Home For Life Animal Sanctuary

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Home For Life Animal Sanctuary Loving care* A Place to Belong * a Home For Life®
Home For Life® is a care for life sanctuary

Home for Life®, an internationally recognized care for life sanctuary, and in 2019, voted one of the 10 Most Amazing Sanctuaries in the country by USA Today, offers a service to animals in need like no comparative organization. Many shelters and rescue organizations aspire to find a home for every animal and dream of the day when there will be no homeless animals. At Home for Life®, that's what w

e want too—and that's what we provide—for dogs and cats that are overlooked for placement. Home for Life® has created a new idea, the care for life sanctuary—a life-saving and life-affirming alternative for dogs and cats who have not been able to find a home or keep the home they had and for animals who have lifelong special care needs, that most adopters cannot provide. We call our idea "The Third Door®" in animal welfare which gives at-risk dogs and cats, animals who might have been passed over for adoption, an alternative to an undeserved death. The dream of a home should be an opportunity that is available for all dogs and cats, and now with Home for Life®, and the innovative model we have created at our prototype sanctuary in Star Prairie, WI, it can be!

3-2-1 : Spring forward with the dogs from Home for Life!
22/03/2025

3-2-1 : Spring forward with the dogs from Home for Life!

The first day of spring and no better time to anticipate Home for Life's Spring Gala coming up Saturday April 26th with ...
20/03/2025

The first day of spring and no better time to anticipate Home for Life's Spring Gala coming up Saturday April 26th with our special guest Rick Steves!

Home for Life's Spring Gala with special Guest Rick Steves is just about five weeks away and tickets are selling briskly! We have a festive evening planned with all the elegant amenities you have come to expect at a Home for Life event. This year we are especially looking forward to the live auction as Rick Steves himself has donated a trip! The winner will have their choice of a trip with Rick Steves to their choice of England, France, Italy or Instanbul Turkey! Truly a once in a lifetime experience you won't find anywhere else this gala season!

Please join us to celebrate the season at Home for Life's Spring Gala with special Guest Rick Steves! And look for the video with all the details on TPT - Twin Cities PBS our Media sponsor- many thanks to them!
Reservations are now available- hope to see YOU there for a wonderful evening with Rick Steves!
More information: https://www.homeforlife.org/rstevesgala2025
Reservations: https://aesbid.com/ELP/HFLGALA25/Tickets

The Irish animals of Home for Life were on hand, representing for St Patrick's Day Monday
18/03/2025

The Irish animals of Home for Life were on hand, representing for St Patrick's Day Monday

Our collaboration with SNAP't Cat Rescue has had an eventful week.  Today, Conrad, the 9 year old handsome blue neutered...
16/03/2025

Our collaboration with SNAP't Cat Rescue has had an eventful week. Today, Conrad, the 9 year old handsome blue neutered male, who lost his home about a month ago, will go home with his new family. Conrad has been the beloved companion of an elderly woman. When she passed, her granddaughter took him in. There he lived for 2 years, but the child in the home developed allergies, and the doctors ordered Conrad out. The granddaughter reached out for assistance to find Conrad placement.

Sarah and her husband, Conrad's new family, were so excited to have a cat in residence again but couldn't take Connie home right away as they were on a long-planned vacation. Nonetheless, they kept in touch with him while they were gone on the "Connie -cam" Today, he officially becomes part of their family. Foster Curt wrote the summary recap:

"Just now Heidi and I said our bittersweet goodbyes to our foster Conrad (“Connie”) who is on his way to his forever home. The foster goodbyes are always tough but it was even more so with this sweet boy. We only fostered him for 4 weeks but have really become attached to him and his love of belly rubs as well as his “talking” at night when he is lonely. But we know he is going to a very nice woman who is completely smitten with him, having checked in on him on daily with the “ConnieCam” we set up. He is going to be spoiled rotten as he deserves to be. Godspeed Connie!"
___________________________________________________________________
Conrad's adoption has made room for another deserving cat in desperate need of assistance that we just heard about last Sunday: Charlie, a one year old neutered male longhair black cat, but his rescuer was striking out wherever she turned. As Curt wrote, it's for cats like Charlie that he and Heidi started fostering. Charlie was almost certainly an abandoned pet, as he is not feral, and deserved better than what fate awaited him had Home for Life not agreed to help him and Curt and Heidi agreed to foster him. He will arrive tomorrow!
Read more about our collaboration with SNAP't Cat Rescue that has enabled us to help many cats, invisible apparenlty in the rescue community and without anywhere to turn: https://www.facebook.com/homeforlifeorg/posts/1045012024331824

