Rocky Start Rescue

Rocky Start Rescue non profit animal rescue specializing in exotics and wildlife.

11/12/2025

Did you know??? We haven't seen a case of rabies in michigan raccoons in almost thirty years? And even then it was a strain of bat rabies that the raccoon had. We have never seen a documented case of the raccoon strain in Michigan!

I haven't introduced Taz! He came a few weeks ago as a transfer from Calhoun County Animal Center. They took him in as a...
11/10/2025

I haven't introduced Taz! He came a few weeks ago as a transfer from Calhoun County Animal Center. They took him in as a stray and after his stray hold, he came here. He joined our group of boys and gets along great with them. Ferrets are such fun, social, wacky creatures!
Welcome Taz!

Happy Sunday! Meet Terrance, a new resident here at Rocky start rescue. His previous owners loved him a lot and he was a...
11/09/2025

Happy Sunday! Meet Terrance, a new resident here at Rocky start rescue. His previous owners loved him a lot and he was actually a class pet but they had to move out of state and unfortunately they could not take Terrence with them. They trusted him with me and I am so happy he's here. I have always loved tegus and have been patiently waiting for one to come into my life.

I brought Terrance to the vet yesterday for a full exam and some blood work to make sure that he is healthy and I will attach the bill onto this post as well.

So far, Terrance has been so sweet and his demeanor is perfect for becoming an educational ambassador here at the rescue. I cannot wait to start bringing him to fundraisers and showing him off.

Now that this year is coming to a close, we are in need of donations to be able to start all over again next year! All donations are tax deductible and every little bit helps! Facebook has disconnected from my registered PayPal giving fund and until I figure that out, you can still donate through cash app, venmo, and directly to our page.

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3917959168787966759&created=1732625854

https://cash.app/$RockyStartRescue

As the rescue year winds down, I sat down last night and went through my phone to clean up all of the messages I receive...
10/03/2025

As the rescue year winds down, I sat down last night and went through my phone to clean up all of the messages I received since March. This really puts into perspective just how much work this is and how much need there is. I couldn't take all of these animals in, no way, but I fielded and redirected almost 600 calls. I am one person. No facility, no staff, just me. I am looking forward to the day I have a team behind me and a building for the animals to call home but for now I share my home and it isn't easy. I felt like I wasn't doing enough at times but this really made me realize how much I was able to do. Thank you all for your support, we burn through funds during baby season and I have two vet appointments scheduled still. To my fellow rescuers; you are doing enough ❤️

Anotha one: little kitten came in crashing after her siblings passed away one by one and the finders reached out for hel...
09/15/2025

Anotha one: little kitten came in crashing after her siblings passed away one by one and the finders reached out for help finally. I was worried about her straight away because she could hardly hold her head up and had a runny nose - not good for a tiny little kitten. Natascha did intake and rushed her over here and I gave her fluids, lysine, started antibiotics, popped her into our new incubator and by the next morning she was eating like a champ. I'm so grateful we got her in time and could help her. Welcome starla ❤️

Update on the neglect baby: I set up a camera so I can watch her while I'm not there. It's hard to tell for sure if she ...
09/13/2025

Update on the neglect baby: I set up a camera so I can watch her while I'm not there. It's hard to tell for sure if she has had a seizure or not while I'm not there because raccoons love to mess up their cage anyway. She is eating so well still and sleeping a lot. We are still adjusting and working on meds for her but I know she's at least much more comfortable than before. I've got her in this smaller hospital unit to keep her as safe as possible until I can make sure she is not seizing anymore as her seizures are extremely violent. Unbelievably , this is at least twice the size of the cage she was kept in all day before. Luckily, she sleeps most of the time right now anyway. Good vibes are still very welcome, as we navigate what's best for her. ❤️

Sweet little kitten came in about a week ago that was found hanging - yes hanging - by his back leg in a tree. A kind fi...
09/13/2025

Sweet little kitten came in about a week ago that was found hanging - yes hanging - by his back leg in a tree. A kind finder was walking his dog and heard the cries. My awesome vet met me that night so we could get pain meds on board and the next day we took X-rays and held our breath. NO BREAKS! Trauma from the hanging caused swelling and now he's getting around great and eats likes a little piggy. I named him Gary. ❤️

After four years running Rocky Start Rescue, volunteering at other rescues for 10 plus years, and working in vet med, no...
09/11/2025

After four years running Rocky Start Rescue, volunteering at other rescues for 10 plus years, and working in vet med, not a lot brings me to tears at the sight of it. No animal deserves the suffering this one has been through. She was "rescued" from the wild and instead of being brought to rehabber who knew how to help her, she was kept as a pet, her docile demeanor mistaken for friendliness instead of a plea for help. She's at least 6 months old and has been fed bananas, baby food, and kmr for her entire life. She was kept in a bare cage too small for her, with no comfort items. She has at least some vision loss and cognitive impairment. Her feet are crusted with p**p and she stinks. Worst of all, she began having seizures over a week ago and has been suffering over and over again without relief. I will not be posting the video of her seizing because it's extremely hard to watch.

Her keepers were not willing to drive her here, so Jamie drove an hour each way to save her. We immediately started anti seizure medication and shortly after I took this photo because she was sleeping so deeply, and breathing so smoothly. She just seems to be comfortable for the first time in a long time. I cried again, but for a different reason.

I'm not certain I can save her, I don't even know how to yet. But I promised her the minute she came through my doors that she wouldn't suffer any more. Even if that means helping her cross to ease her pain. I will not mince words, she was neglected and kept illegally for human gain. No animal deserves that. We need to do better. Wild animals are not our belongings, our pets. They are a part of something much bigger than us and without them, we wouldn't be here.

They gave her a name, but I will be giving her a new one that reflects her strength. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support that allows me to do this.

Squirrels. That's it, that's the post. ❤️ 🤙🐿️
09/06/2025

Squirrels. That's it, that's the post. ❤️ 🤙🐿️

Happy Monday! Although I've been on intake hold for what feels like forever and I have absolutely no room, I was contact...
07/08/2025

Happy Monday! Although I've been on intake hold for what feels like forever and I have absolutely no room, I was contacted by some people from Midwest dermatology in Battle Creek. At the end of their day today they went out to the dumpster to discover a mother raccoon who had given up the fight and seven babies all huddled around her. I left work, grabbed my catch pole, my gloves and a kennel, and drove there for what I thought was going to be an easy rescue. Shout out to my day one, Elizabeth Bement who also just got out of work and met me right there to help. For some reason, she's always there for my shenanigans. These seven little guys put up one hell of a fight but one by one we begrudgingly took them all and thanked their mom for keeping them safe.

I do not have space for these raccoons. Like literally, none but I knew that if no help came tonight, chances were they would not be alive in the morning as they were tired and dehydrated and their poor mom had already passed on next to them.

So even though I'm exhausted and even though I won't get much sleep tonight, I Dove into a dumpster for seven baby raccoons who honestly were out of options. The ladies at Midwest were absolutely amazing. It makes it so much easier for me to say yes and go the extra mile and work the extra hours when the finders are so compassionate and caring. This might have been one long ass Monday, but it was also a feel-good one ❤️

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Pennfield, MI
49014

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