Donation Goes to Purr-Worthy Crew
The streets of Stanley were a dangerous place for a stray mom cat and her seven kittens – until the Crazy Cat Crew got involved. Now the feline clan is living a cushy life near Douglas, North Dakota, on the ranch of an adoptive family.
“They were willing to take the momma and all the babies, and we were able to get them off the streets of Stanley. It was a fantastic solution for all involved,” said Robyn Schwecke of the Crazy Cat Crew.
She and a friend noticed an extreme number of stray and feral cats in Stanley, and decided to start the 5013C organization in 2020 with a simple mission: rescuing, protecting, and improving all cats’ lives in situations that are abusive, endangering, or neglectful.
On a day-to-day basis that means trap-neuter-return (TNR) and foster-to-adopt programs.
Word got around to neighboring towns fast. “Everyone knows we will work with the ferals,” she said. The Crazy Cat Crew has expanded their footprint to service both Mountrail and Williams Counties.
To date, the organization has adopted out 613 cats, including ferals who go to barns or shops. All are spayed/neutered and vaccinated before being rehomed.
Schwecke says it wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of Ceylon Feiring, a local vet who discounts her prices, and 26 “fantastic fosters” who take in the strays until they can be rehomed.
In 2023, Schwecke and Feiring held 23 low-cost spay and neuter clinics for a total of 400+ cats. “It’s $65 for neuter, $85 for spay and our rescue covers the remaining amount,” Schwecke said. They also altered 50+ dogs at a reduced rate.
As part of our commitment to the community, the MWEC’s Operation Round-up Trust awarded the Crazy Cat Crew $1250 to go towards their program.
Donations like that are essential to the cause, Schwecke said. “One-hundred percent goes to the vetting and feeding of the animals. We are a 100% volunteer organization.”
She’s working on a grant for 2024 and hopes to do more low-cost clinics. Meanwhile, Schwecke and her volunteers carry on for the good of their furry friends.
Why the name Crazy Cat Crew? “Why not?” she said. “We are.”