Stray Feral Rescue
Stray Feral Rescue
FUNDRAISER---GARAGE SALE/ART SALE!
Thanks to everyone---donors, volunteers, shoppers, and the St. Paul Fellowship Church that provided the space for our MAY 30 sale. We moved a lot of great, new and re-usable stuff, had fun, and raised enough money to hold us until our fall fundraiser.
There remain several of the 18 original paintings by artist Mary Kathleen Scott. These pieces were inspired by her sleepy, cuddling, old-lady cats. The artist describes the characters in her paintings as "Fairy Grandmothers." They're colorful, delightful, and fun!
Please call 651-644-3890 any day 9am to 9pm or email
rsq@iphouse.com if you'd like to make an appointment to see the rest of the collection. To see more of this artist's work, or commission a piece, contact her at
marykathleenscott@msn.com.
Our Featured Pet . . . Grizzwald the Adorable!
Griz
In the dead of winter, at Death's door, this scrawny, tenacious little fellow sought refuge in the home of kind people who nursed him back from the brink. His ordeal resulted in him losing most of his fur and teeth, but that doesn't matter to Griz. He may look like an irritable old curmudgeon but Griz is the sweetest, most affectionate cat who will ever crawl up on your lap and not wanna leave. He will endear himself to you with the purring and trilling and gurgling sounds he makes to show his appreciation for your attentions. You've got to see and hear this boy to believe how lovably unforgettable he is. He'd be a great pet for anyone, especially a gentle soul who's home a lot. Read more about Griz by clicking his link above, or click on the Donate button below to help us provide continuing care for Grizzwald and other cats like him.
Who We Are
Stray Feral Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit, all-volunteer, no-kill, pet fostering and adoption organization also providing information, education, resources, and advocacy to benefit all animals and the humans who love them. Some of our volunteers are state Humane Agents trained and certified to assess and investigate cases of animal abuse, cruelty, and neglect.
However, we can't do what we do without you. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation in any amount. Click here:
to log in to PayPal and transfer funds from your bank account or credit card directly to Stray Feral Rescue, and accept our heartfelt thanks! (Checks can also be mailed to Stray Feral Rescue at the address at the bottom of this long, long page.)
Courtesy Listings
While we are a small organization and often too full to take in more animals, we are happy to post your "finds" on our site. If you have taken in an animal and are trying to find it a good home, send us your photos and information. We will add it to our pages as a "courtesy listing," refer interested parties to you and, if you like, help you choose the best adoptive home. We may be able to help address other needs you have while fostering homeless animals, just call or email us.
Lost & Found
If you've lost or found a pet, Petfinder.com has a lost and found section where you can search or add listings, but don't stop there! Check other lost & found sites like your city's, your local humane society's, Craigslist, www.animalarkshelter.org, www.acsikennels.com, www.fidofinder.com, and www.tabbytracker.com. If you've lost a pet, don't forget to call the Animal Control offices and impounds in your area, too.
Reminder
Folks, we're at that time of year again. For the next few months, the inside of parked cars can get hot enough (in minutes!) to boil the brains of pets left inside them---even if you leave windows or sunroof cracked open. PLEASE leave your pets safely at home or take them with you when you leave your car. Minnesota Statute 346.57 prohibits leaving a dog or cat unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the pet's health or safety. It also gives police officers, humane agents, and others the right to break your car window to get your pet out, gives them the authority to remove your pet to an animal shelter, and to ticket and fine you for leaving the pet in there. So don't do it.
Another Word About Dogs
Please don't put 'em in choke chains, prong collars, or electronic zapping collars. Here's why:
- Most reputable and humane animal care providers (including Oprah's dog trainer, Tamar Geller) call these collars "instruments of torture," and they are. Try a better way; visit www.theloveddog.com.
- Saint Paul city ordinance 200.17 prohibits the use of choke chains, prong collars, and every other dog collar that can cause pain or discomfort.
- Minnesota statute 346.37 subd. 3 prohibits the use of cruel training and handling methods or devices on companion animals, and these collars certainly are cruel. (What about "choke chain" sounds like it feels good to wear?)
- All of these collars are meant to be worn for short training periods each day for a few weeks, not all day every day for years.
- In 2004 the North American Veterinary Conference put out a recommendation that dog owners not even use trainers who use choke chains, prong collars, or electronic collars because:
- A survey of trainers indicated more than 30% were using the collars incorrectly and that most owners using the collars were also using them incorrectly.
- Even when used correctly, these collars can easily cause serious and permanent physical and psychological injuries and/or death to dogs.
- The injuries are not suspected by owners and can go for years without treatment until they are discovered while a vet is looking for something else.
- The collars are ineffective. Like anyone else, dogs learn better and faster when treated with loving, kind, and patient methods rather than a system of pain and punishment. So, we'll say it again: www.theloveddog.com.
The Difference Between Strays and Ferals
Strays are tame, friendly pets who are homeless because they were abandoned or lost. Ferals are members of a domesticated species (dogs, cats) who are born and raised as if they were a wild species---without human interaction and affection (“socialization”). (It can be very dangerous to handle unsocialized ferals without proper equipment and instruction.) Ferals instinctively fear humans as larger predators and will hiss, spit, claw---may even bite savagely---to scare off or get away from people. Many strays living outdoors will appear to be feral, running and hiding from people, too. A true feral, unless caught and socialized very young, will always be somewhat shy of new people, loud noises, and quick movements.
