An interview with Feline Rescue from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Table Of Content
- Introducing Feline Rescue
- How did Feline Rescue Start? What Are The Challenges Encountered Along The Way?
- Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That Feline Rescue Has Ever Taken.
- Tell Us About The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns That Feline Rescue Has Done.
- Tell Us About The Most Rewarding Part Of Running Feline Rescue.
- What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge Of Running Feline Rescue?
- Tell Us More About The Volunteers In Feline Rescue.
- Where Do Most Of The Animals In Feline Rescue Come From, And What Is The Process For Rescuing And Rehabilitating Them?
- What Are The Busiest Periods, And How Does Feline Rescue Cope?
- What Animals Does Feline Rescue Focus On?
- Working With The Local Community
- Tell Us More About Your Events
- What Is Done Differently at Feline Rescue?
- How Has Feline Rescue Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?
- Share With Us Some Of The Heartwarming Stories Of Animals Rehabilitated And Rehomed By Feline Rescue.
- What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?
- Connect With Feline Rescue here:
Introducing Feline Rescue
My name is Jenni Charrier. Currently, I am on the Feline Rescue (FR) board, run Community Outreach & Services, do the visual media for Feline Rescue, do social media and the Feline Rescue website. I also foster FR cats.
How did Feline Rescue Start? What Are The Challenges Encountered Along The Way?
The founders of the shelter began their vision of assisting cats in 1997 via
volunteering with Animal Relief Fund. They morphed into Feline Rescue and
bought the current shelter building in 2007 at 593 Fairview Ave North in St. Paul,
MN.
There were 22 core founding members. Feline Rescue began in Minneapolis as
Animal Relief Fund and became Feline Rescue with a shelter on Charles Ave in St
Paul. Feline Rescue moved to Fairview Ave in 2007 with the hopes to assist more
cats in need of adoption. They accomplished this and FR purchased an
additional building adjacent to the shelter, for administration and medical needs.
Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That Feline Rescue Has Ever Taken.
One of the most unusual cats that Feline Rescue has ever taken in during my tenure since 2017 was probably Smoky. She was born with atresia ani and ultimately succumbed to complications due to that condition despite many surgeries to resolve that condition.
Tell Us About The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns That Feline Rescue Has Done.
Currently, I am running the “Crusade for Cats” silent auction campaign. This is a
huge, cat-themed only auction designed to raise funds for community/feral cats
in need of TNR and rescue support.
Tell Us About The Most Rewarding Part Of Running Feline Rescue.
The most rewarding part is always the cats. Knowing these cats first-hand and
seeing them find loving, forever homes is why I continue to do this full-time work.
What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge Of Running Feline Rescue?
The greatest challenge is having enough funding to help cats since the need
never ends.
Tell Us More About The Volunteers In Feline Rescue.
We have had so many that I hesitate to designate any in particular. Many
volunteers work full-time to help cats, just like I do, and have been at FR for many
years. I conducted a volunteer survey last year regarding the satisfaction of
volunteers working at FR and 90% would recommend volunteering at FR to
others.
Where Do Most Of The Animals In Feline Rescue Come From, And What Is The Process For Rescuing And Rehabilitating Them?
The cats at FR get intake from rescue partnerships, local animal control, and the
public requesting intake for either socialized strays or owned cats.
What Are The Busiest Periods, And How Does Feline Rescue Cope?
The busiest times are…every day! We are nearly always at capacity because the
high demand for cat rescue services at FR.
What Animals Does Feline Rescue Focus On?
We focus only on cats because that was the original mission; it is in the name:
Feline Rescue. We have hundreds of cat-loving volunteers and staff in the FR
system who are quite passionate about cats!
Working With The Local Community
FR collaborates with a number of fellow rescue organizations and city agencies
to intake cats. We have a vet team on staff to best manage the cats as they come
through the system for homing or rehoming. FR has held a strong reputation in
the community for 26 years. We have a multi-step screening process for both
intake and adoption. FR takes cat rescue seriously; we aim for a best match
between cats and new owners.
Tell Us More About Your Events
The Community Outreach & Services “Crusade for Cats” silent auction is happening from May 20-30th during which the public can bid on over 150 cat-themed items to help community/feral cats in need. All proceeds go directly to assisting them.
What Is Done Differently at Feline Rescue?
Most cat rescues are foster-based. We have a robust shelter system and a lot of
people like being able to visit a shelter to meet cats.
How Has Feline Rescue Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?
During the pandemic, we shut down and all of the FR shelter cats went into foster.
Little by little, we reopened by appointment and observed C-19 protocols. There
was less cat process activity at FR during this time but we rebounded well and
are building stronger with each year, post C-19 pandemic.
There are so many! One of my favorites comes from a situation in which a mother
cat who had just given birth to four kittens was heartlessly thrown into a 10’ deep
window well and abandoned. FR field rescued them all and unfortunately 2
kittens died prior to retrieval. I ended up burying those 2 deceased newborns in
my yard and then fostered the mother with her 2 remaining kittens. The kittens
grew up strong and healthy, and their mother was successfully rehabilitated.
After 4 months, they were all adopted out together into a wonderful home.
What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?
Mostly, we need donations since that is our operating revenue. When people
choose to put FR into their wills for estate gifts and/or give monthly or yearly, this
allows FR to continue operating and rescuing cats. We use our donations well
and provide financial transparency to stakeholders.
Connect With Feline Rescue here:
Wondrousdrifter.com is thankful to Feline Rescue for the interview.
Check out this page for the list of animal shelters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
