30/08/2025
No one has ever put in more effort nor has done more with less. But you deserve a life. Thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do.
I've been thinking of ways on how to write this post for probably over a year now. But, I realized I needed to stop the wishful thinking and just let the words go.
A couple of weeks ago, Jared and I went on a two night vacation. It's been years since the two of us have gotten away together. Typically Jared leaves for a fishing trip and I get out for a concert or two each year, just never together. How could we when I can't leave my own home? The past ten years our personal property has had over 50 souls at any given time to care for and many with daily needs. It takes days to prepare and days to recover just to leave for a night. It's just been easier to not even get away.
I sobbed leaving. I sobbed when we were there. I sobbed coming home. There were so many emotions I truly did not know how to feel. This moment was supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable. I felt those things but also an overwhelming amount of sadness, anger, and resentment.
While looking out to a still horizon, I couldn't see where the lake ended and the sky began. It was absolute peace. Something I haven't felt in over a decade.
I could not stop thinking, "What if I made different decisions 10 years ago?" Questions raced through my head about starting the rescue, better long-term decisions, allowing myself to be taken advantage of, allowing resources to get over extended, and allowing people to bully me and the organization.
Every day for years, I continued to think things would get better or I'd try something different to only gulp back every ounce of personal preservation and never take a step forward. I wondered if I would have made different choices and decisions back then could there be a balance of giving and have personal peace? Because I can't go back, I'll never know.
I know there's no good that comes from regret. The cats are never a regret but there are many situations from over the years that haunt me daily. The realization has come full force that nothing has changed and nothing will change for Here to the Rescue in order to operate as is or getting back to TNR. As much as I would love to go back and have it all figured out that's not possible and it has not been possible to recover from the past.
As of September 1, 2025, nine years to the month of starting HTTR TNR Outreach, we will be prememently closed- so to speak.
⚠️We will ALWAYS take back cats adopted through our program! They have a safe place for their entire life.
🐈⬛️ We will continue to care for our current residents. Absolutely no new intake.
🐈 Felines who are considered adoptable will be placed on petfinder and/or continue to be fully vetted and transferred to other no-kill organizations, as we have been.
🐈⬛️ Resources such as funding, food, litter, medicine, and medical assistance will need to be saved for the remaining cats in HTTR's care.
🐈 Continue our relationship with the staff at Healthy Pet Animal Hospital of Chetek as long as they allow.
➡️We are no longer able to offer any future spay/neuter assistance, funding, supplies, or appointments.
➡️The van will be parked and covered.
➡️All equipment will be either stored or sold. No items will be donated. Funds collected will go towards the care of HTTR's current residents.
➡️Traps and supplies will be offered only to other organizations and will not be lent out to the general public.
➡️All funding and donations from local business jars and fundraisers will go towards caring for the remaining cats.
➡️ Our raffle licenses and Cat Stats program have been eliminated. But colony records are being placed in Google Drive.
➡️ We will continue our 501 3c non-profit status to help keep the lower costs to care for the current residents. Sanctuary care is included in our bylaws.
In a balanced world our future would allow us to:
➡️Transport cats to low cost clinics
➡️Host low cost vaccine, microchip, nail trim clinics
➡️Offer, at cost, spay/neuter, vaccinations for colony cat caregivers
➡️Offer traps to caregivers (not for removing, relocating, or destroying any animal)
➡️Offer winter houses,supplies for trapping, supplies to care for cats.
➡️Courtesy posts on social media, petfinder, adopt-a-pet for altered pets needing to rehomed by their owner with our assistance to check references. .. however, these plans are no where in the near future. There are so many factors that have to fall into place before the above could happen, if ever.
Over the past 9 years.... thousands of cats were able to have a better life because of so many. Because community members volunteered, donated, adopted, trapped, or took positive measures in their own hands to better the life of a cat, we were able to serve caregivers and colony cats of our county and beyond for as long as we did. We are grateful to have had this opportunity and hope someday our local and national laws/government can finally catch up to understanding the value for all by supporting and providing funding towards TNR.
We are not dropping off completely, there are still cats here looking for homes or many who will remain with Jared and I for life. With the help of a couple dedicated volunteers we will continue to have small fundraisers to pay for their care. It's time to slow down, enjoy the company of who is here, and try finding our own peace.
Wendy Lindloff
Founder of HTTR
Homeowner of where HTTR cats reside & TNR cats recovered
➡️➡️Local Resources⬅️⬅️
✅️Low Cost Feline Spay/Neuter:
Purple Cat Moblie Clinic
Pet Care Xpress
✅️Feline Spay/Neuter Assistance:
Purple Cat People
Northshore
PAWS
The Fix Is In
✅️Pet Food:
Your local food pantry
✅️Facilities:
Humane Society Barron County
Community Cat Rescue and Adoption Center
