Part One: Helping Minnesota

One of the hot button issues in animal rescue today is the process of out-of-state transportation. Whether you’re highly involved in the world of animal rescue, support it when you can, or simply love animals and want to see a better world for them, you’ve probably heard at least one opinion about rescues and humane societies taking in and rehoming animals from other states, primarily from the south.

These are all valid responses that come from a place of good intention. Out-of-state  transportation is a process that’s existed in the rescue community for years and has gathered supporters as well as challengers based on the information and reasoning offered for it. I understand both sides of the opinion, and I’ve seen it being debated firsthand. Plus, I have always been a big advocate for transparency in sharing both Ruff Start Rescue’s beliefs as an organization as well as my own.

So, you may be wondering, what is my – and Ruff Start Rescue’s – stance on out of state transport? How does the rescue decide which animals they save and where do they come from? Does Ruff Start Rescue still help locally-based Minnesota animals?

Before I shift into these specifics, it’s important for me to state that both Ruff Start (as an organization) and I value and appreciate opinions that differ from our own. Animal rescue is complex and organizations are free to focus on whatever aspects they find important. Having the ability to question organizational practices is a necessary component in maintaining transparency between the organization and individual, especially for supporters. As the total number of nonprofit animal rescues in states like Minnesota continues to grow, with little-to-no regulation, accountability is of the utmost importance. That’s why I’m sharing this information with you today; this is one of the hot topics in rescue here in Minnesota, and I think more people should be discussing it professionally and respectfully to further the future of animal rescue.

Since the rescue was formed in 2010, we have been committed to helping local animals and their people. But over the years, I began to sense a shift in the number and nature of animals in need here.

So, yes. Ruff Start Rescue does believe whole-heartedly in out-of-state transports and acts upon these feelings and the sad facts surrounding them every month. In October 2019, we brought 101 dogs from out of state into rescue and gave them a chance at a better life.

Although we speak adamantly and openly about the animal welfare issues prevalent in southern states and how we plan to create initiatives to further assist, there are still animals here that need us too. Our local impounds, humane societies, and animal controls still house cats and dogs in need of second chances. Owners surrender pets, animals are found as strays, and puppy and kitten mills continue to contribute to overpopulation issues. According to current data, Minnesota is not a no-kill state.* Minnesota has tremendous strides to make in saving lives.

While we are committed to making a substantial contribution to positively impact the lives of animals in need in Minnesota, many animals in southern states often face a more imminent threat. Ruff Start Rescue maintains a “rescue knows no borders” philosophy. We will always do what we can to assist our fellow animal welfare advocates and the animals they so dutifully serve… no matter their location.

Of the 246 animals we took into the rescue in October 2019, 101 were out of state animals. Only 41% of our animal intake came from our out-of-state partners.

I monitor fluctuations and patterns in our monthly and yearly intake numbers. These evaluations show that the number of animals from out-of-state is growing rapidly. Yes, the number of out-of- state animals grows to a larger percentage of our overall intake, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are helping fewer local animals or decreasing our rescue efforts locally. Fifty-seven percent of the animals we cared for in 2018 came from the state of Minnesota.

Although our animal care program (both in Minnesota and out of state) is a significant part of our mission, we also provided outreach services to our local communities:

• The Ruff Start Rescue Education Program has reached over 5,000 individuals of all ages, teaching the importance of responsible pet ownership and providing animal rescue education.

• TNR (trap-neuter-return) and community spay/neuter efforts are a large need in Central Minnesota. We have been able to offer free and/or highly discounted services to community members and their cats for several years.

• Each year, Ruff Start hosts its annual Wellness Clinic in April, providing low-cost vaccinations, blood testing, and services like nail trims to those who need it in the community.
• When possible, we donate surplus  food and/or pet supplies to the Princeton Pantry as well as other local food pantries to help those in our community who sometimes struggle to provide for the pets they love.

When we encounter highly emotional rescue issues, we examine context and practice empathy. While it’s easy to think there’s always something we can do to help, we must consider many factors before we are truly able to provide aid.

In many shelter and impound cases, the health and behavioral issues of an animal weigh heavily on the decision to euthanize or to transfer the animal to a rescue. When a dog or cat is struggling, the conversation begins: Would a foster home help this animal flourish? Are the animal’s issues so severe and chronic that rehabilitation would not help or be feasible? Would we be putting the community at risk by releasing this animal?

It’s often hard to answer these questions when the animal is in a shelter environment where there are a variety of stimuli that can influence temperament and health. While we have volunteer impound representatives who assess animals both medically and behaviorally in the local shelters we partner with, it can be difficult to determine whether a foster home environment with behavioral training and intensive veterinary intervention would benefit the animal. Sometimes our representatives meet an animal and decide that, for the safety of our foster families and the rescue, we cannot work with that animal’s specific needs. Other times the representative may feel an animal is an ideal candidate for a home setting, but no foster home is available or equipped with the necessary experience to assist. One of the flaws in being a foster-based rescue is that we can’t help every animal in need. We hear the cries for help from volunteers and animal lovers who are rightfully concerned about an animal’s well-being, and do what we can to help with the resources we have available. This is one of the reasons we continue to seek out ways to expand capacity and modify the rescue’s programming.

Want to help animals in need? We are always in need of fosters, adopters, donors, and volunteers to help drive our mission. The more humans we recruit to further our work, the more animals we can help – so we truly can’t do it without you!