Fresh Start Animal Rescue

11/21/2017

We were not surprised to learn the people who in management at Fresh Start are friends with the breeders running this page.

This is a pro puppy mill page run by breeders who are doing all they can to protect the puppy mill industry. They focused their attention on the most popular animal advocate in their area attacking her and her family relentlessly. This page serves no other purpose but to protect puppy mills and destroy reputations. This page has been reported numerous times for their lies and personal attacks. Shame on Facebook for allowing it to continue.

11/06/2017

Hello everyone. I would like to give you an important update. This applies to EVERYONE that has adopted a dog from here. The President, Kathy Bausch, has in her possession Fresh Start's computers. She has them because she donated them to the shelter. On these computers are all of the files for the dogs. The actual files themselves are with the treasurer, Diane Vorndran. If anyone has adopted a dog from here, please update your microchip information so they are not registered to Fresh Start. This way, if they become lost, the microchip has YOUR information in them. We recently had a case where a dog was brought to BCAS and the microchip is registered to Fresh Start. Kathy claims the information isn't on the computer. So please find the time to update your animal's information. Thank you.

10/05/2017

Things that make you go hmmmm ...
Karen Johnson, Adoption Coordinator at Fresh Start, Dorothy Jones Bratz, Shelter Manager at Fresh Start were once bitter enemies with Opposing Voices. Now it seems they also have Opposing Voices against Kathy Mehalko.
What does this mean? Are they hoping to open another facility?
Hmmmmm....
Just to be very clear. Opposing Voices page is NOT Kathy Mehalko. Opposing Voices administrator is a breeder that supports Furry Babies and other organizations like the Cavalry Group that supports elephants in circuses, puppy mills and other such businesses and organizations some consider to be animal abuse.

10/03/2017

A story told by someone who knows the love and heartbreak of rescue

http://www.facebook.com/OurCityOurStory/videos/1884892491537467/

07/01/2017

All comments made by Emily Jacobs is actually being made by previous management. There are quite a few fake accounts created by them. We're sure you all can figure out the reasons why they would need fake accounts.

06/30/2017

Fresh Start is now closed. The animals have all gone to reputable rescues or in their forever homes. The last 2 dogs, Holly & Grimm, who are a bonded pair and in a wonderful foster home will be taken over by Fur Angels. We hope a REPUTABLE foster based rescue run by a competent board & compassionate people will consider organizing in the Belvidere area to be a partner with Boone County Animal Services.

There are many people with questions concerning donations made to Fresh Start. First let us clarify your donations did not go to US. We were only called in to help transition the shelter. Your donations went to FRESH START. So as far as the cash donations go all we can speak to is the donations and the bills that were incurred when we stepped in.

Our first day in the shelter was on APRIL 18, 2017.

All questions involving money & donations given to Fresh Start should be directed to the board or the shelter manager.

We can tell you that there were huge medical bills when we took over as all the animals were sick with various issues. The vans were donated to Boone County Animal Services and Reach Rescue. The food was distributed to Kibble Korner, WInnebago County Animal Services and Boone County Animal Services. The cages, pet carriers, kennels & other misc. items in the shelter were donated to Boone County, Reach Rescue Inc.

We repeat....we did not have the authority to cash checks or deposit money nor did we have access to the credit/debit cards. So for anyone who has made donations of cash and/or money to Fresh Start and have questions about your donations you should direct those questions to the board or to the shelter manager.

Board President - Kathy Bauch.
Vice President - Oneita Coffey.
Treasurer - Diane Vorndran
Shelter Manager - Dorothy Brotz.

We will be leaving this page up so the experiences shared here will serve as a guideline as to what you should look for when you are considering adopting a pet or donating to a rescue or shelter.

The 83 lives lost in Fresh Start during the time of 2016 until April of 2017 will always be in our hearts & mind. We are sorry we weren't able to help you in time. We will make sure your deaths aren't in vain.

06/28/2017

All finished. Thank you!

06/28/2017

We have a rescue here loading up currently. If you have time and are strong, please come by and help them load

06/17/2017

Thank you to everyone that came out to our open house. Many of you sharing your stories means a lot to not only us, but the animals as well. Special thanks to WTVO for coming out today!

A longtime animal shelter in the Stateline area shuts down. The new caretakers of the Fresh Start Animal Rescue in Belvidere said they had little choice after seeing conditions there.