. Together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of animals in need!