About Because You Care, Inc.

Because You Care, Inc. (BYC) is dedicated to the rescue, treatment, and placement of stray and abandoned pets.

Because You Care is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981. Rather than housing pets in cages, BYC pets live with families in volunteer foster homes. Once they are ready for adoption, some of these pets are moved to the adoption center in McKean where the public can visit them. Using this model, the personality, habits, and health of pets are well known, enhancing the ability of BYC to place them in adoptive homes that are a "good match".

Because You Care is concerned with companion animal overpopulation and works actively to reduce the number of unwanted stray pets. To this end, all pets are spayed and neutered. Because You Care promotes identification processes that assist animals who are lost to find their way home. All dogs are microchipped as part of the adoption process. In the last few years, BYC has implemented a spay/neuter and release program which allows feral cats to continue living outside but after being spayed or neutered and vaccinated for rabies.

Because You Care wishes that no animal endure the pain and suffering of a life of abandonment and neglect. As human stewards of this earth, the volunteers of BYC work to support and preserve the precious life on this planet and strive to create a humane living environment for all animals.

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The History of Because You Care

Because You Care, Inc. was founded in 1981 for the sole purpose of abolishing the decompression chambers as a means of euthanasia, found throughout Pennsylvania. With the passage of House Bill 350 in December of 1983, this goal was accomplished.

Since then, Because You Care, Inc. has dedicated all efforts toward rescuing stray dogs and cats. BYC, a volunteer-driven organization, rescues strays and abandoned pets in Erie, PA, and surrounding areas. This organization receives no public funds. All pets receive necessary veterinary care, including vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. When they are ready for adoption, pets are moved to our adoption center so they can meet potential adopters. At the center, cats live in a homelike, cage-free setting, complete with comfortable furniture, cat trees, and lots of windows for bird watching. The dogs live in spacious individual kennels with access to outdoor play areas. Volunteers walk each dog several times a day. All potential families are screened and interviewed. BYC tries to match the personality of the pet with the characteristics of the adoptive family. Current pets in adoptive homes must be spayed or neutered and have current shots.