If you’ve ever been around a kitten, you already know they have a special talent for taking over your heart (and your entire house) in about 0.2 seconds. But behind all those tiny toe beans, sleepy snuggles, and impossibly cute kitten photos is a very real challenge for animal rescues: kitten season. At Lucy & Co., supporting animals and the people who dedicate their time to helping them has always been something close to our hearts. Over the years, we’ve been proud to support Ruff Start Rescue in Minneapolis in a few different ways, from donating Lucy & Co. gear to volunteering our time to help their incredible team and the animals in their care. We’re always looking for ways to lend a paw, and getting to support the work Ruff Start is doing in our community is something we’re especially grateful for. 273 Kittens. Yep, You Read That Right. Ruff Start Rescue currently has 273 kittens in their care, and that number is a pretty big reminder of just how much work goes into helping vulnerable animals get their start. During kitten season, rescues and shelters can become overwhelmed with tiny kittens who need food, medical care, socialization, and—perhaps most importantly—a safe place to grow. Ruff Start's biggest current supply needs for their kittens are: 🐱 Wet kitten food🐱 Dry kitten food🐱 KMR (kitten milk replacer) Every can, bag, and bottle helps provide the nourishment these little ones need while they wait for their forever homes. Here's a link to their donation page! But there's another need that doesn't come in a box. The Most Important Supply Might Be You One of Ruff Start's biggest needs right now is fosters. And honestly? We get it. The word "foster" can sound like a big commitment. But here's the good news: fostering with Ruff Start is completely free, and submitting a foster application doesn't commit you to fostering an animal. Instead, the application gives you access to Ruff Start's internal Facebook group or email list, where you can see animals currently looking for foster homes, along with the information and photos available. See an animal who seems like a good fit for your home? You can express interest. Don't see the right fit right now? That's okay, too. It's simply a way to open the door. And when you do welcome a foster into your home, Ruff Start provides the supplies needed to care for the animal. That means fosters can focus on the most important part: providing a safe, loving place for an animal to land. A Soft Place to Land Can Change Everything For an animal waiting to enter rescue, a foster home can mean the difference between continuing to wait and finally getting the care and attention they need. Fosters give animals a chance to decompress, grow, learn, and simply be themselves outside of a shelter environment. They also help rescues make room for more animals who desperately need assistance. And let's be honest… there's a pretty adorable perk to opening your home to a kitten. You might end up with a tiny roommate who thinks your lap is their personal property. 😸 If you're interested in learning more, Ruff Start's foster application is a great place to start. Learn about fostering with Ruff Start Rescue You can also follow Ruff Start on Facebook to keep up with animals looking for foster homes and other ways to get involved. Follow Ruff Start Rescue on Facebook Not in Minneapolis? You Can Still Help! Here's something we love about animal rescue: you don't have to live in the same city—or even the same state—to care. If you're in Minnesota and are able to foster, donate supplies, or volunteer, Ruff Start Rescue is one wonderful place to start. But if Minneapolis isn't exactly in your backyard, look around your own community. Your local shelter or rescue may be experiencing its own version of kitten season. They may need: Kitten food or formula Blankets and towels Foster homes Volunteers Donations Adoption event support Social media shares Transport help Or simply more people spreading the word about animals who need homes Sometimes the easiest way to help is simply to ask your local rescue, "What do you need right now?" You might be surprised by how much impact one small act can have. Let's Give These Kittens a Fighting Chance 🐾 Kitten season can feel overwhelming, especially when you hear a number like 273 kittens currently in care. But every one of those kittens is an individual little life with their own personality, quirks, and future waiting for them. Maybe that future starts with a foster home. Maybe it starts with a can of kitten food. Maybe it starts with someone sharing an adoption post until it reaches the right person. Or maybe it starts with you reaching out to your local rescue and asking how you can help. Because when a community comes together, even the smallest paws can make a pretty big impact. Here's to soft places to land, full food bowls, lots of purrs, and finding every kitten the loving home they deserve. 💛 And if you're currently in the trenches of kitten season yourself: we see you, foster parents. You're doing amazing work. Want to Help Ruff Start? 🐾 Foster: Learn more and submit a nonbinding foster application through Ruff Start Rescue. 🐾 Donate supplies: Their current kitten supply needs include wet kitten food, dry kitten food, and KMR. 🐾 Spread the word: Follow Ruff Start Rescue and share animals who are looking for foster homes. 🐾 Help locally: Find a rescue or shelter near you and ask what they need most right now. Because rescue isn't just about finding forever homes. It's about making sure there are safe places to land along the way.
