Foster Homes Needed - Ruff Start Rescue

Foster Homes Needed - Ruff Start Rescue Ruff Start Rescue is looking for fosters to open their homes to animals in need. We also ask that you treat your foster animal the same as if it were your own.

Foster care is the most important part of Ruff Start Rescue and allows us to continue our lifesaving efforts! The animals depend on people to open their hearts and homes to them and care for them until they are adopted. An RSR foster's responsibility is to love, feed, play, exercise and provide social interaction for the foster animal. We ask that you take the animal to vet appointments and handle

any medical tasks such as giving daily medications. It's easy to get started! The first step is to fill out the foster signup form. Then you will hear from an RSR representative so you can learn more about what fostering entails and discuss any questions or concerns you have before bringing your first foster animal home. We are excited to save lives with you!

Every month, we transport dogs from overcrowded Texas shelters to Minnesota through our Lone Star to North Star Rescue® ...
05/28/2026

Every month, we transport dogs from overcrowded Texas shelters to Minnesota through our Lone Star to North Star Rescue® Relief Program, giving them the second chance they deserve.
Learn about the program: https://ruffstartrescue.org/about-us/lone-star-to-north-star/

On June 6th, our next transport arrives in Princeton, MN, and dozens of dogs and puppies will take their very first steps toward a brand-new life.

Now, all they need is someone to welcome them home.

Click on this link to meet the dogs and apply today!
https://ruffstartrescue.org/adopt/adoptable-animals/fta-animals/

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Support Their Journey Even If You Can’t Adopt
Not ready to adopt but still want to help? You can make a lifesaving difference in these dogs' journey from Texas to Minnesota:

Sponsor a Transport
Help cover the cost of their safe trip north. Just $100 brings one pup to safety! https://app.giveffect.com/campaigns/36827-transport-sponsorship

Shop Lone Star to North Star Merch
Look great while supporting rescue! 100% of proceeds benefit animals in need. https://rsrnorthstar.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Volunteer
See how your support fuels this lifesaving program!
https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/volunteer/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Dominique the Playful Tortie ✨ 📍 Monticello, MNThis gorgeous 7‑month‑old tortie, Dominique, is look...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Dominique the Playful Tortie ✨
📍 Monticello, MN

This gorgeous 7‑month‑old tortie, Dominique, is looking for a foster after a housing change left her without a place to go. She’s an intact female, litter box trained, and great with all ages and other cats — a sweet, social girl who just needs a soft landing.

Dominique is playful, curious, and very smart. She loves to explore, interact, and keep herself entertained… sometimes a little too entertained. After cooking, she has been known to hop up on the stove to investigate, so she’ll need a foster who can keep things safe and set some boundaries for this clever little adventurer.

✨ Dominique’s Highlights:
• 🐱 7‑month‑old intact tortie
• 🧼 Litter box trained
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Good with all ages
• 🐈 Great with other cats
• 🎉 Playful, intelligent, and curious
• 🍳 Known to check out the stove after cooking (smart girl, needs supervision!)
• 🩺 Will need full vetting through RSR
• 📍 Located in Monticello

Dominique is the perfect mix of sweet and spunky — a young cat who just needs a safe place to land and someone who appreciates her bright little personality.

If you can help foster Dominique, please comment below. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Dominique feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Rufus the Resilient Senior ✨ 📍 Pickup in MinneapolisMeet Rufus (A390126), a 14‑year‑old neutered Ma...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Rufus the Resilient Senior ✨
📍 Pickup in Minneapolis

Meet Rufus (A390126), a 14‑year‑old neutered Maltese who has been through far more than any senior pup should. He came into MACC on 4/30/26 after an Animal Control Officer responded to a welfare concern — Rufus had been left tethered outside for long stretches and was severely matted. Once inside the home, it became clear the living conditions were unsafe, and MACC stepped in to help.

After initially cooperating, the owner stopped working with the team, and Rufus officially became MACC property. He was groomed, cleaned up, and placed in a foster home to decompress while the situation was sorted out.

While in foster, Rufus did accidentally nip when trying to grab a cookie off the floor before the foster could pick it up — a classic “senior dog + snack panic” moment. He completed his quarantine and is now ready for rescue placement.

✨ What Rufus Is Really Like:
• 🐶 14‑year‑old neutered Maltese
• 💛 LOVES being outside, exploring, and sunbathing
• 🐱 Trying to make friends with the cats in his foster home
• 🤗 Obsessed with head rubs
• 🐕 Does well with other dogs — not a big player, but enjoys coexisting
• 🚶‍♂️ Gentle, curious, and happiest when he can putter around at his own pace

Rufus is rescue‑only due to:
• 🦷 Dental issues
• ❤️ Heart murmur
• 🦵 Suspected CCL injury

The shelter environment is not where a senior like Rufus should be — he needs a calm, loving foster home where he can rest, feel safe, and enjoy the simple pleasures he loves so much.

