About Us
Touched By An Animal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the special bond between people and animals.
Mission Statement:
Touched By An Animal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the special bond between people and animals. We provide comprehensive cat rescue services, including temporary boarding, medical support, adoption, community outreach, and a lifetime home if needed. Our focus is on serving those in our community who are often underserved, yet deeply connected, to the animals they love.
What we’re all about:
Our unique mission serves to aid companion animals whose current owners may need assistance in the form food, litter, vet care, and boarding in order to keep their beloved animals. Additionally, our home is a cat sanctuary where cats roam freely while we find them lifetime homes through our adoption services.
Take a Virtual Tour of our Home
TBAA Founder Marijon Binder
Our History
Touched by An Animal’s founder, Sister Marijon Binder, arrived in Chicago from her California convent in 1976. Her mission at the time was to write children’s books. Over the coming years her mission changed as she recognized the needs of her aging neighbors.
“All my elderly neighbors had pets,” explains Sister Marijon, “and one of their biggest problems was that they couldn’t downsize, move into a nursing home or retirement community or visit family in other cities because they couldn’t stand to leave their animals. Their animals were their family.”
Sister Marion began helping her neighbors in their quest to save the scores of homeless cats in the community. One by one the little creatures trickled into the Marijon’s home. Recognize the need in the community, she organized her elderly friends into a brigade of animal caretakers.
Eventually in 1984, Sister Marijon founded Touched by An Animal and dedicated the rest of her life to helping people and animals. “I simply felt in my heart that God wanted me to continue taking care of these people and animals.” From this humble beginning, Touched by An Animal has helped thousands of people and animals for over 40 years.
Ways to Help
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Adopt
View images of cats and kittens who need a forever home today
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Donate
How does your donation help the cats and kittens in our care?
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Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to our daily operations. See how you can help.