"Dear Home for Life,

I am in desperate need of help for a cat I named Charlie, and you are my last hope after unsuccessfully seeking help from others. Charlie is an outside long-haired black cat and since our Wisconsin winter has been brutal, I put out food, a heated water dish and house for him and all the other stray cats to have. I was able to find homes for a couple of the cats but have been unable to secure placement for Charlie with a rescue or a home. Not sure why, but since he is a long-haired black cat who looks like he's lived a rough life, he perhaps is less desirable. I had planned to get him through the harsh winter and then I was going to just hope for the best for him. That plan quickly changed when I looked through our property security videos this past week. We now have a large bobcat visiting our property and one of our neighbors witnessed the bobcat chasing Charlie. I had no idea if I would ever see him again but I set up a live-trap that night and thankfully Charlie walked right in!

Charlie is now recovering from being neutered and vaccinated. He tested negative for FeLV and FIV and due to his severely matted hair, the clinic also shaved him down. He is currently in a crate in our enclosed porch but we cannot keep him long term. Our dog is going crazy knowing he is in there, Charlie is terrified of the dog and it has been a difficult week. He is visually even less desirable now because of his shaved hair. My only options at this point are to bring him to our local shelter where he would be euthanized (I've been told kitten season is arriving soon) or release him back on our property. Neither option is good but that is all I have.

I am asking for your help to give Charlie a chance for a better and safer life. He has made it through hard times but is now at a crossroads with little hope. I have taken a screenshot of the bobcat and am also sending photos of Charlie. We appreciate your consideration."

   Our cats spent the last few days out in the cat runs soaking up the sun. The runs are pretty stark right now but abou...
15/03/2025


Our cats spent the last few days out in the cat runs soaking up the sun. The runs are pretty stark right now but about twice as large as they were, thanks to the remodeling we completed late last summer. Now the fun part starts this spring, when we will be creating an enhanced, natural environment for each of the three catios for our cats to enjoy this summer and into fall.

Spring is in the air, mud is everywhere....
13/03/2025

Spring is in the air, mud is everywhere....

Warm up week- 57 Monday, 64 Thursday, 71 by Friday!
12/03/2025

Warm up week- 57 Monday, 64 Thursday, 71 by Friday!

How Sweet It Is to be Loved by you! Celebrating the loving care of Home for Life Animal Sanctuary at our spring gala, co...
11/03/2025

How Sweet It Is to be Loved by you! Celebrating the loving care of Home for Life Animal Sanctuary at our spring gala, coming up Saturday April 26th in Minneapolis. RSVP today! Not only will we welcome special guest Rick Steves, but we also have some pretty terrific live and silent auction items include two 4th row, MAIN FLOOR tickets to the June 17th concert at Excel Center with the legendary James Taylor! So now you can attend BOTH events of the year ! Reserve your tickets for Home for Life's Spring Gala with special Guest Rick Steves today!

Provided to YouTube by Rhino/Warner RecordsHow Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) · James TaylorGorilla℗ 1975 Warner Records Inc.Harmony Vocals: Carly SimonEl...

We haven't heard from two more special cats for a while- two cats who were down on their luck when Home for Life reached...
09/03/2025

