Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids

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Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids

Established in 2008, Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids is a 501c3 animal medical organization dedica Ellie’s plight became our inspiration. This is our passion!

Our Story

This is the story of how Critter Crusaders was founded. In Feb 2008, a two year old Siberian Husky named Ellie, was surrendered to the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter by her owner. Going blind from cataracts, the shelter was unable to afford the medical procedure that would restore her sight and make her adoptable. As shelter volunteers, we interacted with Ellie and could see the bleak real

ity of her future. She was one of countless other shelter animals in need of medical attention. Things became crystal clear to us. Homeless animals deserved access to medical care as a means to increase their adoptability and make them healthy. Our goal was set for Ellie. Raise the money and restore her sight. With the financial help of many generous people across Eastern Iowa, that goal was a success! Ellie received sight saving surgery in Ames. After recuperating, she was adopted in May 2008 by a family from Omaha, NE. On Friday, June 6th, 2008, Ellie and her family returned to Cedar Rapids to make an appearance at Grant Wood School to an all school assembly. They were there to say “Thank You” to the students who had helped raise funds for Ellie’s surgery. One week later, on Friday, June 13th, the Cedar River crested in a catastrophic event that changed lives forever. Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities experienced an epic flood, which wiped out the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter and displaced hundreds of pets from their homes. That disaster strengthened our conviction to help our local homeless animals. In February 2009, Triton, a 6-week-old puppy with a badly broken front leg, limped into the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. With the help of many doctors and a great foster family, we were able to facilitate a complex surgery that included growing new bone while in an external fixator device. From start to finish this was a 4 month commitment of time and resources, and once again the public responded to our request for financial help. Our non-profit was first formed in the name of Friends of Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. On March 19, 2009, we became an official 501c3. Later our name was officially changed to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids on April 21, 2011. Our role has greatly expanded over the years to include partnerships with local rescues and shelters in Eastern Iowa. We are committed to assisting homeless, abused and neglected animals with advanced medical care that saves lives, mends broken bodies and restores health, happiness and adoptability. A true second chance at life. The commitment to form Critter Crusaders came from Ellie. The vision we had for her then, is the mission we continue today. One dog and one horrible time in Iowa’s history inspired us to succeed on behalf of all local homeless animals. We exist to provide the care they desperately need and deserve.

12/27/2024

‼️EMERGENCY TONIGHT‼️DONATIONS APPRECIATED‼️

Critter Crusaders received an emergency call for help this late afternoon from our friends at Heartland Humane Society in Ottumwa. This shelter has a tiny nine week old poodle puppy who was seen today at Iowa State University Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Cardiology Service. The doctors came in and informed them that Millie was in heart failure. They called us immediately.

Millie is in heart failure from our old friend and nemesis, PDA, otherwise known as patent ductus arteriosus. We have taken this case and this tiny girl is hospitalized tonight in critical care. Millie will undergo emergency heart surgery tomorrow through CC. This will involve opening her chest (called a thoracotomy). The surgeons will expose her heart and work to ligate the ductus arteriosus vessel which should have closed at birth. This vessel shunts blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when a fetus is developing. When it doesn’t close shortly after birth, it shunts too much blood to the heart, causing it to work way too hard.

Millie is a itty bitty baby and this is a big surgery that carries risks of course. But she will die if we don’t act quickly. The goal of a long and healthy future is attainable. Closing off that vessel will ease the burden on her heart, hopefully ending the heart failure and allowing her little ticker the ability to shrink in size from lessening the work load. Like any other muscle in the body, if it is overworked, it will develop in size. For your biceps that’s a good thing….for your heart…it is not!

CC specializes in taking on the most complex medical and surgical cases at no cost for shelters and rescues all around Iowa. This is our wheelhouse and for the past seventeen years, our level of medical experience along with our mission of compassion has served the disadvantaged homeless pet population well. If you are so fortunate to donate to Millie’s critical care and surgery, we would so appreciate it. 100% of all donations will go directly to pay Millie’s estimated $7000 plus bill at ISU. She is worth every penny. We thank you so much.

