St. Croix Animal Friends' Effort to Build a Shelter

St. Croix Animal Friends (SCAF) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization of concerned and dedicated citizens whose interest is the welfare of homeless animals.  Our main focus is to build and operate a Humane Society Adoption and Education Shelter within the next couple of years. At this time, we are working assiduously to build and ensure the success of the shelter by laying a strong and solid foundation.

We have so far purchased 6.5 acres of land in Roberts, WI on which we hope to build the shelter.  We will be erecting a sign on the property within the next month. We are in the process of gearing up for the launch of our Capital Campaign with the help of two highly qualified business and fundraising consultants. The process takes a tremendous amount of time and strategic planning because we want the shelter to be a substantial part of the community. We want the shelter to serve the community in many ways, not just a place to surrender homeless and abandoned pets or to adopt a pet.  We want to offer educational, recreational, assistance and support programs.

A shelter in the St. Croix Valley Area is much needed by the commmunity. It is a fact that municipallities in this area are using our tax dollars to pay to transport homeless, rescued and lost cats and dogs across the border to the Humane Society in Woodbury, Minnesota.  These dollars spent to transport animals could and should stay in Wisconsin and be used to support a Humane Society Shelter in our community.

And it is not just the cost that is an issue.  Many owners simply abandon their pets because they either do not know where to surrender their pet or because Woodbury is too far away and would cost too much to take the animal there.

Another issue to consider is that Woodbury has recently stopped taking animals from several Wisconsin municipalities, and this may well continue.  At the same time, St. Croix County area is growing and the problem of where to take lost, abandoned animals ahd how to care for these animals will be compounded in the near future.

As responsible citizens, we owe it to our community to offer those who can no longer care for their pets or who have lost a pet, a safe and loving environment within our community for owners to surrender or be reunited with their lost pets.  Not only would a shelter save money, a local shelter would give our community a central hub for addressing the needs of homeless animals and a feeling of pride knowing that we have taken responsibilty for the welfare of these homeless companion animals in our own backyard. 

SCAF does not receive any financial support from the county, and funding is the paramount issue in building the shelter, we need the help and support of everyone in the St. Croix Valley area community.

We hope you will participate in the following fundraising events:

St. Croix Casino Trip - Oct.7, 2012

Pies for Pets - Oct. 1 - Nov. 15, 2012

Visit our booth for fun activities at the Petapalooza on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Warren Township Park, Roberts, WI; Also visit our booth at the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on Sat. Oct, 27th.

While the building of the shelter is in process, SCAF currently offers these community assistance programs: Spay/neuter, micro-chipping for cats and dogs for only $5; food outreach, and emergency medical assistance.

SCAF invites you to visit our website at www.SCAFshelter.org for more information regarding our Mission Statement, the Community Assistance Programs  At this time, the organization welcomes anyone who wishes to volunteer their time and area of expertise to the organization.  We also welcome families wishing to foster animals.

By helping SCAF work toward building a Humane Society Shelter in the St. Croix Valley area, you will be helping to provide a place of compasssion and hope where the voiceless and the vulnerable will find a safe refuge and an opportunity for a better life in a caring and loving forever home.