Ruff Start Rescue

Ruff Start Rescue is dedicated to saving the lives of at-risk animals. We also collaborate, communicate, and educate about the importance of animal rescue and welfare.

We strive for a world where every companion animal has a safe and loving forever home.

Ruff Start Rescue is a non-profit foster-based animal rescue in which all rescued animals are placed with volunteer foster families while they await their forever adoptive homes. Our organization provides services to the entire Minnesota community and has rescued over 12,000 animals since its inception.

Ruff Start Rescue was founded in 2010 by our executive director Azure Davis. Ms. Davis saw a tremendous need in her hometown of Princeton to provide a safe refuge for homeless and unwanted pets. Through this need, the rescue was formed and has grown tremendously over the last 9 years. Each animal is provided with routine vaccinations, microchipped, dewormed, and sterilized prior to adoption.

Along with our foster care program, we also have a education program in which we conduct presentations for children, adults and seniors. Presentation topics include but are not limited to: responsible pet ownership, the importance of spaying and neutering, and household items that are toxic to pets. To date, we have presented to over 6,000 individuals and our presentations continue to become more popular each year.

In 2014, we began our feline community spay/neuter program for which we provide discounted or free sterilization services for community owned (pets) and feral/barn cats. The focus of this program is to assist low-income families and those who are caring for feral cat colonies.

Last year the rescue took in over 2,500 animals and each year we continue to grow our rescue efforts. We have 350 active foster homes at any given time. We also have 900 volunteers that assist with a multitude of tasks including transporting donations, supplies, and animals; helping with fundraisers, adoption events, and educational presentations; and marketing programs and activities through social media. Finally, we have around 90 internal volunteers that engage in veterinary care, animal intake and placement, volunteer education and management, development, fundraising, and community outreach. Our organization is also governed by a volunteer board of directors. Currently, there are 11 board members. Overall, we are a mighty group of passionate individuals who seek out ways to end pet overpopulation and place animals in loving homes. It is also important to note that Start Rescue has met certification status with the Charities Review Council which promotes best practices for non-profits in the areas of fundraising, governance, financial activity, and public disclosure.