If you chose not to donate via social media, our website donation gives a variety of options such as Venmo, PayPal, Apple and G pay along with all major credit cards.
CritterCrusadersCR.Org.
Of course prayers and well wishes for Millie are of equal importance.❤️🐾

CCCR, PO Box 10111, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410.
Fed EIN:26-2821920.

12/26/2024

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids has a lot of updates to give you over the next few days! We have been so busy, posting on social media has been very slow and we apologize for that!

We have a kitty in our medical system named Homer who came to us on December 12th, with a nasty injury to his front limb. Jolene called us from Benton County. Her business assists outdoor kitties through the harsh reality of winter and this adorable orange boy with a jet black nose was struggling. These guys were wonderful and transported this boy to Cedar Rapids where he went to our friends at Heartland Animal Hospital Fairfax.

Dr. Lonni Ellsworth did X-rays and lab work on Home and found this kid to have a severe infection and swelling in the fractured bone of the lower front leg. Once Homer was a bit healthier and on antibiotics, he underwent leg amputation surgery through CC on December 17th and he certainly has not missed that necrotic and painful leg!

Homer would have had a very tough time surviving the winter and our unique boy has a happy, healthy future ahead of him as an indoor only little purring tripod. Our great friends at SAINT (S.A.I.N.T. Rescue (Saving Animals in Need Today) agreed to be his rescue home and it has just been a blessing for this very challenged kitty to have so many good, caring people become his personal safety net! We are thrilled. More to come on precious Homer who is just an exceptionally sweet, happy boy! He will be abailable for adoption through SAINT!❤️🐾

12/26/2024

Our Cans for Critters location will be closed both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
🎉Happy New Year to all of you!

12/26/2024

Jax hopes everyone had a magical Christmas! He now wants to be referred to as a reindeerpittyoppolus!❤️🐾

12/24/2024

🎄Cans for Critters will be closed on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 🎄
We wish you all a happy holiday!

12/23/2024

An Emergency Case last night!

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids received a call from Blue Pearl CR about a yorkie mix pup with major neurological symptoms. this pup could not walk, hold his head up, or track with his eyes. Bruno remains hospitalized today at Blue Pearl Cedar Rapids with some improvement. We are still gathering information and a plan of action for a neurology consult. Our great friends at Last Hope Animal Rescue will provide his rescue home and CC will continue with medical care. please say a little prayer for this young puppy.

12/23/2024

Roscoe the cardiac puppy update!

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids is so very grateful for all of your donations to assist us in paying for Roscoe’s emergency surgery and hospitalization last Thursday at Iowa State University Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital through their amazing Cardiology Service. Roscoe has been released from the hospital but he has encountered a complication.

All went VERY well with his Pulmonary Valvuloplasty but the doctors struggled a bit because of his greatly enlarged heart And the fact that he was in early heart failure,but they are thrilled with the results and we are too. The valve was opened up allowing free and unobstructed passage of blood into his pulmonary artery! AWESOME! The gradient pressure of blood coming through that narrowed valve reduced over 50%! Major success. the next 3-4 months will tell the bigger story on how this affects his heart and improves it overall.

A day after his hospital discharge, Roscoe became lethargic and experienced swelling in his face and neck. Chloe, his Cedar Valley Pit Bull Rescue foster mom who is a vet tech recognized this immediately. Dr. Manson (who is pictured below with Roscoe and 4th year student Grace, instructed her to stop several of Roscoe’s new medications to avert more of an allergic reaction. Today, he is improving!

When we take these BIG complex cases, we always expect complications. Working with the many specialty hospitals and doctors that we do, gives us a sense of security in offsetting these issues, thankfully!

We are positive that this 8 month old boy will have his best Christmas ever in a couple of days. The last photo of the four is Roscoe looking much better today. We are so thankful for that and for all of you, giving all of us at CC the ability to save these precious lives, whether through donations or prayers. We know Roscoe agrees!❤️🐾

12/21/2024

‼️Donations Needed‼️
Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids has another huge case on our hands. Meet Roscoe.

