Benevolent Beginnings Independent Rescue

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Benevolent Beginnings Independent Rescue

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03/01/2025

Good morning!

Update on the injured kitten! It's a boy!

Yesterday my dog was diagnosed with Lymphoma so I named this kitty Gus in his honor ♥️ I'm still devastated and I'm not ready to talk about it yet, so onto the update!

It's both great and not so great news.

The not so great news is that the injury was very severe and old. The bone itself was broken, exposed and dead. The muscle and fat surrounding the bone had rotted away from infection and his skin was sloughing off as well around it. He was missing fur in some areas and his right ear had damage, likely from frostbite. Unfortunately he will need his leg amputated. The vet believes he was grabbed by the back leg by a larger predator but got away. How he survived this long with such a terrible infection is a miracle. I am so thankful his finders took action and got him safe!

Now onto the great news! He is an extremely sweet boy and despite his injuries, he purred the entire time and just loved being loved! He is about 12 weeks old. After looking at him the doctor offered to keep him as her foster in clinic, do the amputation, get him healthy and get him adopted! I obviously jumped at that opportunity. He will get top tier care, pain meds, antibiotics, and get loved on by all of the staff until he finds a forever home! I am so grateful!

They didn't charge me anything for his visit so I have refunded everyone who donated! Sarah, Paula, Jill, Deborah, Dawn, and Darlene please ensure your refunds made their way to you! Thank you ladies so so much for coming to Gus's rescue! You are so appreciated ♥️

Special shout-out to Michelle and her husband who found this guy and took action! To Jessica, the mutual friend who got a hold of me, to Kelli for networking and finding someone to foster and to Anna for stepping up to foster this sweet guy. You all are the best! Team work saves lives ♥️

I will try to keep tabs on his progress and will share any updates I get! Thank you all!

*Photos of wound in comments, but warning they are icky and graphic*

02/01/2025

Good morning.

***Graphic photos in comments***

Fundraising wasn't the first thing I wanted to do this year, but I was contacted about a kitten near me in immediate need of help. I was told she was injured, didn't want to stand and when she would walk she would limp.

She was found last night outside of a rural home, wounded and hypothermic. The finders were able to bring her inside and warm her up; then through a mutual friend, get a hold of me.

She has a large wound on her back left leg that is gaping, infected and becoming necrotic. She also has injuries to her ears, some scabs on her body and an upper respiratory infection. I haven't been able to see her in person yet but with the information and photos I received my best guess is that she is around 12 weeks old and was likely attacked by another animal.

Luckily my friend Kelli knew someone local that could foster, so she is now safe indoors and being cared for. She is willing to foster long term which is fantastic! The kitten is eating and drinking, and does try to use the leg so those are good signs. She said she purred all the way through her bath and is sweet as pie!

I wasn't able to get her in today, but I have an appointment made at Garrison Animal Hospital for tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. She will get antibiotics, pain meds, the wounds cleaned and an fiv/felv test. In addition I may ask for an X-ray just to make sure she doesn't have any internal injuries. I don't know the extent of the damage but I am hoping the wound on her leg can be healed and that she won't need it amputated.

If anyone can help, kitty and I would appreciate it ♥️
As always I will post donations below:

Sarah S - $10 🧡
Paula W - $75 💛
Jill S - $100 💚
Deborah Z - $180 💙
Dawn P - $25 💜
Darlene B - $5 ♥️

PayPal: [email protected]
Venmo:
Vet: 320-692-4180 Natalie Seelen Account

Thank you!

31/12/2024

Have a fun and safe celebration!

30/12/2024

***REMINDER*** Deb Marshall court hearing at 10 a.m.
Join by zoom:
Meeting ID: 1600188194
Pass Code: 665056

25/12/2024

May you and yours have a safe and lovely Christmas Day!

Happy Pawlidays!

23/12/2024

Deb Marshall of SCRAM Rescue in Hines, MN - the current hoarding and cruelty case - requested a hearing to receive 11 of the animals back (6 dogs, 5 cats). That hearing was this morning and I attended via Zoom. Her request was denied. Thankfully.

I will put highlights in the comment section because it will be difficult to read and hear. Multiple officers spoke in witness, including Beltrami County deputies, AHS officers and also the lead veterinarian of AHS. I struggled while listening to it as well; but if nobody listens, the animals voices go unheard. Without awareness, change can't happen. Change needs to happen!

Her next hearing is public as well and if you would like to attend via Zoom, here are the details:

December 30 - 10 a.m.
Meeting ID: 1600188194
Pass Code: 665056

Please read the comments at your discretion.

15/12/2024

Hi! We're Ember and Sky!

Born outside in the wintertime,
We weren't very fond of people.
Then a lady came and took us inside
Oh boy was it an upheaval!

