MY STORY

It all started with a cat named Snowball!

On my 7th birthday, I was given a white kitten and named him Snowball. How appropriate for Minnesota! Despite facing a near-fatal urinary blockage, I nursed him back to health. With the advice from a vet, I provided warmth on a heating pad and carefully syringed water to ensure his recovery. Snowball lived well into his mid-20s. This marked the beginning of my journey as a true cat lover.

SNOWBALL

I had some spare time on my hands so I decided to visit my Aunt Sue on the family farm in Foley, MN. Let’s just say that Aunt Sue had “a few” cats. I wanted to help her as well as the cats that were living there so during that first visit, I brought home 13 kittens to spay/neuter and adopt out. Over the following months, I took in an additional 14 kittens and three mothers. The expense of caring for the initial batch prompted me to seek assistance from a rescue organization. In November 2022, following Aunt Sue's passing, I trapped the three remaining males from the walls of her old farmhouse, bringing the total rescued to 33.

I was already involved with a rescue and decided to give it my all! Over the next three years, I facilitated the adoption of 400 cats! I partnered with four local PetSmarts, two Pet Supplies Plus stores, collaborated with other rescue groups, rescuers, and people in the trenches (independents). This journey taught me that rescue work thrives on teamwork and community support. With frequent trips to the revolving door at vet offices and managing a rescue’s social media account, I gained invaluable insights into the needs of the rescue world. They needed more positivity and more dedicated rescuers, fosters, and volunteers; increased support and collaboration for the tireless efforts of rescuers, and improved transportation infrastructure to help both rescues and pet owners.