DogTime salutes Florida’s St. Francis Animal Rescue.
How did your organization get started?
St. Francis Animal Rescue (SFAR) was founded in 1992 when a group of women banded together to feed and spay/neuter a colony of feral cats living at the North Jetty in Nokomis, Florida. The women recognized there was a need to help stray,homeless, and abandoned cats in the community. In 1993, SFAR became a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Three years later, property was purchased to accommodate a cageless shelter/adoption center and a thrift store.
What is your mission?
We are a no-kill shelter whose objective is to rescue abandoned, unwanted cats and kittens in our community and to provide shelter, food, medical care and love for their entire lives or until we can find responsible, loving homes through adoption. We support local spay/neuter programs and help educate people about responsible pet ownership.
How do most of your animals find their way to you?
The majority of cats are brought to St. Francis as strays. Occasionally cats and kittens will be abandoned in boxes at our door. We will also accept cats and kittens from owners who can no longer care for their cats, but this does not happen often as our first priority is taking care of the stray cats that have no safe place to call home.
What happens to the animals once they are in your care?
St. Francis Animal Rescue exists to help provide care and shelter to cats and kittens in need. While we adopt out as many of the cats and kittens as possible, we also provide a permanent home for the others.
Tell us about a particularly compelling animal or inspiring rescue.
Fred is living proof that it is never too late to find a forever home. Fred came to us as a stray and lived at our shelter for four years, patiently waiting for his turn to find a special person to love him forever. Sadly, black cats tend to be the most difficult to adopt and are often overlooked by potential adopters who come to the shelter looking to add a new furry addition to their family. But Fred’s loving, gentle personality finally won over the right heart and his story had a happy, adopted ending! Because we are a no-kill shelter, our cats will live with us for as long as it takes for them to find a new home.
To find out more about SFAR or to make a donation to this worthy organization, click here.
