Ruff Start STX

12/11/2024

Come join Ruff Start STX at Ruff Night - Hair of the Dog Bar for the activities of CRUISE SHIP DAY, in beautiful 🌺 Victoria House Inn St. Croix courtyard 🌺. Happening tomorrow, Wednesday (11/13), from 9:30am till 1pm.

We’ll be welcoming the passengers from the Royal Caribbean International Visions of the Seas. 🛳️🥳

We’ll have puppies to snuggle, merchandise and souvenirs and information on how you can get more involved.

Jay VanWinkle is bartending till close . 🥳🧉

Bar will be open 9am till 6pm(?).

Need to cool off? We sell pool passes for the Victoria House pool!!
Single pass is $15 and includes one drink and towel. Double passes are $25 and includes two drinks and two towels.

We hope to see you there!
🐶🛳️🥳🧉🥰🧉🥳🛳️🐶

11/11/2024

We have an opportunity for another one of our adult dogs to go off island this week. Who I would really REALLY like to send is Miss Kate. This poor dog has been in our office for months. She is the most wonderful, playful and affectionate, overbred mama dog.

Her pups ate longggggggg gone and she still sits waiting. The ground transport is going from Miami to Pennsylvania, stopping in Ohio. So ANYWHERE in between is doable.

The next one is Dolly, she is STILL sitting in boarding and she needs her chance too!

You can reach out via messenger for details on either of these wonderful girls. 🙏

11/11/2024

The best way to honor Lovely, who tragically passed after an attack, is to consider taking in her last baby who has yet to find a home.

Panda is 7 months old, all his siblings are gone but he never had any interest. Let's do this for Lovely. He is dog friendly and just a bit nervous around new people. Panda needs to move off the farm and into a traditional home (foster or adopter) where he can really blossom.

Please reach out to me or Folksy A. Yovanovich-Burgess if you have any questions about little Panda boy.

We got you. Miss Lovely girl.

11/11/2024

Little Ruffio needs to move to a new foster tomorrow. His current foster said he is a wonderful dog for someone looking for a companion.

He loves other dogs, cats ok too and follows his humans everywhere. He potties outside and has great manners. He can travel stateside!

About 9 months old, has mange but it is the non contagious kind and has gotten treatment for it. Ruffio was dumped by Cruzan Rum Distillery, St Croix, VI I and a wonderful employed reached out to us for help picking him up and caring for him.

10/11/2024

Edit: We are canceling cruise ship set up and music today, due to rain. 😔

Bar will still be open 9am till 8pm. 🐶🧉🥳

Original post:
Come join us for the activities of CRUISE SHIP DAY at beautiful 🌺 Victoria House Inn St. Croix, happening tomorrow, Monday (11/11).

Ruff Start STX will be set up outside the Ruff Night - Hair of the Dog Bar from 9:30am till approximately 1pm.

We’ll be welcoming the passengers from the Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas. 🛳️🥳

We’ll have puppies to snuggle, merchandise and souvenirs and information on how you can get more involved.

Jay VanWinkle is bartending till noon. 🥳🧉

Our friend, Tim Bartzen, will be serenading us with live music from 10am - 1pm.

From 12 till 8pm, Lizz Schroeder will be slinging drinks, with special 2 for 1 wine and bubbles and talented Chef Sean Skerrette will be cooking up some great food. 🧉😋

Bar open 9am till 8pm.

Need to cool off? We sell pool passes for the Victoria House pool!!
Single pass is $15 and includes one drink and towel. Double passes are $25 and includes two drinks and two towels.

We hope to see you there!
🐶🛳️🥳🧉🥰🧉🥳🛳️🐶

10/11/2024

I did not get to share too much about Ruffio yesterday. He is the young male we picked up from Cruzan Rum Distillery St Croix Usvi yesterday. Before I could even get him to his weekend foster home, I started getting the messages about the Dog at Home Depot/Autozone. I had to leave him at the bar (thank you John Driscoll) and hop right back in the truck to head to the next call.

