Carol Richards, Executive Director
2024 Board of Directors
President Kyle Hlafka retired in 2015 after spending 40 years in public education, and spending the last 15 years as Superintendent of schools in Staunton IL. He has been a friend and supporter of Benld Adopt-A-Pet for over 20 years. He and his wife Patricia, a registered nurse, live in Staunton with their rescue cat, Rumor. Kyle assists with a variety of tasks at the shelter, including transporting animals to vet appointments, picking p supplies and ensuring that everything is running smoothly.
Executive Director and Vice President Carol Richard lives in Springfield IL with her “menagerie” of dogs, including fosters, and has been a volunteer with BAAP for many years. Carol, who is self employed, worked closely with our late Director Lorraine Jackson and upon her passing has stepped up to fill that role. Carol works countless hours in her capacity as Director, in addition to assisting at adoptions, transporting animals to and from appointments, and assisting with anything else that needs to be done. As if all that wasn't enough, Carol has fostered several dogs, including a Pit Terrier and her puppies, as well as having six dogs of her own to care for. Under her leadership the shelter is planning to not only continue in Lorraine's footsteps, but looking forward to improving our facilities and operations.
Treasurer Lori Ortman retired from her position as Office Manager at Shop N-Save in Springfield IL several years ago, having been employed there for some 30 years. She has been a BAAP volunteer for many years. In addition to keeping our finances straight, she also assists with various events, and resides with her husband Roger live in Springfield IL. Lori is also a member of the Finance and Fundraising committees.
Our Secretary, Gina Gucciardo, has been volunteering her services at the shelter for some time. She is self employed and lives in Plainview IL. Gina is currently fostering Sam, a young Lab Retriever, who has a serious heart condition. Gina also works closely with our Treasurer, and was instrumental in helping prepare our budget. In addition to her recently acquired duties as Secretary, she also serves on the Finance, and Volunteers committees.
Board Member Karli White lives in Springfield IL, and has been involved with animal welfare groups for many years in a variety of ways. She has volunteered with BAAP in numerous ways, including coordinating our very successful wine event fundraisers, maintains our Facebook page, and is involved with planning and assisting at various other fundraisers. Karli also serves on the Marketing and Communications, Fundraising and Strategic Planning committees.
Board member Bill Castagno spent most of his working years in the construction industry, has been a volunteer with BAAP for many years, has served on the Board for a number of years, and lives in Thayer IL. Bill wears various "hats", including serving as Communications Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, and Website Editor, is a member of the Marketing and Communications, Fundraising and Facilities committees, works on special projects, assisting with adoptions and transporting animals to and from the shelter, and helping out at the shelter in general.
Updated 09/17/2024
Executive Director and Vice President Carol Richard lives in Springfield IL with her “menagerie” of dogs, including fosters, and has been a volunteer with BAAP for many years. Carol, who is self employed, worked closely with our late Director Lorraine Jackson and upon her passing has stepped up to fill that role. Carol works countless hours in her capacity as Director, in addition to assisting at adoptions, transporting animals to and from appointments, and assisting with anything else that needs to be done. As if all that wasn't enough, Carol has fostered several dogs, including a Pit Terrier and her puppies, as well as having six dogs of her own to care for. Under her leadership the shelter is planning to not only continue in Lorraine's footsteps, but looking forward to improving our facilities and operations.
Treasurer Lori Ortman retired from her position as Office Manager at Shop N-Save in Springfield IL several years ago, having been employed there for some 30 years. She has been a BAAP volunteer for many years. In addition to keeping our finances straight, she also assists with various events, and resides with her husband Roger live in Springfield IL. Lori is also a member of the Finance and Fundraising committees.
Our Secretary, Gina Gucciardo, has been volunteering her services at the shelter for some time. She is self employed and lives in Plainview IL. Gina is currently fostering Sam, a young Lab Retriever, who has a serious heart condition. Gina also works closely with our Treasurer, and was instrumental in helping prepare our budget. In addition to her recently acquired duties as Secretary, she also serves on the Finance, and Volunteers committees.
Board Member Karli White lives in Springfield IL, and has been involved with animal welfare groups for many years in a variety of ways. She has volunteered with BAAP in numerous ways, including coordinating our very successful wine event fundraisers, maintains our Facebook page, and is involved with planning and assisting at various other fundraisers. Karli also serves on the Marketing and Communications, Fundraising and Strategic Planning committees.
Board member Bill Castagno spent most of his working years in the construction industry, has been a volunteer with BAAP for many years, has served on the Board for a number of years, and lives in Thayer IL. Bill wears various "hats", including serving as Communications Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, and Website Editor, is a member of the Marketing and Communications, Fundraising and Facilities committees, works on special projects, assisting with adoptions and transporting animals to and from the shelter, and helping out at the shelter in general.
Updated 09/17/2024
About Us
Back in 1983, Lorraine and Marvin Little saw the need to help abandoned animals in their community. Working from their own residence, they took in strays and found homes for them. The couple couldn't bear to see the animals euthanized when they weren't claimed or adopted, so they took their own savings and Marvin, a carpenter, built the original building which was to become Benld Adopt-A-Pet to house the needy dogs and cats, and Lorraine used her powers of persuasion to help find homes for the abandoned and abused animals.
