$1,800 raised for Cache Creek Animal Rescue

Animal lovers and bowling aficionados gathered at Ross Cottom Lanes April 29 to attend a fund raiser for the Cache Creek Animal Rescue center that raised $1,800.

The fund raiser was organized by Rita Diefenbach of Carrier Mills who gathered sponsors and organized donations.

"Because Cache Creek Animal Rescue helps Saline County so much, we just can't let them close their doors.," Diefenbach said, adding "They are saving animals by the hundreds."

As well as bowling teams, the fund raiser offered crafts, a bake sale and a silent auction, to raise money for the CCAR building fund.

Cache Creek Animal Rescue is a no-kill rescue and adoption facility located at 1235 Spanish Bluff Road in Anna. As well as operating as a pet adoption center, CCAR offers low-cost spay, neuter and immunization services. The director Donna Hawk was an animal control officer in Union County for 14 years and has been active in animal rescue since 2004.

"I'd love to raise the money to operate a free spay and neuter clinic for all of Southern Illinois, that's my dream," she stated.

Because it's current location is adjacent to the Cache River the current site has been flooded out twice in recent years, CCAR has found a new location on a 3 1/2-acre site located at 6535 Lick Creek Road in Buncombe. In a recent flood, water came up so quickly that Hawk was loading crates and animals amidst the raising flood waters.

"I was grabbing Dachshunds as they swam by!" Hawk said.

Deifenbach stated that the fund raiser was very successful and that she is thinking about organizing it as an annual event.

"If I can just get a little more help, I'll do it. It's a very good cause!" Deifenbach said.

Cache Creek Animal Rescue is still at their Anna location, the phone number of the center is 618-893-2500, spay and neuter clinic number is 618-833-4608 and clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.