31/12/2024
On behalf of the nonprofit Heidi’s Kitten Rescue, I would like to thank everyone who has supported this very successful effort this year. 2024 was our FIRST FULL YEAR in operation as a nonprofit.
Some of our accomplishments include:
OVER 360 ADOPTIONS to forever homes.
39 ADOPTION EVENTS were held!
(This does not include individual appointments)
Over two dozen foster homes stepped up, and 40 volunteers directly foster, transport, or volunteer at events
Many more people donated money or supplies, making care for our cats possible. We are financially solvent, thanks to our donors who believe in and contribute to our work. I am very proud of the fact that we are a 100% volunteer-run organization, where your donations go directly to care of the animals.
We took on several large cases:
40 cats from one hoarding situation in Hamilton in October.
In June, 23 momma cats and kittens from an overwhelmed and closing rescue in Mineral County, and later the remaining 5 adult cats.
*We still have 40+ cats and kittens in care. Our first event in the New Year will be this Saturday, Jan. 5 from 1-4 at Tractor Supply in Lolo!*
Thank you from all of our hearts as well as from the kitties who are safe and loved.
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We have goals and wishes for 2025!
–BRING A LARGE-SCALE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC TO THE VALLEY
–Do our own microchipping of all our cats before adoption
–Potentially software for tracking adoptions
–Grow our foster and volunteer base
You can help! (https://www.heidiskittens.com/donate, or message me for Venmo or mailing address)
I, personally, have a long term dream for the wellbeing of animals in the valley, and throughout Montana. My dreams include an education and adoption facility, which can assist people in keeping their pets in their homes; educate children on coexisting with animals on this planet; and serve as a stopping-place for cats ready for adoption. I never want to lose our foster-based model. My actual profession is as a teacher, and I believe that education is a key component to changing cultural attitudes toward animals. Pets and people are interrelated and the more organizations embrace this (human shelters, for example, or workers investigating domestic abuse), the better outcomes for all.
I would also love to see us contract our own shelter-educated/shelter-friendly veterinarian. And finally, I would love to see us have a mobile Rescue Van, (the Cat-mobile), which can be a mobile adoption facility for events (volunteers, imagine not having to set up kennels each time!), or to start, simply a hauler when we need to transport.
CAN WE CHANGE THE LIVES of pets and people in the Bitterroot Valley and beyond? I say we can, and already have. Here’s to 2025.
–Heidi Schnarr, Founder, Heidi’s Kitten Rescue
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
–Margaret Mead