And that was the beginning of what was to become Benld Adopt-A-Pet which, thanks to the lifelong dedication of it's late Founder, Lorraine Jackson, and the efforts of it's members, supporters and volunteers, is still going strong more than 40 years later.
Macoupin County Adopt-A-Pet (MCAAP), a.k.a. Benld Adopt-A-Pet (BAAP), is a not-for-profit, no-kill animal shelter located in Benld, Illinois, and is registered and inspected by the State of Illinois. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charity. Our mission is to rescue abandoned and/or abused pets and place them in loving "Forever" homes. We receive no funding from any government entity, but are supported solely by memberships, fundraisers and donations. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Administered by a Board of Directors, the shelter is operated by a Executive Director, Shelter Manager, and a small staff of hard working, dedicated employees. Animals arriving at the shelter are evaluated as to their physical and emotional condition and treated as to their needs. Our Veterinarian visits the shelter on a regular schedule, and performs any necessary medical procedures, including spaying/neutering, micro-chipping, and minor surgeries. In addition to a fully equipped surgery room, we also have a dental clinic, where any necessary dental work is performed before an animal is adopted out.
Benld Adopt-A-Pet visits local schools with selected pets in order to familiarize the children with the animals, and to educate them towards treating all animals with kindness and respect. Benld Adopt-A-Pet offers several options for fostering animals. We are currently in the process of expanding our Outreach Program, in order that we might educate children about the care and treatment of animals.
We have a Foster program where people apply to foster an animal, we match them with an animal that needs to be in a foster home. To date it has been mostly puppies and moms and litters of kittens, which is what most of the fosters seem to be looking for.
We also have several animals that are Forever Fosters that have not been adopted, where we pay for everything. These animals are seniors or ones with a medical condition, disability, need medication and/or special diet food. We do their vaccinations and preventions, etc.
We recently started the Forever Care adoption. They adopt the pet, we continue with their care as far as medication and/or special diet food, or seeing a specialty veterinarian The adopter is responsible for all the animals other vet care, annual visits, vaccinations, prevention, etc. We cover only that which pertains to the animal's disability or medical condition.
If you are interested in applying for any of our foster programs, please call us at 217.835.2428, and we will attempt to match you with a cat or dog appropriate to your situation.
Updated 09/17/2024
And that was the beginning of what was to become Benld Adopt-A-Pet which, thanks to the lifelong dedication of it's late Founder, Lorraine Jackson, and the efforts of it's members, supporters and volunteers, is still going strong more than 40 years later.
Macoupin County Adopt-A-Pet (MCAAP), a.k.a. Benld Adopt-A-Pet (BAAP), is a not-for-profit, no-kill animal shelter located in Benld, Illinois, and is registered and inspected by the State of Illinois. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charity. Our mission is to rescue abandoned and/or abused pets and place them in loving "Forever" homes. We receive no funding from any government entity, but are supported solely by memberships, fundraisers and donations. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Administered by a Board of Directors, the shelter is operated by a Executive Director, Shelter Manager, and a small staff of hard working, dedicated employees. Animals arriving at the shelter are evaluated as to their physical and emotional condition and treated as to their needs. Our Veterinarian visits the shelter on a regular schedule, and performs any necessary medical procedures, including spaying/neutering, micro-chipping, and minor surgeries. In addition to a fully equipped surgery room, we also have a dental clinic, where any necessary dental work is performed before an animal is adopted out.
Benld Adopt-A-Pet visits local schools with selected pets in order to familiarize the children with the animals, and to educate them towards treating all animals with kindness and respect. Benld Adopt-A-Pet offers several options for fostering animals. We are currently in the process of expanding our Outreach Program, in order that we might educate children about the care and treatment of animals.
We have a Foster program where people apply to foster an animal, we match them with an animal that needs to be in a foster home. To date it has been mostly puppies and moms and litters of kittens, which is what most of the fosters seem to be looking for.
We also have several animals that are Forever Fosters that have not been adopted, where we pay for everything. These animals are seniors or ones with a medical condition, disability, need medication and/or special diet food. We do their vaccinations and preventions, etc.
We recently started the Forever Care adoption. They adopt the pet, we continue with their care as far as medication and/or special diet food, or seeing a specialty veterinarian The adopter is responsible for all the animals other vet care, annual visits, vaccinations, prevention, etc. We cover only that which pertains to the animal's disability or medical condition.
If you are interested in applying for any of our foster programs, please call us at 217.835.2428, and we will attempt to match you with a cat or dog appropriate to your situation.
Updated 09/17/2024
Our Mission
At Macoupin County Adopt-A-Pet, a no-kill animal shelter, our mission is to provide a safe haven for homeless animals. We are committed to nurturing the well-being of each resident animal, promoting responsible pet ownership and advocating for the humane treatment of all animals. Through our adoption, foster, education and community outreach programs, we strive to ensure that every animal has a loving home. We are dedicated to being “a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
At Macoupin County Adopt-A-Pet, a no-kill animal shelter, our mission is to provide a safe haven for homeless animals. We are committed to nurturing the well-being of each resident animal, promoting responsible pet ownership and advocating for the humane treatment of all animals. Through our adoption, foster, education and community outreach programs, we strive to ensure that every animal has a loving home. We are dedicated to being “a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.”