This 8 month old puppy from our great friends at Cedar Valley Pit Bull Rescue was found to have a cardiac issue when the rescue scheduled him for neuter surgery. It was abruptly cancelled when the doctor appreciated a huge heart murmur. Donna from the rescue contacted CC for help.

Roscoe went to Iowa State University Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital yesterday for his initial exam in the Cardiology Service. What they found prompted Roscoe to be admitted immediately to Critical Care for heart failure. He underwent an echocardiogram, a bubble study, X-rays and lab work. He was scheduled for an emergency surgery today (Friday).

The doctors found two congenital defects in Roscoe’s very enlarged heart. This puppy has a severely stenotic (rigid and narrowed) pulmonary valve that is causing a back up of blood behind it, making his heart work extremely hard, enlarging it. Think of a doorway just partially open in a flood, causing all of the water to back up it before it bursts. His second issue is tricuspid valve dysplasia(TVD), where the leaflets are malformed causing a back flow of blood through the valve, enlarging the right side of the heart. The combination of these two defects in a heart that has four valves, with two compromised, is a life threatening situation.

Puppy Roscoe went into a big surgery today to tear open his pulmonary valve with a balloon, releasing the flow of blood through that narrowed valve which is contributing to his heart enlargement and failure. Roscoe would not have survived very long without this emergency intervention through CC. All went well according to Cardiologist Dr. Manson and he remains in critical care tonight. They will perform another echocardiogram tomorrow to see how things are looking and to measure the pressures on both sides of that pulmonary valve hoping to see improvement. Fingers crossed that this will end his heart failure progression. We also hope that the size of his heart will decrease and improve over time.

This will be a long haul case for CC as this puppy will remain under our care for the foreseeable future. With these cardiac patients, success is measured in months, not days. We will have a much better idea of his prognosis in about three to four months. At that time, Roscoe will return to ISU for ongoing evaluation. The hope is he will have enough significant improve that we might also be able to address his tricuspid valve issues down the road at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins.

For now our estimate of surgery, diagnostics and critical care will be over the $7000 range, but so worth it to save his life. If you are so fortunate to donate to Roscoe’s care, we would be very appreciative. Donations accepted through this post or on our website:
CritterCrusadersCR.Org (with many available option such as Venmo, PayPal, Apple and Google Pay).
Mail:
CCCR PO Box 10111, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 52410.
EIN for tax purposes: 26-2821920.
We thank you all so much on behalf of Roscoe. All donations will go directly to his medical/surgical bills at ISU.❤️🐾

12/21/2024

Baby Blue Update!
Our little man continues his upward trend thanks to so many good people! Blue remains in Cedar Rapids under the care of Critter Crusaders with a big assist from Nicki and our great friends at SAINTS(S.A.I.N.T. Rescue (Saving Animals in Need Today).

Blue has been so compromised, we were fearful of sending him back to his original rescue Cedar County League for Animal Welfare (CCLAW), due to their location and how far out they are from emergency care in Cedar Rapids. They completely agreed and Connie and Kristine have been so wonderful to work with.

Blue is now actually coughing up material from his lungs which is awesome as the antibiotic are working to resolve his pneumonia and the dewormer ridding him of one of the worst cases of roundworms many of us have ever seen. His stools are gradually firming up with the help of Dr. Loni Ellsworth at Heartland Animal Hospital Fairfax. This poor baby was such a mess and just spending every once of energy he had left, trying to stay alive. We are so grateful to the lady who called us for help. Without her, Blue would not have survived another 48 hours.

We will keep everyone updated on our darling little survivor. In this poignant photo, Connie from CCLAW is cuddling baby Blue and his response to feeling that safety and love is absolutely palpable. Much more of this to come, sweet boy.❤️🐾

12/21/2024

Rocky is on the mend from two emergency foreign body obstruction surgeries in the last two weeks. Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids took on a massive case when we accepted this very sick boy into our medical system and we thank everyone who donated generously to his care!

