For 51 years, the CARE Humane Society has been dedicated to serving the community by sheltering cats and dogs without homes or owners and promoting the humane treatment of animals. The shelter first started as a volunteer establishment, but has grown into an animal shelter that strives to find a home for every adoptable animal.
CARE stands for compassion, adoption, rescue and education, and the staff's compassion for animals is at the heart of the shelter. They pride themselves on being a “no-kill shelter," meaning they do not euthanize animals unless it is for health reasons. Each adoption is another step forward for the shelter.
Jenny Warren, the director of development who manages campaigns and fundraising, recalls the recent adoption of six lonely heart dogs. Lonely heart dogs are those that have been there for more than 100 days.
“I think it was just seeing so many finally get that chance at that family and find that happiness,” Warren said, regarding what made their adoption memorable.
The adoption process starts with an application and a background check of the hopeful adopter’s history with previous pets. Those interested can also just walk in to adopt, but the process takes longer. Once their application is approved, a meeting is scheduled with that pet, whether it be in the shelter or in foster care. If the adopter is happy with the animal, they move to the actual adoption.
“There might be something where you just don’t jive with that particular cat or that particular dog, you know?” Warren said about meeting with a pet. “Just kind of coming in and meeting with them and their personality.”
CARE Humane Society offers services beyond adoption, such as the cat TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program and the Snips package to spay and neuter your pet. They partner with the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for these procedures and for special cases, such as disease and surgical procedures. Their cat program is for feral cats who are found and rescued within the community.
“So, let’s say you see a feral cat at a restaurant, or that’s just clearly been living there,” Warren said. “We want that pet to be spayed or neutered . . . so they can, like, get a voucher where they take it. They tip the ear to know that it has been spayed or neutered, and we return the pet to where it came.”
Currently, CARE houses about 150 dogs and cats at its shelter, and 300 pets are in its foster program. Their foster program helps increase the number of pets they can have in their care by opening up spaces in the shelter. It also allows the dogs and cats to get out of the shelter and enjoy being part of a family.
One person currently fostering with CARE is Kristen Brogan, an Auburn University alumna. She is currently fostering one dog, but she has fostered at least six pets through the organization. Brogan was unable to have dogs as a kid, even though she loved them, so through the foster program, she has been able to make up for lost time.
“They just have totally different personalities when they’re living at home versus a shelter,” Brogan said. “I really like being able to give a dog, you know, a chance at an adoption that might be more permanent just because we know its personality traits, and we know how it’s going to act, so we can give people a really good idea of the dog’s personality.”
Brogan keeps the dog until it is adopted permanently, and then she begins fostering another one. It’s a temporary commitment that is perfect for animal lovers, especially students who can’t currently adopt or are stuck in Auburn for a break. Instead of being alone during the break, they can foster a pet.
“I also think it’s a really great way to, like if you haven’t owned an animal before, it’s a great way to really see what all is entailed in caring for an animal,” Brogan said.
CARE Humane Society also offers tons of volunteer opportunities, such as morning cleaning, dog walking, doggy dates, cat companions and large dog playgroup monitors. A cat companion visits the shelter to hang out with cats and play with them to learn more about their personalities for adoption purposes.
“We would not be able to survive also without our volunteers,” Warren said.
One volunteer is Emily Ingram, who mainly walks dogs, specifically their big dogs. She comes over to the shelter once a week to walk a dog for 30 to 45 minutes on the walking path right by CARE. The other activity she does is doggy dates, where you can take a dog off the premises and go anywhere in the Auburn and Opelika area.
“I’ll come pick someone up, take them to my car, and then we’ll go to our favorite spots, usually Kiesel or Chewacala or the new Ann Pearson Park,” Ingram said.
Ingram also mentioned how it was a great way to get involved with the community. Through volunteering at CARE, she has been able to meet people of all ages, make tons of new friends and, of course, spend time with the animals.
“I think that’s why I volunteer, and that’s why I continue to go,” Ingram said. “Not only because it’s good for the dogs and good for the community, but it’s really uplifting for me to be able to make such a difference in a short amount of time.”
Sometimes, even Auburn University student organizations, like sororities, volunteer and help with walking the dogs and cleaning the kennels. CARE also uses volunteers to help run its events. Currently, they are competing in the Bark Bowl, a competition between CARE and the Athens Area Humane Society to raise the most money. CARE represents the Auburn Tigers, while Athens Area represents the Georgia Bulldogs.
CARE is hosting several events designed to raise money for this competition. Their very first kid-friendly fundraiser, the Bark Bowl Bash: Paws and Popcorn, is approaching. On Nov. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., they will be showing the movie “The Secret Life of Pets” at The Growing Room in Opelika.
There will be popcorn, funnel cakes and cotton candy during the movie, while there will also be plenty of adoptable puppies to play with. Individual tickets are $10, and family passes are $45 for up to 5 people. Children three and under are free. Everyone, especially families, is encouraged to attend.
The CARE Humane Society hopes to continue growing with the community's support. By showing endless love to their animals, the shelter believes that every dog and cat deserves to find a caring home.
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Katelyn Smith, sophomore majoring in journalism, is from Birmingham, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