If you’ve ever been around a kitten, you already know they have a special talent for taking over your heart (and your entire house) in about 0.2 seconds. But behind all those tiny toe beans, sleepy snuggles, and impossibly cute kitten photos is a very real challenge for animal rescues: kitten season. At Lucy & Co., supporting animals and the people who dedicate their time to helping them has always been something close to our hearts. Over the years, we’ve been proud to support Ruff Start Rescue in Minneapolis in a few different ways, from donating Lucy & Co. gear to volunteering our time to help their incredible team and the animals in their care. We’re always looking for ways to lend a paw, and getting to support the work Ruff Start is doing in our community is something we’re especially grateful for. 273 Kittens. Yep, You Read That Right. Ruff Start Rescue currently has 273 kittens in their care, and that number is a pretty big reminder of just how much work goes into helping vulnerable animals get their start. During kitten season, rescues and shelters can become overwhelmed with tiny kittens who need food, medical care, socialization, and—perhaps most importantly—a safe place to grow. Ruff Start's biggest current supply needs for their kittens are: 🐱 Wet kitten food🐱 Dry kitten food🐱 KMR (kitten milk replacer) Every can, bag, and bottle helps provide the nourishment these little ones need while they wait for their forever homes. Here's a link to their donation page! But there's another need that doesn't come in a box. The Most Important Supply Might Be You One of Ruff Start's biggest needs right now is fosters. And honestly? We get it. The word "foster" can sound like a big commitment. But here's the good news: fostering with Ruff Start is completely free, and submitting a foster application doesn't commit you to fostering an animal. Instead, the application gives you access to Ruff Start's internal Facebook group or email list, where you can see animals currently looking for foster homes, along with the information and photos available. See an animal who seems like a good fit for your home? You can express interest. Don't see the right fit right now? That's okay, too. It's simply a way to open the door. And when you do welcome a foster into your home, Ruff Start provides the supplies needed to care for the animal. That means fosters can focus on the most important part: providing a safe, loving place for an animal to land. A Soft Place to Land Can Change Everything For an animal waiting to enter rescue, a foster home can mean the difference between continuing to wait and finally getting the care and attention they need. Fosters give animals a chance to decompress, grow, learn, and simply be themselves outside of a shelter environment. They also help rescues make room for more animals who desperately need assistance. And let's be honest… there's a pretty adorable perk to opening your home to a kitten. You might end up with a tiny roommate who thinks your lap is their personal property. 😸 If you're interested in learning more, Ruff Start's foster application is a great place to start. Learn about fostering with Ruff Start Rescue You can also follow Ruff Start on Facebook to keep up with animals looking for foster homes and other ways to get involved. Follow Ruff Start Rescue on Facebook Not in Minneapolis? You Can Still Help! Here's something we love about animal rescue: you don't have to live in the same city—or even the same state—to care. If you're in Minnesota and are able to foster, donate supplies, or volunteer, Ruff Start Rescue is one wonderful place to start. But if Minneapolis isn't exactly in your backyard, look around your own community. Your local shelter or rescue may be experiencing its own version of kitten season. They may need: Kitten food or formula Blankets and towels Foster homes Volunteers Donations Adoption event support Social media shares Transport help Or simply more people spreading the word about animals who need homes Sometimes the easiest way to help is simply to ask your local rescue, "What do you need right now?" You might be surprised by how much impact one small act can have. Let's Give These Kittens a Fighting Chance 🐾 Kitten season can feel overwhelming, especially when you hear a number like 273 kittens currently in care. But every one of those kittens is an individual little life with their own personality, quirks, and future waiting for them. Maybe that future starts with a foster home. Maybe it starts with a can of kitten food. Maybe it starts with someone sharing an adoption post until it reaches the right person. Or maybe it starts with you reaching out to your local rescue and asking how you can help. Because when a community comes together, even the smallest paws can make a pretty big impact. Here's to soft places to land, full food bowls, lots of purrs, and finding every kitten the loving home they deserve. 💛 And if you're currently in the trenches of kitten season yourself: we see you, foster parents. You're doing amazing work. Want to Help Ruff Start? 🐾 Foster: Learn more and submit a nonbinding foster application through Ruff Start Rescue. 🐾 Donate supplies: Their current kitten supply needs include wet kitten food, dry kitten food, and KMR. 🐾 Spread the word: Follow Ruff Start Rescue and share animals who are looking for foster homes. 🐾 Help locally: Find a rescue or shelter near you and ask what they need most right now. Because rescue isn't just about finding forever homes. It's about making sure there are safe places to land along the way.
