Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) Start an adoption application

A nonprofit animal rescue in Skokie, Illinois, taking in homeless cats and dogs and placing them in adoptive homes. It serves North Shore Chicago suburbs (Skokie and surrounding area). Visiting hours: Open 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays 12pm-3pm, or by appointment. Adoption fees: Cats and kittens: $150 (two as a bonded pair: $200); Senior cats (10+): $75; Dogs: $325; Puppies (6mo and under): $375; Senior dogs (7+): $125. Includes a full vet exam, FeLV/FIV test (cats), rabies + distemper vaccines, deworming, and spay/neuter.

Adoption fee From $75
Hours Open 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays 12pm-3pm, or by appointment
Areas served North Shore Chicago suburbs (Skokie and surrounding area)
Adopting

Fees, requirements & process

From $75

Cats and kittens: $150 (two as a bonded pair: $200); Senior cats (10+): $75; Dogs: $325; Puppies (6mo and under): $375; Senior dogs (7+): $125. Includes a full vet exam, FeLV/FIV test (cats), rabies + distemper vaccines, deworming, and spay/neuter

How it works

Start with the adoption application at https://www.carenorthshore.org/adoption-forms, then contact Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) at (847) 705-2653 to arrange meeting a cat.

Location

Find Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.)

The area

Cook County at a glance

Population 5,182,090
Housing units 2,276,493
Est. households with a cat 674,174

Estimated by applying the AVMA's 2024 national cat-ownership rate (32.1% of households) to the county's real household count from the Census Bureau — a national rate applied locally, not a local survey. Population and housing figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to adopt a cat?

Cats and kittens: $150 (two as a bonded pair: $200); Senior cats (10+): $75; Dogs: $325; Puppies (6mo and under): $375; Senior dogs (7+): $125. Includes a full vet exam, FeLV/FIV test (cats), rabies + distemper vaccines, deworming, and spay/neuter.

What are your hours?

Open 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays 12pm-3pm, or by appointment.

How does the adoption process work?

Start with the adoption application at https://www.carenorthshore.org/adoption-forms, then contact Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) at (847) 705-2653 to arrange meeting a cat.

Get involved

Support Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.)

Surrendering a cat

Contact Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) at (847) 705-2653 to ask about surrendering a cat. Intake policies change with shelter capacity, so check before bringing an animal in.

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