March 29, 2024

JCARL doing good things for Jasper County

Cash the Puppy was saved by the JCARL medical fund

Over the years, thousands of animals have been helped by the Jasper County Animal Rescue League Medical Fund. The medical fund is sustained entirely by donations and is always in danger of running low due to all of the expenses it covers.

“That’s what gives us our vaccines, that’s what enables us to medicate animals,” said Justeena Wolodkewitsch, an employee at JCARL. “If an animal comes in and its sick or injured, it allows us to take the animal to the vet and get treatment. If cats come down with upper respiratory infections, it allows me to buy the medicine to treat the cats.”

One recent recipient of the benefits of the JCARL Medical Fund was Cash the puppy.

Cash was brought to JCARL almost a month ago with a broken leg. He was found near a Kum & Go wandering around aimlessly until a kind citizen brought him in. Thanks to the medical fund, JCARL was able to save Cash’s life and prevent the hobbled puppy from facing the harsh winter injured and alone.

Cash is now 100 percent healthy and ready for adoption. JCARL placed him in a foster home until his new home is found.

“It does everything medical for the shelter,” Wolodkewitsch said of the fund. “We take in over a 100 animals month.”

The medical fund is also what allows JCARL to have such low prices for adoption. They spay and neuter pets and vaccinate the animals. The only thing a person has to do is adopt. And with the winter time in full swing, JCARL has a surplus of animals and a limited amount of space, which is why it will hold some adoption events around the city this weekend.

On Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m., JCARL volunteers will be at Family Video in Newton with both dogs and cats. On Saturday, they will be at Farver True Value and Earl May Nursery and Garden Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kittens also will be on display at Pet Kingdom from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

“The ones that have been fixed and vaccinated are the ones that go out to these events,” said Wolodkewitsch. “If they are adopted, people can take them home that night. I have no kennels left for large dogs right now. We have moved lots of dogs down to $50 so that I can get them placed in homes. I have dogs that have been here for three months that really need to find a home.”

Donations can be made at www.jcarl.org for the medical fund through PayPal. JCARL also accepts any donations it can for both its general fund and medical fund. Wolodkewitsch also suggested some good reasons for people to donate or adopt a pet this winter.

“It’s nice that people keep things in county. It reflects on the county itself,” she said. “And these pets came from our hometown, so it would be nice to take care of these animals even though they may not be ours. It’s nice to stay within the community. Any donations are appreciated. Even if they don’t have money, even if they bring in old towels, every donation is used.”

Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.