Rocky had his sutures out and he J Tube pulled this past week at Iowa Veterinary Specialties in Des Moines and we can say with confidence now, that he is out of danger! Whew! We will keep everyone posted with his ongoing recovery and we absolutely LOVE this photo with Rocky’s very attentive and skilled Forever Home Dog Rescue foster mom Madison. Nothing heals the body and soul quite like being in the arms of “mom”. Rocky will have the most amazing Christmas, and he certainly deserves it!❤️🐾

12/20/2024

Please consider donating to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids Christmas Bake Sale at both Theisen's East and West in Cedar Rapids Saturday Dec. 21st! Baked item drop off starts at 8:30am or anytime after! We thank you! Even Kimble is baking up a storm!

12/18/2024

The evening of December 9th, Critter Crusaders received a call for help from a rescuer in Cedar County regarding a kitten in bad shape. This kitty was showing up at a feeding station and he was dying. We took his medical case immediately and sent the caller to Blue Pearl Cedar Rapids. Cedar County League for Animal Welfare (CCLAW) placed him in their organization.

Blue was hospitalized in oxygen at Blue Pearl with respiratory distress, emaciation, severe diarrhea and so much more. His chest X-rays showed what was initially thought to be loops of intestine in his thorax from a possible diaphragmatic hernia. Several days later, we now believe he had an overwhelming infestation of round worms that can actually migrate through the blood stream as cysts until they reach their favorite location where they evolve into worms. In Blue’s case, that was in the lungs.

Blue was discharged from the hospital and into the care of Nicki from S.A.I.N.T. Rescue (Saving Animals in Need Today) and Dr. Lonni Ellsworth at Heartland Animal Hospital Fairfax. This was done so Blue remained close to medical care as he was very compromised. His breathing is improving though he still has a rattle. His chest X-rays have improved as has his worm infestation. We are treating him prophylactically with the newly approved and VERY expensive medication for FIP, due to having some fluid in his abdominal cavity….and the BIG a news?? Today he began to purr, 8 days into his critical care!

Good people save animals and bad people fail them. Blue has alot of good people doing great work on his behalf and he will remain under Critter Crusaders medical wing until he is no longer compromised and can begin to live life as a healthy kitten. This tiny, emaciated boy would not have survived another 48 hours and it is a miracle that he was found. Our goal for Blue is to live a long and healthy life, with a little help from his friends. Welcome baby Blue. We gotcha kid.❤️🐾

12/17/2024

FOREVER HOME NEEDED FOR TANGO! PLEASE READ AND SHARE!
Critter Crusaders knows this boy very well! He is hilarious and lively, a ball monster and a good soul! PLEASE COME AND MEET TANGO BEFORE JUDGING HIS DISABILITY! He is total perfection. Contact our friends at A Purposeful Life Animal Rescue & Sanctuary for a meet and greet.❤️🐾

12/17/2024

‼️Critter Crusaders Double Banger Christmas Bake Sale at both Theisen’s East and West in Cedar Rapids this Saturday December 21st! We need your yummy donations‼️Help us Share‼️

Critter Crusaders needs your baking skills to make our Theisen’s Double Banger Christmas Bake Sale a success this Saturday December 21st! The more goodies we have to sell…the more funds we make for the homeless pets in need of medical care. Over the last couple of years, we have made enough funds to provide a dog or cat with a complex, life saving surgery. Please help us achieve that again this Saturday! Drop off time at both Theisen’s East and West is 8:30am or after. The sale is 9am-4pm. PLEASE HELP US BY DONATING YOUR CHRISTMAS Baked good! No need to price anything! We thank you!

12/17/2024

Sweetheart Louise underwent cancer surgery last Tuesday at UW Veterinary Care. She did fantastic and the majority of the tumor on her hind lower limb was debulked and removed. We were pretty sure the margins would be incomplete given this lesion was in an area that consists more of bone then extra tissue.