We haven't heard from two more special cats for a while- two cats who were down on their luck when Home for Life reached out with a helping hand and both have updates!
FAITH is another cat from Minneapolis Animal Control who was at risk of euthanasia after she was surrendered with a badly fractured leg, the result of a dog attack. The look of pain and fear in her eyes was haunting, as she lay in the cage at impound, awaiting her fate, given less than 8 hours to find rescue before she was to be euthanized. As her " deadline" approached, and with barely a half hour left, Home for Life told animal control we would help her and rushed in to recover her and get her to emergency care. Ater 36 hours there in intensive care for pain control and to address the brewing infection from the dog bite wound , she was moved to a foster home and then underwent orthopedic surgery to repair the front leg which had suffered a compound fracture in two places. A long rehabilitation followed, with the leg bones pinned together, and after several months, Faith was strong enough to remove the external fixators and pins and was spayed. More rest and recuperation to let the bones fully heal. Now what? We proposed to the fosters that we could fold her into collaboration with SNAP't Cat Rescue to adopt her out, but we might have a foster fail on our hands- they wanted to wait a bit and in addition, they had already given Faith a middle name (Marie)- always a promising sign that a foster is weakening and might end up keeping their cat. We would be DELIGHTED if Faith could stay with this wonderful and loving family, so there's no pressure or anything but we are rooting for Faith Marie to be able to stay. See the original post about Faith's rescue here: https://www.facebook.com/homeforlifeorg/posts/967725265393834

2. CREAMSICLE: was a cat who had lived outside for many months. He had caretakers who fed him daily and provided several outdoor cat houses including one that was heated, but it was clear from Creamsicle's friendly personality that he had once been a pet that someone had abandoned. The people feeding him were caring for other fosters in their home for another rescue, and were not able to take Creamsicle in but worried about him outside with the winter weather growing more severe. They reached out to Home for Life, and we turned to our Facebook followers for help. Creamsicle's luck changed when Rhonda and her husband offered to foster him, so he could get out of the bitter cold and be safe. Read our original post about Creamsicle here: https://www.facebook.com/homeforlifeorg/posts/1007307361435624
Creamsicle had been neutered by a mobile spay neuter service shortly before Home for Life took him under our wing, and developed an infection, and had also not been tested for leukemia or fiv. All of this needed vet care was another reason to get him inside and to a doctor where his infection could be treated and he could be screened for contagious viral diseases of leukemia and fiv thankfully he was negative and with good care from his new foster family, and antibiotics and without the stress of trying to survive outside, Creamsicle healed well.
Creamsicle has lived like a king as his foster's home, eating the best food and soaking up plenty of love and attention from Rhonda and her husband, who love cats - he is an only child since their prior cats had died of old age before he was taken in. We recently heard that Creamsicle has been renamed " Walter", which seems to suit him better. Another promising sign of a foster fail is when the cat is christened with a new name for that personal touch. Excellent! We asked if Rhonda wanted to keep Creamsicle/Walter but no answer - yet. We will take that as a yes!
We are so happy to share these reports of two cats who ended up in such wonderful homes, loved and cared for, after the desperate condition in which they came to us.

" It's the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay- small acts of kindness and love. " - Gandalf

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Home for Life's end of year campaign, featuring Rue, the miracle cat who surviv...
08/03/2025

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Home for Life's end of year campaign, featuring Rue, the miracle cat who survived a 12th story fall and several broken bones. Yes, we met our matching challenge grant of $20,000 thanks to your generous support! Everyone loves a happy ending and, so here's Rue, doing her " cat thing" drinking out of the faucet. Isn't it wonderful that she can enjoy the typical activities of any young cat, now that she has come through the harrowing injuries, surgeries and long rehabilitation? A happy ending YOU made possible! More about Rue: https://www.homeforlife.org/node/1109

The world is unpredictable and often cruel. When animals suffer mistreatment, it is natural for people to feel outrage or despair and helplessness. But the only things we absolutely can control are our responses, our actions. Wherever we put our focus, our energies and actions will follow, and our actions help create the shape of the world and the types of people we will be in that world. In this way, all the people who rallied to help Rue have become more caring and loving people. And through their care, effort, and donations they have made the world a more caring and loving place for all animals.

Rue’s story is dramatic but sadly not unique. Home for Life® sanctuary is populated by animals who have suffered many kinds of cruelty: outright abuse, casual neglect, repeated rejection, years of lonely confinement, and indifference. All these animals were able to finally find healing and a new life at our sanctuary.

Thanks to your support, we were able to respond to save Rue’s life and then restore her health and happiness, and most importantly put a stake in the ground for compassion and kindness, instead of turning away and leaving her to die alone and injured. On behalf of Rue and all the animals whose lives we are able to restore, please know how grateful we are for your support!