If you can help this sweet old man, please comment below. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Rufus feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Odie the Toy‑Loving Terrier ✨ 📍 Pickup in MinneapolisOdie (A390391) is a 5‑year‑old neutered male J...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Odie the Toy‑Loving Terrier ✨
📍 Pickup in Minneapolis

Odie (A390391) is a 5‑year‑old neutered male Jack Russell Terrier who desperately needs out of the shelter. He was surrendered to MACC on 5/9/26 after his owner—who had only had him for three months—reported growling, lunging, and attempts to nip at visitors. They believed he might eventually bite, though he had not bitten anyone in their home.

Here’s the important part:
Odie has shown NONE of that behavior at the shelter.
Animal Control had no issues picking him up, and shelter staff have been able to handle him without concern.

He was neutered, had dental work (including extractions), and was placed in a foster‑to‑adopt home so his mouth could be rechecked. Unfortunately, that home had five young children, and Odie made it clear that little kids are not his comfort zone. He gave two minor nips when small children walked past him — no growling, no warning, just quick, anxious reactions. He was only in the home for two days.

Back at the shelter, Odie became extremely stressed — pacing, vocalizing, and wearing his nails down. He’s now on behavior meds, which help, but he’s still struggling. He needs out.

✨ What Odie is like:
• 🧸 Cute, playful, and toy‑obsessed
• 🐾 Classic Jack Russell energy + personality
• 🧠 Smart, active, and engaged
• 🐶 Best suited for a home with kids 12+
• 💛 Needs a calm, predictable environment
• 🩺 Recently neutered + dental work completed

Odie is not a “bad dog.” He’s a terrier who has been bounced around, overwhelmed, and put in situations that weren’t right for him. The shelter environment is making things worse, and he needs a foster ASAP to decompress and feel safe again.

If you can help this little guy get out of the shelter and into a calmer space, please comment below. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Odie breathe again? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Baconator the Drive‑Thru Gentleman ✨ 📍 Pickup: PUPS in Maple Grove 🚗 Bring a carrier for transport...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Baconator the Drive‑Thru Gentleman ✨
📍 Pickup: PUPS in Maple Grove
🚗 Bring a carrier for transport

Meet Baconator, a one‑year‑old intact male who was found perched on the window ledge of a Wendy’s drive‑thru like he was placing an order. This handsome boy has clearly had quite an adventure, and now he’s looking for a foster home where he can settle in and feel safe.

Baconator is a little shy at first, but once he warms up, he’s friendly, sweet, and happy to soak up pets and scratches. Despite being surrounded by loud, vocal intact females in the cat room, he’s handling the chaos like an absolute champ — calm, composed, and taking everything in stride.

✨ Baconator’s Highlights:
• 🐱 About 1 year old
• ♂️ Intact male
• 😺 Shy at first, but warms up with gentle interaction
• 🤗 Enjoys pets + scratches
• 🐈 Handling a loud cat room like a pro
• 🩺 Will need full vetting through RSR
• 📍 Pickup at PUPS in Maple Grove (bring a carrier!)

He’s a sweet, steady boy who just needs a quiet place to decompress and a foster willing to give him the space and kindness he deserves.

If you can help foster Baconator, please comment below. Let’s get this drive‑thru kitty into a real home. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Baconator feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Noodle Soup ✨ 📍 Pickup: PUPS in Maple Grove 🚗 Bring a carrier for transportMeet Noodle Soup, a you...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Noodle Soup ✨
📍 Pickup: PUPS in Maple Grove
🚗 Bring a carrier for transport

Meet Noodle Soup, a young stray (about 1 year old) who’s looking for a safe, calm foster home while she gets the veterinary care she needs. She’s an intact female who recently came into care and is now waiting for someone to give her a soft place to land.

Noodle Soup appears to be pregnant, but her exact medical plan will depend on her upcoming veterinary evaluation. Once our team assesses her, she may either be spayed or continue her pregnancy in foster care. We’re looking for a foster who can be flexible and supportive of whichever plan is recommended for her health and safety.

Right now, this sweet girl mostly needs:
• 🖤 A quiet room to decompress
• 🛏️ A safe, stable environment
• 🧼 Basic care while she settles in
• 💛 A patient foster willing to support her through whichever medical path is chosen

She’s been through a lot as a stray, and she deserves comfort, kindness, and a chance to feel secure again.

If you can help foster Noodle Soup, please comment below. Let’s get this girl somewhere safe. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Noodle Soup feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Sweet Senior Alert ✨ 📍 Bloomington Animal Control 🗓️ Releasable FridayThis tiny senior chihuahua g...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Sweet Senior Alert ✨
📍 Bloomington Animal Control
🗓️ Releasable Friday

This tiny senior chihuahua girl is truly the cutest thing. At around 10–12 years old, she’s as gentle and sweet as they come — the kind of little lady who just wants warmth, safety, and someone to love her.