We are waiting for the pathology results and then we will know what it is (suspect cutaneous melanoma) and if Louise will need any additional adjuncts, such as radiation or possibly the melanoma vaccine which was developed at UW Madison Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Either way, we know Ms. Louise will be fabulous, no matter what! She is free and clear of any signs of metastisis. Louise is in rescue with our friends at A Purposeful Life with Critter Crusaders providing her medical care.

We thank Dr. Colon and 4th Year Medical Student Tammy from UW’s great surgery service, for providing Louise with the best care available!❤️🐾

12/16/2024

KCRG did an important story this past Friday on their newscast. We have been talking about the population of outdoor kittens and cats heading into what could be a devastating winter for these exposed animals who suffer from a variety of cold related injuries. We were thrilled to do this story as all of our animal welfare organizations constantly deal with this very sad issue, especially after a very warm fall that produced an explosion of young kittens going into the winter. These kittens will not survive and their suffering is just beyond comprehension. Shelters and rescues are constantly full and these tiny kittens have no where to go. PLEASE…if you are so inclined to help, offer your home and become a foster parent to a kitten in need. We have listed organizations below that can use your help. Feel free to contact them via their website and fill out a foster home application. Make yourself and your family part of the chain of survival for a kitten/cat in desperate need this winter. We thank KCRG and reporter Lacey Reeves for their advocacy in bringing the plight of these kittens into the public realm.❤️

The local organizations that accept cats into rescue/shelter are:
*SAINT Rescue. Cedar Rapids.
*Last Hope Animal Rescue. Cedar Rapids.
*A Purposeful Life Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. Cedar Rapids/Marion.
*Hero’s Haven Animal Rescue. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
Better Together Rescue. Vinton.
*Wildthunder WARS. Independence.
*Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control.Cedar Rapids.
*Cedar Valley Humane Society. Cedar Rapids.

A warmer than normal fall led to what's being called a second kitten season. Now, cold weather is making it harder for those kittens to survive.

12/15/2024

Fluffers Update!

This hit-by-car kitty came to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids the evening of December 7th after we received an urgent call for help from our great friends in the ER Service at Iowa State University Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital. Fluffers was going to be euthanized due to her injuries and the doctors and staff needed our help to prevent that.

Fluffers went into surgery through CC the next day to repair a femur fracture and a hip dislocation. The entire hospital was madly in love with this sweet, purring one year old girl. Fluffers was discharged on December 10th and is now recovering with 4th year veterinary medical student Shelby….who will also become Fluffers forever mom! Yay!

We want to thank everyone for their wonderful donations to help us, help this girl. We will have multiple rechecks for Fluffers over the next 8 weeks but she is on track for a long and very happy, healthy life! Merry Christmas baby girl!❤️🐾

12/15/2024

‼️ATTENTION PET PARENTS‼️ WE APOLOGIZE THAT THIS SCHEDULE IS SO LATE‼️
BLUE PEARL Veterinary Hospital Cedar Rapids December 2024 Emergency Service Schedule.
Please READ AND SHARE as this will directly impact your pets if you live in or around the Eastern Iowa/Cedar Rapids area. There are several nights with no access to emergency veterinary care in our area. Pets needing hospital admission will need to be transported to other out of town facilities.
Make plans now for your pets! The crisis in veterinary services continues with a lack of 24/7 Emergency Care in Cedar Rapids. All private practice clinics are maintaining their regular schedules.
After Hours Clinics that might be able to assist are listed below. Please call ahead. We thank Blue Pearl for making their schedule public.
————————————————————————————————
*Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails Open Monday -Friday 8
am-8pm. NOW OPEN BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY from 8am-6pm. Except for Holidays.
Call 319-351-4256.
——————————————————————————-
*Blue Pearl Pet Hospital Des Moines open 24/7. 515-
727-4872. PLEASE CALL AHEAD.
——————————————————————————-
*Anamosa Vet Clinic might take after hours
Emergency’s depending on the case. 319-462-4853
please call ahead.
——————————————————————————-
*IVS Des Moines 24/7 ER Open. 515-280-3100.
PLEASE CALL AHEAD.
———————————————————————————
*Iowa State ER Service 515-294-4900. Please call
ahead for approval.
———————————————————————————
*Animal Emergency Center of the Quad Cities. 5pm-8
am Monday through Thursday. Friday 5pm-Midnight.
Saturday and Sunday open 24 hours. Please call
ahead. 563-344-9599.
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Address

