For years, CARE STL has been the safety net for the forgotten, the abandoned, the neglected, and the voiceless. We’ve rescued more than 16,000 animals — dogs tied to chains in the sweltering heat, puppies dumped on our doorstep, senior pets left behind. Each and every one of them deserved safety, dignity, and care.

But our shelter is full. Always full.

Currently, dogs are housed in clinic cages and stacked crates. We’ve turned every office, every hallway, every inch of space into temporary housing. Why? Because saying “no” means leaving an animal to suffer. And we can’t do that — not when we see dogs with heatstroke from being tied outside with no water, not when we rescue dozens during a single heat wave, not when every life matters.

It’s time for a bold new chapter.

We are launching our Capital Campaign to build a 38,000 sq. ft. CARE STL facility — a space that matches the urgency and compassion of our mission.

This new campus will include:

Expanded animal housing so no dog or cat ever lives in a crate again
A full-service veterinary clinic, open to the public and rescue partners
Surgery and trauma treatment suites for emergency medical care
Isolation and recovery rooms for safety and healing
Indoor and outdoor enrichment areas that reduce stress and improve adoptability
Administrative and training spaces to support our growing lifesaving program

Our Capital Campaign Strategy

We are executing a multi-phase campaign plan to meet our $X million goal (insert your final number when ready):
1. Quiet Phase (In Progress)
We are engaging lead donors, foundation partners, and our most loyal supporters to secure 40–50% of the total goal before the public launch. We’ve identified key champions and naming partners to anchor the effort.

2. Public Launch
Once we hit our initial target, we will go public — with media outreach, community events, billboard sponsorships, and direct donor appeals. A storytelling campaign will highlight animals that endured crate life and those who will thrive in the new space.

3. Matching Gift Challenges
We will activate strategic matching gifts to double impact and drive momentum. These will be coordinated with Giving Days, social campaigns, and corporate sponsorship appeals.

4. Naming Opportunities and Legacy Giving
We are offering meaningful naming opportunities — kennels, wings, exam rooms, gardens, and more — for donors who want to leave a lasting legacy. Our planned giving program invites donors to include CARE STL in their wills and estates.

5. Corporate and Community Engagement
We are building a corporate sponsorship portfolio and inviting local businesses to underwrite key spaces or provide in-kind donations. Community engagement events will ensure grassroots support throughout St. Louis.

Why Now?
Because every day, more animals come in.
Because every summer, more are found tethered in dangerous heat.
Because we are full — not because we want to be, but because we refuse to turn our backs.

In 2024 alone, we rescued 74 animals in just one week during a heat wave. Crates are not a solution. Overcrowding leads to illness, stress, and heartbreak — for animals and staff all.

Your Gift Will Build More Than Walls. It will build hope. Healing. A future where no animal is left behind.

Join us today.

Be a founding donor. Name a room. Create a legacy of compassion.

Building A New Future For CARE STL