She’s been keeping her kennel clean, is friendly with other dogs, and has that soft, calm senior energy everyone falls in love with. She’s not confirmed spayed, so plan for her to need full vetting through RSR.

✨ What we know about her:
• 🐶 Senior chihuahua, ~10–12 yrs
• 💛 Sweet, gentle, and easygoing
• 🐕 Good with other dogs
• 🧼 Keeping her kennel clean
• 🩺 Will need full vetting (spay status unknown)
• 📍 Located at Bloomington Animal Control
• 🗓️ Releasable Friday

She’s a tiny little sweetheart who deserves a soft place to land and a foster who can show her what comfort feels like again.

If you can help foster this adorable girl, please comment below. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help this little lady feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Enzo the Tiny Tornado of Love ✨ 📍 St. Paul, MNEnzo is back with Ruff Start Rescue and looking for a...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Enzo the Tiny Tornado of Love ✨
📍 St. Paul, MN

Enzo is back with Ruff Start Rescue and looking for a foster who can help him feel safe, supported, and understood. This 3‑year‑old, 15‑lb chihuahua mix is a sweet, sensitive little guy who’s struggling in his current home — especially with the adult male in the household — and needs a fresh start.

He’s a higher‑energy pup in a tiny body, full of personality, affection, and wiggles for the people he trusts. He LOVES toys, loves being close to his humans, and thrives when he feels secure.

✨ Enzo’s Highlights:
• 🐶 3 years old, ~15 lbs
• 🐾 Good with dogs + cats
• ⚡ Higher energy level
• 🛏️ Crate trained
• 🧸 Loves toys + being near his trusted people
• 💛 Submissive + fearful with some men
• 🚽 Having accidents when nervous or during greetings
• ❤️‍🩹 Heartworm positive — may need follow‑ups + currently on exercise restriction

Enzo is a sensitive soul who wants to do right — he just needs a patient foster who can help him decompress and rebuild confidence. With the right environment, he’s going to shine.

If you can help this little guy feel safe and loved, please comment below. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Enzo start fresh? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Sweet Young Pup Looking for a Soft Landing ✨ 📍 North Metro PickupAnyone able to help this adorable ...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Sweet Young Pup Looking for a Soft Landing ✨
📍 North Metro Pickup

Anyone able to help this adorable little girl? 🩷
Another rescue reached out after their foster unexpectedly backed out, and this sweet 5‑month‑old pup suddenly has nowhere to go. If we can find a committed foster, she can transfer to Ruff Start Rescue and finally get the stability she deserves.

This cutie is:
• 🐶 Female
• 🐾 About 5 months old
• ⚖️ Around 30 lbs
• 💉 Fully vetted
• 🐕 Dog friendly!

She’s everything you’d expect from a young pup — playful, curious, affectionate, and ready to soak up love and structure. She just needs a foster home where she can settle in, feel safe, and enjoy being a puppy.

If you can open your home to this sweet girl, please comment below. Let’s help her land somewhere soft. 💛🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help this little one feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Help Juno Feel Safe ✨ 📍 Minneapolis, MNWho can help this beautiful girl? 🖤Juno came into Pet Centra...
05/28/2026

🐾 ✨ FOSTER NEEDED – Help Juno Feel Safe ✨
📍 Minneapolis, MN

Who can help this beautiful girl? 🖤
Juno came into Pet Central Animal Hospital as a stray, and she’s now in need of a calm, caring foster home where she can decompress and get the medical attention she needs.

Juno is a very sweet young kitty who’s been through a lot recently. She currently has fleas, so any foster stepping up for her will need to swing by the RSR office to pick up Revolution and Capstar for treatment — we’ll provide everything she needs.

Juno also appears to be pregnant, but her exact medical plan will depend on her veterinary evaluation. Once our team assesses her, she may either be spayed or continue her pregnancy in foster care. We’re looking for a foster who can be flexible and supportive of whichever plan is recommended for her health and safety.

Right now, Juno mostly needs:
• 🖤 A quiet place to rest
• 🛏️ A safe room to decompress
• 🧼 Flea treatment + basic care
• 💛 Someone patient and gentle while she settles in

She’s a sweet girl who deserves comfort, stability, and kindness after being out on her own.

If you can help foster Juno, please comment below. She’s ready for a soft landing. 🖤🐾

The best part about fostering?
While Ruff Start Rescue foots the bill—covering all supplies and vet costs—the absolute greatest reward is the unparalleled feeling of saving a life. You provide the love, structure, and a safe place to land.
Ready to help Juno feel safe and loved? Comment below or apply here:
👉 https://ruffstartrescue.org/get-involved/foster/

Address

Princeton, MN
55371

Telephone

+17633553981

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