New place, new sounds, new smells and sights...
It was a scary time for sure!
But soon enough we settled in, and started feeling very demure.

Warmth, fresh food, water and toys;
Soft beds, love and cat towers-
Filled all of our days with joy and calm
No longer scared in the outdoors!

We love our life now and our foster mama wants you to know a little more about us!

Ember and Sky are best friends and have been bonded since the beginning! They are each other's yin and yang. Sky tends to be more of an introvert and Ember is definitely an extrovert. Ember is a lap cat and Sky prefers side snuggles. Sky tends to be more independent and Ember codependent. It's believed Sky had poor experiences with humans when she was a kitten and as a result tends to be more cautious. Ember has taken it upon herself to be Skys guardian and guide and it's the sweetest thing! If Ember senses Sky is scared, she will stand in front of her to make her feel protected and safe. Sky takes her lead and Ember gives her confidence she needs and allows her to be brave. Sky will take longer to settle in then Ember, but once she does she blossoms into a sweet, calm and loving girl. They both enjoy affection, although Ember tends to take the spotlight! She is a kneading queen and will make dough on any surface. Sky appreciates the quiet soft love; full body pets and head caresses but especially chin rubs. Those are her favorite! They both LOVE wand toys! They also like shaker mice and balls, and will play with a ball chaser every now and then. They both enjoy laying in a sunny window, atop a cat tower watching the birds outside and chittering at them. They are such sweet, beautiful souls and all they want is a home of their own ♥️

Please consider Ember and Sky, they have been waiting for their forever since March. Share and help them find a home for the holidays!🎄 🎁 🌟

12/12/2024

Someone asked me the other day about my remodeled foster room and I realized I had only taken videos and didn't have a photo!

So here it is! I love it. It's the nicest room in my house. It seems so empty after the kittens left. Tonight I will move Sky and Ember into it, and do a deep clean and repaint of the other room. I am hoping to set up my computer and sewing machine in it; then set up a few XXL crates to be used as emergency intake and for trapping projects.

Unfortunately I cannot continue to rescue at the rate I had prior. With the costs of supplies and vet care rising, along with placement being harder to find and adoptions at an all time low; I need to scale back. At least for now. It absolutely sucks and I hate that I have to because it means less being helped.

For now my main focus is going to be finding Sky and Ember their forever home, and the Garrison abandoned kitties case. So far we think we got them all, but we want to be sure!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday and stays warm!

11/12/2024

I'm going to miss these four!

They were a joy to foster ♥️

10/12/2024

I don't know where to start or how to feel when talking about the recent news about the hoarding case in Beltrami County. So many emotions.

I'm absolutely heartbroken thinking about what those poor animals went through. I'm enraged that law enforcement took 46 days to arrest the perpetrators and rescue the animals. I'm in disbelief that anyone could do what they did to these defenseless animals. Mostly I'm sick to my stomach and overcome with immense guilt because I had given her eight cats and kittens in 2020 and 2022.

I had seen her "in" the rescue community for a while and was referred to her when seeking help with placement for cats and kittens I couldn't take care of myself. I was under the impression that she was a director of SCRAM Rescue and that she had a network of fosters in her area. I always met her in a Walmart parking lot and was told that the cats and kittens I gave her would be going to a foster home. I was given positive updates about the cats and told that they were adopted. I am praying that it was true, however given the circumstances; I'll never really know. I just hope that whatever happened to them, that they forgive me for what I had done.

In 2016 I was working on a farm TNR and removal project and the first cats I made the decision to remove were two very friendly, and very pregnant females. Since I had about forty more cats to work with, I sought out rescue placement for these two. That rescue euthanized them five minutes after arriving at their first vet visit, three days later, because they tested positive for FIV (not SCRAM). I delivered them straight to death without even knowing it, and I never got over it. After that I vowed to be more cautious about who I trusted to send cats to; and I was. However this case is bringing up the same feelings and making me question my judgement all over again.

At the same time, Laura, who was the main director of SCRAM Rescue; took in senior cats from a separate farm I was working on. I brought the cats to her home, had coffee with her and felt the cats would be safe and well cared for. Since Deb was associated with her, and was referred by so many in the rescue community; I didn't think twice about trusting Deb. Laura recently passed away so we will never know the truth of what she knew. She seemed so kind and compassionate when I met her that I have a hard time believing that she was aware of what Deb was doing. I believe that our souls pay for the things that we do; so if in fact she did know then the universe will deliver just punishment.

I'm so mad that things like this keep happening! Caycee Bregel was a fairly recent similar case, and I had sent her a cat. Luckily I transported him directly to his foster home, and they adopted him so he didn't suffer the fate of so many. She got off with a slap on the wrist and now has more animals.