We did get him vaccinated, dewormed and did a skin scrape which showed his mange is the non contagious kind. He is only about 9 months and SO happy and friendly and just excited for life. He is a hand holder and just melts in your lap. We need to move him by Monday. I called in a favor to one of our fosters who already have several dogs, they agreed to do the weekend.

If anyone is able to help give this boy a temporary spot, let me know! We can provide any and all supplies needed.

09/11/2024

SHOUT OUT to this week’s Featured Flyer - the one and only Dave Flavin - for volunteering to es**rt Ruthie to her forever home!

We cannot say just how thankful we are when supporters offer to do this - Dave, you changed this puppy’s life!!! THANK YOU ♥️🐾♥️

If you are flying out soon and wouldn’t mind a little cuddle bug for your trip, please, please email us:

[email protected]

09/11/2024

This not at all the post I thought I would be making this morning. Lovely succumbed to her injuries after a vicious attack and has passed away.
She was rushed to an emergency vet last night and put on fluids, antibiotics, and pain meds and her vitals were good. But she was just tired. I spoke to Dr. Bauman who was also saddened by this awful outcome, she believes the physical stress of an attack that covered her whole body was just too much.

When I spoke to Folksy to tell her the news, she handled it with strength and grace. She also stated "the first night is always the test, I have experienced this with other animals. Their wounds are recoverable, but they are over exhausted and don't make it."

We will pay the bill for Lovely and have her cremated, then give the ashes to Folksy. We will make a donation to Folsy as she does so much for the island animals, like Lovely, out of her own pocket. The remainder of donations and any future donations to this fund will be used specifically for victims of abuse.

Thank you all for the support and messages, today is a sad day.
RIP Lovely girl. You were so brave.

By Ruff Start STX

09/11/2024

For anyone who was trying to donate to this case but having trouble with link, you van use either of these links below.
(Also, reminder, all donations now through December 3rd are being matched up to $20k)

PayPal.me/ruffstartstx
Givebutter.com/ruffstartstx

09/11/2024

Good Evening - update on the Dog by autozone/home depot. It is believed to be a stray dog that someone has been taking care of by Chicken Shack.

She has been very badly attacked and was laying in a pool of her own blood. There were bloody footprints around that same spot like she paced around until she finally collapsed. But no blood trails leading up to where she was. Just her and a bowl of water that she was left with. 🥹

Thank you, thank you, thank you Progressive Veterinary Hospital and Dr. Ariel Baumann for answering and coming in after hours to see her. She has a couple bad wounds,the rest are superficial. She is staying the weekend at Progressive and they will clean her up tomorrow to get a better look at the bad injuries.

This is the 16th dog we have taken in since yesterday morning. When I got this call I was just leaving Cruzan Rum Distillery, St Croix, VI with a mangey stray little boy they called us about. We do NOT get any government funding to do this. We are not required to do this. We say yes as often as we can, even past when we can really. We rely entirely on YOU!!

Please consider helping us continue to be that emergency call, when there is nobody else, by donating. We currently have a match up to $20k dollars through December 3rd. Meaning if you donate 10 bucks right now, it turns into 20.

It was another long, long day.

08/11/2024

07/11/2024

I'll keep an "ear out" for a better foster home 🤣🤣😅🤣

06/11/2024

This weekend is our 1 year Anniversay party! Please come out Saturday or Sunday and have a cocktail, swim, or bite to eat with us!

Saturday's party features Dj AB3L all day mixing 80's abd 90's into the night when the smoke machine and laser lights come out! Glow necklaces and performance by CoralFire!
We will grill all day and do potluck for side items! Bring whatever you like!

Sunday - nurse that hangover in the pool with bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas, food by Sean Skerrette, and Tim Bartzen and The Sticklers live on stage!

Shot specials, raffles, discounted pool passes all weekend!

