There is a new Animal Rescue in Crookston. Linus’s Legacy, a non-profit animal rescue, has been formed by some area residents as there has been a growing need for a place for animals that have been lost, forgotten, surrendered, or otherwise displaced. KROX sat down with a couple of Linus’s Legacy board members to learn more about the rescue and to help get the word out that there are people in the area who are ready to help. Cassandra Torkelson, Linus’s Legacy Director, tells us where the name for the rescue originated from. “The name came from a dog that I had fostered and then adopted. He was a special needs puppy who was born on a reservation, and he was taken into rescue at one day old when he was orphaned. I was the one who bottle-fed him for his first four weeks until he was strong enough to be placed in a rescue that was in Wisconsin,” says Torkelson. “When he was 12 weeks old, I adopted him back, and it was the best decision I ever made.”
Some may be wondering what the difference between a rescue and a shelter is. We asked the question so that people understand a little better. “Typically, rescues are probably lower intake. They don’t have the intake that a humane society would. They have smaller numbers because they are working in a smaller capacity,” says Torkelson. “Usually, and this isn’t accurate for all humane societies, but most are generally open admission, meaning they would service all strays and lost and found pets in the community. Where, as a rescue, you are not working with local animal control or police department and sheriff’s departments.” Torkelson says their rescue generally gets contacted about animals that need to be placed because they are found alone and with no known owner, are known strays, and owner surrenders. She also explained that there are rescues that are species-specific or that deal only with exotic reptiles, domestic rabbits, birds, just dogs, cats, and so on. “Our primary focus will be domestic dogs and cats,” says Torkelson. “But, if anyone wants to reach out and they have any questions about placing or finding any animal of any species and they need assistance looking for resources, they are welcome to reach out, and I will direct them to the proper resources and the proper rescues.”
Of course, all good things must have a core that keeps them going, and in this case, that is Linus’s Legacy’s Board. “I’m Lori Carlson. I’m the secretary of Linus’s Legacy. We have an executive board of four members and a board of six members,” says Carlson. “So, President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director are the make-up of our executive board.” Linus’s Legacy is very new, and they are working hard to take in all the animals they can and put them with fosters until they are adopted. They need some things to help keep things running smoothly. As they are a non-profit, they seek donations from businesses and community members so they can continue their work. “The first thing we need, urgently, I would say, is foster homes so we can take in more animals. It’s kind of like cat season, we call it, kitties just so much, we need some foster homes for placement,” says Carlson. “We are getting some donations. We are very grateful to people who have donated through Amazon Wish List or brought supplies to Cassandra.” Carlson says they have received cat food, and cat litter and would happily continue to take those items as cat litter especially is so expensive.
If anyone has questions about being a foster home, Carlson says she is more than happy to talk with people about the process. “If people have questions about fostering, like, can they do it if they already have a dog or a cat or if they have kids, they can call any of us; our numbers are on Facebook,” says Carlson. “I have a Doberman at my house and a 15-year-old cat who has started grooming the kittens that I am fostering right now. The four animals are doing great right now.” Linus’s Legacy has been covering all vet care for the animals they currently have in foster homes out of their own pockets. So, if people want to make monetary donations, that is also very much appreciated. Carlson explained that right now, they are only able to take cash, so they understand if cash donations cannot be made at this time. Linus’s Legacy is hoping to have their checking account set up soon so they can take checks. “We do need funds for vet care. That is a high priority. We are waiting on an EIN number from the IRS, and that is only due to a late name change in our organization,” says Carlson. “We changed it a little late, and that is affecting our ability to get a bank checking account as soon as we hoped we would.”
There is another way to make a monetary donation. It can go directly to the Crookston Pet Clinic. “Crookston Pet Clinic is where we have been doing a lot of our vetting. They are awesome, super, love all the staff there,” says Torkelson. “If you want to make a donation, you could put it under the Linus’s Legacy account at the Crookston Pet Clinic, and we would very much appreciate it.” Linus’s Legacy is up and running on Facebook and Instagram; they have a Gmail, and they are also using a blogger to promote the rescue as it is free for them to utilize, says Carlson. “The website, officially as a blog, would be linusslegacy.blogspot.com.”
A small group of people from all different walks of life had a vision that would become Linus’s Legacy. “The vision came from a couple of our current board members, Joan Darco and Brandon Lee. They had created a new set of by-laws for an idea of a rescue,” says Carlson. “I wanted to help out with the current humane society, but I got in touch with Joan and Brandon, and I was interested in their idea also, so we got talking with a different group of members of the community that were just concerned about all the animals in Crookston that didn’t have homes.” The board, made up of Joan Darco (President), Lori Carlson (Secretary), Brandon Lee (Treasurer), Cassandra Torkelson (Director), Kari Trudeau, and Brian Torkelson just seemed to fit, says Carlson. “Together we have a lot of different skills that I think helped check all the boxes, we work together well and we have a lot of fun.” If you want to help out, check out Linus’s Legacy on Facebook and also mark your calendars, as Linus’s Legacy has a fundraiser coming up in April. “We have a fundraiser on April 13. It will be held at the Masonic Lodge,” says Torkelson. “It’s a pancake feed, and it will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and we hope to see you there.” The pancake breakfast is a free-will donation with funds going to Linus’s Legacy to help with their vet care and supply costs.
Below are the animals currently in foster homes through Linus’s Legacy. All cats will be adoptable after they are at an appropriate weight/age and have been fixed.
Oreo
Max and Missy
Jasper
Mother of Max and Missy – Serena
The post New animal rescue Linus’s Legacy is seeking foster homes for animals in need first appeared on KROX.