Not only do so many animals needlessly suffer, but things like this are detrimental to the rescue community itself. There are so many good rescues out there, providing proper care and who are truly in rescue for the betterment of animals. Incidents like this cause the public to lose trust in rescue organizations, and it has a ripple effect. More animals abandoned, more animals in shelters where they live in fear and die for it, more animals given away for free to people who won't properly care for them, less donations and support for rescues, and it just continues as a vicious cycle.

So how do we prevent this from happening? I don't have the answer but I have a few suggestions:

- Be a responsible pet owner! Spay and neuter and commit to your pets for their life span.

- If you see something, SAY SOMETHING. It's now coming out that many people were aware of the situation years ago.

-Listen to the people saying something! If you don't believe them, ask questions, do your own investigations. Don't make assumptions.

- Take the time to screen the people and organizations you are giving your animal to! Look up reviews, talk to the director, demand vet references. Physically see the home they are going to! If you are denied, don't give them your animal.

- Instituting a branch of law officers dedicated to the regulation, inspection and enforcement of standards of rescue organizations. I realize people are wary of government involvement, but real rescues wouldn't have an issue with this.

- Legislation and laws needs to change. Animal Welfare needs to be taken seriously. Multiple people are stating that they reported her years ago but nothing was done. If and when proposals are made, vote! Show up to hearings. Be loud. Demand change!

I'm sorry this got long. It has been weighing heavily on me. I have been looking at the photos of these cats and kittens she took from me and just sobbing. I potentially sent them to a terrible fate just because I felt overwhelmed and didn't have room. I could have set up more crates and figured it out. I could have powered through. I could have. Had I known, I would have.

I'm so sorry babies, please forgive me.

https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/news/64-animals-seized-beltrami-county-cruelty-case?fbclid=IwY2xjawHFZElleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHd2HL6gdPKzwo7UadqW6WSXRQsXug4rhy9VSUksxSquCnIV9P4ribFzzLQ_aem_SEy_HdxSqs362rDVSMLZiQ

09/12/2024

🎁 Don't be Home Alone for the holidays! 🌲

These sweeties are now available for adoption! ♥️

www.savingtails.org/adopt

08/12/2024

Behind the scenes of a trapping project... probably the worst part 😆 Everything needs washed and disinfected!

Off to the car wash and laundromat I go!

07/12/2024

These two bonded sisters have been waiting for a home since March 🥺 Will you help me find them a home for Christmas? 🎄

The tuxedo, Sky, is a timid quiet girl who just wants time to settle in, a comfy place to nap, occasional chin rubs (her favorite!) and a male human to be her best friend. She has always gravitated towards men and as soon as trust is formed, she will go belly up and let you rub her belly! She is an independent cat for the most part, but does like laying next to her human during down time. She may even become a lap cat for the right person!

The calico tabby, Ember, is a very outgoing and social girl who will take anything and everything all at the same time! She loves attention, pets and snuggles and will knead literally anything. She will knead the floor as soon as she makes eye contact with her human. She likes to lay in a lap, in the sun and will make a bed out of anything! She has been Sky's protector since day one and they love each other so much; they must be adopted together 🥰

I trapped them as feral kittens who were living outside under a trailer house. Ember came around to being a "normal" cat but Sky stayed timid. I believe she had some bad experiences with humans as a kitten. I realize this isn't ideal for most adopters; but given the time to truly settle in and trust, she will blossom into an amazing companion!

I believe they could live with other cats, however I think they would be happiest in a young child and dog free home. They enjoy the calm life!

I am pledging $100 of my own money towards their adoption fee. I am in the process of updating their bios, but you can see more and apply to adopt them at www.savingtails.org/adopt

*Note: Currently located in Crosby, MN but will travel!

06/12/2024

Garrison Kitties Fundraising/Donation Update!

First I want to thank all of these lovely people who donated! We appreciate you so much! We saved 16 cats so far with your help ♥️

Colleens Fundraiser $230, Dawn $50, Dawn $50, Deb $40, Carol $75, Cheryl $100, Sarah $10, Sherri $20, Finding Your Feather $40, Jamie $75, Paula $150, Sylvie $25, Carly $10, Angela $50, Amanda $100, Julie $100, Toni $10, Tommy's Parents $100 🧡

Grand total of $1,195! 💛 You are all incredible!

Here is what the funds have gone towards: 💚

Tommy's Emergency Vet Visit $500
Tommy's Check Up $120
Greta- Independent Rescuer 4 Cats $100
Nicole - Independent Rescuer 4 Cats $100
Paws & Claws Donation for 3 Cats $150
Cellular Trail Camera $50
Trapping supplies $45
Food for my 3 fostered cats $20

*Note - Colleen Roop took pledges and fundraised. From that initial fundraiser, Lisa of Lost Souls Cat Rescue, Greta, and Nicki each received $220 🩵

I have $110 left

We are going to just let that money stay to the side for now until more needs arise! We are still monitoring the area to find out how many, if any, are still out there. I know a couple of the cats Greta and Nicki are fostering may need further vet care as well. We will continue doing our best!

