History
In 2002, Pam Carpenter retired to pursue her life's dream. She and her husband, Harry, began rescuing cats to save them from the elements (Chicago winters), from the dangers of a life in the "wild", and from having litter after litter unchecked. She has always cared for cats and continues to have a network of rescue volunteers.
In July of 2005, the dream of Pam and Harry Carpenter came true when they opened the doors to New Beginnings Shelter. This started another chapter in their lives to rescue as many cats as possible. In order to create a home-like environment. Great consideration was used in the design of New Beginnings Shelter. The cats do not live in cages, but thrive in group settings with all the comforts of home.
Each room has several windows with wide ledges so the cats can look out at the beautiful country surroundings. The furniture is covered with soft, colorful blankets and toys are scattered all about the rooms. There are plenty of little spaces for a cat to cuddle up and take a leisurely nap.
Upon entering the shelter each cat is provided medical care, vaccinations, and spayed or neutered.
Pam has rescued cats from abandoned train cars, from families unable to feed their pets, cats thrown from cars, those used as enticement for the training of dogs for the vicious dog fighting rings, and from cages weighted down with rocks and destined for the Kankakee River.
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