PO Box 10111
Cedar Rapids, IA
52410

Telephone

+13193508295

Website

http://www.crittercrusaderscr.org/

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Videos

Come to Sally's On Broadway in Springville to bid on over 80 wonderful silent auction items for Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids with bidding starting today Wednesday Nov.13th and running through 7:30 p.m. Friday November 15th. Then join your friends at Sally's for wonderful food and drinks this Friday night November 15th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Sally donating 50% of all proceeds to Critter Crusaders! 50/50 Raffle sales runs from 5-8pm this Friday with winner drawn at 8pm. Must be present to win 50/50 raffle. Need not be present to win Silent Auction Items! ♥️🐾

Jax gets a little Halloween treat as he continues recovering from knee surgery! We love your onesie, buddy!🎃

Benny came to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids in really bad shape! Several months later we are working hard to regulate his insulin but he's doing Great! The boy will be headed to Blue Pearl CR today for a recheck with Dr. Obr. His S.A.I.N.T. Rescue (Saving Animals in Need Today) foster mom Karey Hagerman sent this video! Benny chooses his "toys" well! 🤣

Kitten Dexter is feeling frisky after his eye enucleation surgery through CC at Heartland Animal Hospital Fairfax!

And this is how a cucumber makes Buddy jump for joy! (Please note his actual left front leg in the video when you watch this…and then look at the photo in the comment section). This sweet guy from our friends at East Texas Hoof and Paw Animal Rescue has been in our Critter Crusader medical system for over a year now. And for good reason! Iowa State University Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery Dr. Andy Law and his orthopedic surgery team, said that Buddy was the second worst front limb angular injury deformity, they have ever repaired! We believe it! From months of surgical planning, to the actual complex procedure, Buddy’s life was slowly transformed over many, many months. A team of transporters from CC returned Buddy each week after surgery to ISU for bandage changes, evaluations and rechecks. This was a major undertaking through CC both financially and time invested, but just LOOK at the results! We are thrilled and so is this young, gorgeous Belgian Malinois boy who is completely enamored by a cucumber! His life would have been severely limited by this devastating injury. When you donate to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids, this is where your hard earned money goes. Take a look in the comment section to see what this injury looked like and the video becomes even more amazing! Buddy will return to ISU in November for what could be a final recheck. Restoring Broken Lives….one Buddy at a time!❤️🐾

Time for a little good news on this Monday evening! The pathology reports are back on kitty Minerva’s mammary tumor removal surgery through CC last Monday and there is no cancer!! The lesion was completely removed and little Minerva is done with surgery! Many thanks to Dr. Loni Ellsworth from Heartland Animal Hospital Fairfax! We will be seeing that adorable face for many years to come!❤️👍🐾

Our beautiful Tiki, from our friends at Homeward Bownd Siberian Husky Rescue, has been a pet patient in our Critter Crusaders system since last December 5th. This kid was born with congenital glaucoma and we have been monitoring both of her eyes with Dr. Grozdanic at Animal Eye Consultants on Boyson Road in Hiawatha. Tiki had another appointment today. In consulting with Dr. G, we will be removing her right (bad) eye in about a month. In the video you can see its large white appearance when she turns her head. The pressures are too high and the cornea of the eye is permanently damaged. This surgery will make Tiki much more comfy and will eliminate the need for multiple eye drops. Of course if there was anything we could do to save that eye, we would. So the focus will shift to preserving her left (good) eye. It is undergoing the very same process of degeneration and pressure fluctutations but it is much slower to develop. This way we can potentially intervene surgically to preserve this eye for as long as possible. When Tiki came to us, her left eye was already severely challenged. Tiki’s foster momma Michelle is the absolute best care taker and advocate for this floofy pup, as is the incredible Dr. Grozdanic and his team at Animal Eye. Every time we go to this clinic, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist in the Cedar Rapids area! ❤️🐾