Thank you all again 💜

05/12/2024

Tommy update!

A couple hours after we left the finders home with Tommy last week; the wife messaged and said her husband Fred was very sad and that if he survived, they would like to adopt Tommy. We decided to keep him in his foster home while he recovered...

Well after his checkup yesterday, he went home! We got word that Fred and Tommy are already inseparable and that they slept nose to nose all night. Here they are together napping on the floor today 🥰

While Tommy is doing much much better, he still wasn't where the doctor wanted him to be. He still had some drainage, inflammation and his lymph nodes were swollen. He got another injection of antibiotics, dewormer/flea treatment and preventative; and got prescribed prednisolone for a little bit to help with the inflammation. His new mom and dad have no issues giving him his meds!

This was the ideal outcome! I'm so happy for Tommy and his new family! All the love, warmth and companionship he could ever ask for, for the rest of his life ♥️ No more outdoors. (Yes, I will help them get him neutered when he is feeling better 😊)

Congrats Tommy and family!

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Hi! We're Ember and Sky! Born outside in the wintertime, We weren't very fond of people. Then a lady came and took us inside Oh boy was it an upheaval! New place, new sounds, new smells and sights... It was a scary time for sure! But soon enough we settled in, and started feeling very demure. Warmth, fresh food, water and toys; Soft beds, love and cat towers- Filled all of our days with joy and calm No longer scared in the outdoors! We love our life now and our foster mama wants you to know a little more about us! Ember and Sky are best friends and have been bonded since the beginning! They are each other's yin and yang. Sky tends to be more of an introvert and Ember is definitely an extrovert. Ember is a lap cat and Sky prefers side snuggles. Sky tends to be more independent and Ember codependent. It's believed Sky had poor experiences with humans when she was a kitten and as a result tends to be more cautious. Ember has taken it upon herself to be Skys guardian and guide and it's the sweetest thing! If Ember senses Sky is scared, she will stand in front of her to make her feel protected and safe. Sky takes her lead and Ember gives her confidence she needs and allows her to be brave. Sky will take longer to settle in then Ember, but once she does she blossoms into a sweet, calm and loving girl. They both enjoy affection, although Ember tends to take the spotlight! She is a kneading queen and will make dough on any surface. Sky appreciates the quiet soft love; full body pets and head caresses but especially chin rubs. Those are her favorite! They both LOVE wand toys! They also like shaker mice and balls, and will play with a ball chaser every now and then. They both enjoy laying in a sunny window, atop a cat tower watching the birds outside and chittering at them. They are such sweet, beautiful souls and all they want is a home of their own ♥️ Please consider Ember and Sky, they have been waiting for their forever since March. Share and help them find a

I'm going to miss these four! They were a joy to foster ♥️

These three are doing great! ☺️

Tommy is doing fantastic! Look how happy and grateful he is 🥰 Kelli visits him nearly every day and we are so overjoyed at how well he is doing! We will likely take him in for a checkup sometime this week. His breathing is much better and his nose is starting to heal, but he still has some gurgle/wheezy noises every now and then. The antibiotic was only a five day regimen, so we want to get him seen in case we need to do them for longer. Thank you for you're support! ♥️

Quick update!

New Project Update! We need rescue placement and donations for 14 cats that were abandoned in the woods this past Sunday. This is a huge team effort, with multiple independent rescuers stepping up to trap, network, foster and get these kitties safe inside. If anyone is able to help, we would appreciate it so much ♥️ Thank you! PayPal: [email protected] Venmo: @BenevolentMN All donations will be directed towards the vet bill for the sick girl and the independent rescuers with these cats in their care for supplies and vetting. I will not be keeping any donations. More detailed post to come!

Kittens! 🥰

Sky has settled in and her true colors are coming out! She is a sweet girl, too. She hasn't changed a bit! When she was first with me I learned that if she was in hiding, it meant that she wasn't in the mood for affection. However, if she is out in the open it means she wants affection and will take all she can get! There is nothing wrong with being an independent woman and knowing what you want 😎 I have also noticed that she tends to gravitate towards my husband and prefers him over me. So I believe a male adopter for her to bond with would be ideal. Perhaps there is a couple out there looking for a couple of sweet kitties to add to their home! One best friend for each!

I have been giving Sky & Ember quiet time but last night when bringing them their dinner, I decided to talk to them a little bit. I laid down on the floor and called them "babies" like I did back in March when I first got them. Ember came out of the carrier I left in there for a safe space, immediately laid down and curled up in against my chest; and started purring. This is the Ember I remember! 🥰

Update!!!

She hasn't figured out that she can't get the chippies either...🤣

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