The ferals we offer for adoption have been socialized to humans to varying degrees. Some are very good housepets and will play with people but don’t want to be touched; others seem just like ordinary, cuddly housecats until they hear an unfamiliar voice or footstep and run to hide. Some will grow more attentive and affectionate to people in time; others won’t. Any formerly-feral cat will need time to adjust to a new home, new people and pets and sounds and smells. We will try to give you as much information as we have about the animals along with instructions on how best to care for and live with them. If we require special circumstances for the adoption of a cat, it’s for the safety of the cat as well as the safety of the people, pets, and possessions in the adoptive home. If you feel it’s necessary, please don’t hesitate to ask for information and instructions in writing; we’ll be happy to provide that.
Adopting a Cat Companion
Our rescue cats don't live in cages but in our homes and hearts and become part of our families during fostering, so we are very particular about how they'll be treated when adopted. We don't ever want them to be homeless, frost-bitten, infested, infected, neglected, starved, injured, or abused again.
- We will not allow our cats to be let loose outdoors.
- We will not allow our cats to be declawed.
- We will not allow our cats to live in unsafe, unkempt homes.
- We provide each adopter with a copy of the cat's veterinary records, a good amount of food the cat is used to eating, and the cat's favorite toys.
Our main focus is to find really good homes for as many animals as we can. Our adoption fees need to be high enough to aid us in our work but are set to be comparable with other rescues, and can be discounted under certain circumstances. The adoption fee for each cat is listed on its web page and generally reflects only a fraction of what caring for that cat has cost us in food, litter, grooming, toys, and veterinary care. (With courtesy listings, there usually is no adoption fee; the lister is just interested in finding a good home.)
We gratefully welcome tax-deductible donations of any amount to help offset our costs and allow us to provide as much vet care as we can for each animal's needs. So please give whatever you can. Checks can be mailed to Stray Feral Rescue at the address listed at the bottom of the page.
Should your circumstances change and you are no longer able to care for a cat you adopted from us, please return the cat to us for re-homing.
Prior to scheduling an appointment to meet our cats, please email for a copy of our Adoption Application and Adoption Contract that cover all of our specific requirements. We ask that you read the contract carefully before completing the application and returning it to us.
Recommendations (Stuff We Love!)
Good nutrition is essential for your cats' lifelong health and wellness. We recommend the Natura pet foods, Innova Evo in particular. Look for these foods at your retailer, or purchase online at www.qualitypet.net. Free shipping or 10% discount if you pick up at their Woodbury warehouse.
And after they eat? When it comes to cleaning the litterbox we have one word: DuraScoop. Solid metal construction and comfortable grip, it looks and works like a tried-&-true old garden tool. Purchase DuraScoop online at www.durascoop.com or save shipping and buy one from us at $12.95!
And if they miss the litterbox? Zero Odor is the answer for stains and smells. Order online at www.zeroodor.com.
Good pet furniture can save your furniture! We highly recommend Little Tigers posts, steps, tree houses, and more. Their products are sturdy, good-looking, reasonably-priced, and made locally---with care and love---in Maple Grove, MN. See for yourself at www.littletigerscatfurniture.com or call 763-300-9489. Be sure to let them know we referred you!
We love the catnip from Kooky Kats Catnip Company. They also have a full line of toys and specialty feline products. Check 'em out at:
www.kookykat.com.
You've seen their commercials, try 'em out! Twin Draft Guards, lightweight, easy to use, home insulation that stops drafts from doors and windows and can save 13-20% on your heating costs. (They also work great under doors when you're trying to keep cats separated.) Get some now and be ready for next winter, www.twindraftguard.com.
"Love your pet, hate the shedding?" Try the FURminator deShedding tool. You won't believe how much loose hair you can quickly and easily remove from your pet! Less vacuuming for you, more comfort for your pet in the summer heat. Take a look at www.FURminator.com, then purchase from us. Cat-sized FURminators are $34.95 each. Come try one out!
For holistic cat care, we recommend Dr. Sue Swanson at the Cat Care Clinic in Mahtomedi, just off 244 on Hickory Street. Dr. Sue will not perform "mutilation" surgeries (declawing, ear-tipping), a policy we heartily support, and she runs a non-profit shelter for cats who are Feline Leukemia positive. Call 651-429-4153 for an appointment with Dr. Sue. To learn more about the Feline Leukemia Care Center, visit www.felineleukemiacarecenter.org or call 651-497-8720.
If you have a concern about a vet or breeder, check out the complaint section on the Minnesota State Board of Veterinary Medicine web site www.vetmed.state.mn.us.
The more you know . . . here are some books we highly recommend:
In Loving Memory
Dear Old Charade, Our Funny Valentine
Moxie-Moxie-Mox
Stray Feral Rescue
937 Charles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104-2614
Phone: 651-644-3890
Please call any day 9am to 9pm or email
rsq@iphouse.com for an appointment to meet our cats in their foster homes.
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter
[Home] [Information] [Shelters] [Search]