We got some snow yesterday!
07/03/2025

We got some snow yesterday!

we don't mind a challenge! Here are the latest projects and the update on the mothers and daughters from fosters Curt an...
06/03/2025

we don't mind a challenge! Here are the latest projects and the update on the mothers and daughters from fosters Curt and Heidi
" Some food being eaten. Although still very skittish and shy, at least 2 of the 4 have been out and about in room. Currently one cat is on a top shelf in room, one hiding behind a 3-sided litter box and the other 2 remain in the closet hiding area Heidi set up. Very slow but steady progress. Some photos just taken showing their current hiding spots:"
If anyone can bring these sweet, shy girls around, who have spent the last couple of years living in a small, windowless bathroom, it's our dedicated fosters Curt and Heidi!
read about these two bonded pairs of mothers and daughters, who will need some time but will be ready for adoption, we hope, in a few weeks or so thru SNAP't Cat Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/homeforlifeorg/posts/1063183309181362

Our good news this snowy evening is the amazing traction the collaboration and partnership between Home for Life and SNA...
05/03/2025

Our good news this snowy evening is the amazing traction the collaboration and partnership between Home for Life and SNAP't Cat Rescue has attained in just a few short weeks of working together. Two cats, the 7-year-old bonded pair Jack and Tux, have been adopted into a loving home, almost made to order, we have multiple adoption applications pending for 9-year-old Conrad, three wonderful cats on deck, Shadow, Meatball and Chicken, and four new cats in foster, two bonded pairs, females this time, mothers and daughters. These particular cats are mother cats who had been living outside, who had their litters and were fortunately taken in by a kind man so they could raise their kittens inside safely. All of the kittens were adopted but the one kitten of each litter, bonded to their moms. They had been living for months in a 6 x 6 ft windowless bathroom. While safe, their rescuer wanted better for them. Last week he emailed us:

"Dear Home for Life,

I live in Saint Paul and I take care of a small group of feral/stray cats in my neighborhood. A couple of years ago, brought two pregnant females into my house when winter set in. They both gave birth and I was able to find homes for all of the kittens except for two.

Currently, each mother has one female kitten, and each pair is bonded. They live in my downstairs bathroom because I have other indoor only cats, and the two sets of cats don't get along at all.

I've come to realize that I can't keep up with the care of this many cats. It's not fair to the bathroom cats that their whole world is a six by six room. They are good cats, a little shy, but generally well behaved. All are neutered and have had their shots. All are healthy.

Would you have room at Home for Life for these four cats? I'd be happy to sponsor all of them. The mother/daughter pairs are bonded, but the four don't need to stay together as a single group. I know that you're probably overwhelmed with animals right now, but I wanted to reach out and see if taking them would be a possibility, either now or in the future.
All the best-
William"

That's TEN special cats who have or will find the loving, permanent homes that they hardly dared to dream of when the former caretakers called Home for Life for help.

Thank you to fosters Heidi, Heidi and Curt for caring for these cats for Home for Life, and working with SNAP't Cat Rescue to find them wonderful homes, thus allowing Home for Life to focus on our mission of care for life sanctuary including for any of these ten- though we hope for them to find the perfect, permanent adoption, no matter what happens to them, now that they are under Home for Life's umbrella and love and care, they will always have a home for life at our sanctuary.

You can read about the inception of this innovative collaboration between SNAP't Cat Rescue and Home for Life here: https://www.facebook.com/homeforlifeorg/posts/1045012024331824

Wishing Home for Life's 2024 gala guest   best of luck at the Oscars the evening!- nominated for Best Supporting Actress...
02/03/2025

Wishing Home for Life's 2024 gala guest best of luck at the Oscars the evening!- nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie Conclave.

She will be sprinkling a little stardust on this year's gala too, coming up Saturday April 26th at
Home for Life's Spring Gala with special Guest Rick Steves:
we have a 5-day, 4-night stay again for the live auction at the one and only Mama Farm founded by Isabella: www.mamafarm.us
Below, the video we presented to introduce Isabella at last year's event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfqTDkBWqx4&t=14s

Join us for Home for Life's Spring Gala with special guest Isabella Rossellini. Details at homeforlife.org.

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