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Honor Your Pet By Helping Strays

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

RUSKIN - The Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, known as CARE, a no-kill shelter for homeless dogs and cats, is holding its seventh annual Tree of Lights for the Animals fundraiser now through Christmas.

The event gives area residents an opportunity to honor their pets, past and present, by making tax-deductible donations to the shelter.

For a contribution of $5 to $9 per pet, CARE will place a lighted bulb on one of the shelter trees. A contribution of $10 or more per pet gets the donor a personalized, wooden dog or cat ornament hung on one of the trees.

The trees will be lit from Thanksgiving through the holidays. All donations go directly to support the 50 to 60 pets lodged at the shelter.

"Last year, we raised $3,000," said Don Hinderliter, past president and current volunteer. "We hope to exceed that amount this year."

Throughout the holiday season, visitors are encouraged to stop in to view the trees and visit some of the pets up for adoption, even if only to say Merry Christmas.

Tree of Lights donation forms may be picked up at the shelter, 1528 27th St. S.E., Ruskin.

The nonprofit, all-volunteer shelter takes in and cares for stray, abused or abandoned animals until they find a permanent home. The shelter also provides reduced-cost spay and neuter services and survives solely on the generosity of donors and grants.

For information or directions to the shelter, call (813) 645-2273.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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