06/11/2024

We have an AMAZING and much needed opportunity here...
EVERY DOLLAR DONATED NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 3RD IS MATCHED!! (Up to $20k)

This has been an extremely challenging year with donations down and animals in need sky rocketing, emergency cases around every corner. Costs of everything going up and more supporters and fosters than ever leaving island for multiple reasons. The animal abuse and neglect being one reason nearing the top.

We spent over $10K just this week on transport costs and vet bills alone. We will continue to do all of this because these dogs deserve the chance we give them. This graphic speaks volumes with Pete before and after. We are able to do this because of YOU! I am very humbled by your support.

We have a whole month to reach this goal, if everyone could just give a small amount for the duration of this amazing match challenge, we WILL reach this goal! And ON Giving Tuesday, when we reach this goal, we will host an event that gives back to the community and pet owners most in need.

paypal.com/ruffstartstx note GT2024
givebutter.com/ruffstartstx note GT2024
Checks can be sent to:
P.O. Box 25718
Christiansted, VI
00824

Thank you for your continued support! Let's do this!

05/11/2024

Thank you for ALL the continued donations!! 🙏🐶🥰

We still are completely out of puppy food wet and dry.

So, we are in desperate need of;

- Wet, pate style, Pedigree brand (or comparable), puppy and adult food,

- Dry puppy food,

- Dry, adult food (small bites is a favorite),

- XL, soft sided, airline carriers (we needat least 5 - 10 xl carriers for larger pups that can still fly commercial),

- Garbage bags,

- Slip leashes (multipacks are great for our clinics),

We also need;
- Pedigree food packets (for traveling pups),
- Vienna sausages,
- High Protein, NOT pedigree brand, dry dog food,
- Nutrical

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/ZU3MIZYXKTOB?ref_=wl_share

Don’t feel like shopping? You can donate via PayPal at;

http://PayPal.me/ruffstartstx

Or Venmo / Credit Card at;

http://givebutter.com/ruffstartstx

Do you live on island and want to give more of your time (we always need more volunteers and fosters)? Please email [email protected] or contact me directly.

Thank you for your continued support and donations!!
Sue Hunstad
🙏🐶🥰

05/11/2024

Thanks again, Quality Food St. Croix!!

Lots of happy dumplings await!

05/11/2024

Formally introducing.... Flo-Jo! 🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️

After her debut sprint down Northside Rd, it was clear she was a star!! She is coming around very well considering 2 weeks ago I could bit get with 200 ft of her.

She is a sweet pea. Was able give her some head and ear scritches this morning while she snuggled with her new puppy friend Max. She is a small adult and will eventually be up for adoption.

14/04/2020

*Since the time of this post Althea has been treated for heartworm, received a double eye surgery, learned to trust and accept other dogs and has moved to New York where she has a wonderful family of dog friends and caring humans*

This poor dog is Althea. She was named today at intake. I didn't find Althea at the dump. Until about 10am today, this was someone's pet. This starving, overbred, flea and tick infested, heartworm positive dog, was a pet. Please read her story...
Was heading to North Shore looking for a different dog and got a call from Jennifer Olah about another girl who urgently needed to be picked up back out West. I turned around to go get her. Jen does A LOT of awesome, positive work with community kids through Cruzan Cowgirls Horse Rescue and it was some of the kids she mentors who saved this dog.
They intercepted her as her "owners" were taking her to leave her at the dump. She obviously had served her purpose for them. They encouraged these ADULTS to take the dog to the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center instead of dumping her. They said they weren't driving that far.
The boys contacted Jen while handling the situation and were able to get the dog and bring her to the farm where I met them. From there I brought Althea in to the shelter where the staff took her right in to be evaluated.
The boys go along with Jen on community horse calls and have been around when Jen has dealt with dog issues too. This is the 6th or 7th dog they've intervened on and helped with.
As much as this story sucks, it's pretty motivating to see the younger generation correcting bad behavior of adults who should know better. Awesome work from Cruzan Cowgirls, AWC and especially these boys! Now if all these a**holes could just die off 😑
As soon as I have an update on Althea I will share. Hopefully there is a way to help her!
Melissa Munch