Tiny kitten Minni was most likely hit by a car, kicked or fell from some height to sustain the type of pelvic and bone injuries she is recovering from. Minni will be in our medical system for quite some time to see if as she matures, some surgery might be needed. She was fully assessed by our great partners at Blue Pearl Cedar Rapids. This crazy cute kid is in rescue with our great friends at Last Hope Animal Rescue and in the very capable hands of foster Jody Bailey who sent us this video!❤️🐾

Cute beyond belief! Tiny kitten Minni is overcoming four different fractures in both hind limbs and hips! Surgical intervention for Minni through Critter Crusaders will occur when she is older. For now, these youngster’s heal so quickly on their own, that the window of opportunity for fracture surgery after sustaining a traumatic injury, is very short. Mini’s healing great and time will tell what we have to do for her in the future! In the meantime, kitten’s just wanna have fun!

And THIS is why we save animals! Through his multiple jaw fractures and surgery through CC, Baby has an intact will to survive as this video shows the youngster voraciously eating through a syringe, with the great vet techs at Blue Pearl Cedar Rapids! Our hungry little boy!❤️

Who’s a happy dog? Aspen is a happy dog!❤️ Oh my gosh, we love this girl sooo much. Born with a multitude of congenital orthopedic abnormalities, Aspen is just a darling, floofy little piece of popcorn, totally enamored with her new beds! This girl is missing both of her front legs, but that doesn’t slow her down! Her foster momma, Rochelle Lynn Sparks meets all of Aspen’s needs and then some! Our pets, just like kids, get so excited when there is something new in their world!❤️🐾

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Our Story

Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids is a 501c3 animal medical organization dedicated to providing medical care for the homeless shelter and rescue animals throughout Eastern Iowa.

The Story of How Critter Crusaders was Founded

In Feb 2008, a two year old Siberian Husky named Ellie, was surrendered to the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter by her owner. Going blind from cataracts, the shelter was unable to afford the medical procedure that would restore her sight and make her adoptable. Ellie’s plight became our inspiration.

As shelter volunteers, we interacted with Ellie and could see the bleak reality of her future. She was one of countless other shelter animals in need of medical attention. Things became crystal clear to us. Homeless animals deserved access to medical care as a means to increase their adoptability and make them healthy. Our goal was set for Ellie. Raise the money and restore her sight. With the financial help of many generous people across Eastern Iowa, that goal was a success!

Ellie received sight saving surgery in Ames. After recuperating, she was adopted in May 2008 by a family from Omaha, NE. On Friday, June 6th, 2008, Ellie and her family returned to Cedar Rapids to make an appearance at Grant Wood School to an all school assembly. They were there to say “Thank You” to the students who had helped raise funds for Ellie’s surgery.

One week later, on Friday, June 13th, the Cedar River crested in a catastrophic event that changed lives forever. Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities experienced an epic flood, which wiped out the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter and displaced hundreds of pets from their homes. That disaster strengthened our conviction to help our local homeless animals.

In February 2009, Triton, a 6-week-old puppy with a badly broken front leg, limped into the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. With the help of many doctors and a great foster family, we were able to facilitate a complex surgery that included growing new bone while in an external fixator device. From start to finish this was a 4 month commitment of time and resources, and once again the public responded to our request for financial help.

Our non-profit was first formed in the name of Friends of Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. On March 19, 2009, we became an official 501c3. Later our name was officially changed to Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids on April 21, 2011.

Our role has greatly expanded over the years to include partnerships with local rescues and shelters in Eastern Iowa. We are committed to assisting homeless, abused and neglected animals with advanced medical care that saves lives, mends broken bodies and restores health, happiness and adoptability. A true second chance at life.

The commitment to form Critter Crusaders came from Ellie. The vision we had for her then, is the mission we continue today. One dog and one horrible time in Iowa’s history inspired us to succeed on behalf of all local homeless animals. We exist to provide the care they desperately need and deserve.

This is our passion!