The 10th anniversary of the annual Cause for Paws animal rescue benefit is scheduled Saturday in Waukegan.
The importance of the anniversary has been suddenly magnified, because this year’s event offers a chance to provide direct aid to animals affected by Hurricane Harvey.
While the country has certainly rallied around Houston-area residents, the plight of lost pets and strays has also captured attention nationally and locally, from a North Chicago animal warden traveling to Houston to personally rescue animals last week, to a flight full of four-legged Harvey refugees landing at Waukegan Regional Airport on Monday.
So it only makes sense that prolific Beach Park animal rescuer Cari Clark is also in the midst of the effort.
Clark and others founded the Cause for Paws benefit 10 years ago, and it has expanded from a small bar to Harbor’s Edge, 175 N. Harbor Drive, at the Waukegan lakefront, where it has been averaging a crowd of more than 300 in recent years.
“This is our 10-year anniversary, (so) with that and Hurricane Harvey, we’re expecting a record turnout,” Clark said. “You will not only be helping the local rescues, but also the displaced animals from Houston.”
Clark said Tuesday that the rescue individuals and groups she works with already began taking in animals from Houston this past weekend, and proceeds from the event will go toward those groups, including Waukegan Animals Getting Saved (WAGS) in Waukegan, Blackdog Rescue in Glenview and Fat Cat Rescue in North Chicago.
Clark said those groups are also sending supplies and donations to Houston to benefit the animals that still need help on location.
This year, Cause for Paws will run from 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and for a cover charge of $10, will feature several bands, as well as raffles, with refreshments and beverages available.
Clark said she has felt the need to shelter and care for animals since she was a child, and that she devotes much of her spare time and money to that cause, whether it involves taking in foster pets or midnight rescue runs for animals in need.
She has rescued more than 50 dogs and cats, and fostered roughly 20 until permanent homes could be found for them.
Clark said she responds to rescue help requests from many sources, ranging from other animal lovers and social media users to calls from animal control facilities.
Waukegan Animal Control Director Susan Elliot recently said Clark is one of the most devoted volunteer animal rescuers she has ever seen.
Clark also works as a humane investigator for the state.
Residents are invited to come out and see the work she and fellow animal rescuers take to heart as Cause for Paws celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend. For more information, call 847-996-0115.
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