ICE Hurts Animals Too MN

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to send a final thank you to all who have so generously supported the animals of Minnesota and the people who love them during a terrifying and awful time. We have provided so many deliveries of food, treats, litter, bedding, toys, and other miscellaneous items to families sheltering in place. We have been able to pay for dozens of spays and neuters, lots of vaccines, a few surgeries, and dentals. We have shipped to people outside of our delivery radius, and we provided dog walks during a time when it was not safe for people to walk on the streets. 

I am closing this fundraiser as our requests for support have slowed down. Most of our work has transitioned to medical support, and we are happy to be able to help families get the care they need to stay healthy and together. 

Your kindness helped us get through some very dark days. We're so grateful. May you be happy, healthy, safe, and surrounded by love. 

Dallas

Hello Supporters, 

Thank you for your continued donations and words of encouragement, appreciation, and support. This week has had some highs and lows:

The Minnesota Public Radio coverage was welcome and appreciated, and if you discovered us through their story, welcome. I'm glad you're here. 

We continue to receive requests for essentials like food and litter from people across the metro area. Our delivery drivers are doing an incredible job filling these requests quickly, and we're so grateful for all of them. 

We continue to partner with the local veterinary network - they have been incredible. So many people are coming together to ensure that animals can get to their appointments safely, and we're pooling resources to make sure costs are covered. It's amazing what we can do when we do it together. 

Sadly, not every intention works out as planned. One of the cats we rescued in January had a severe medical event, and his adoptive mom made the heartwrenching decision to euthanize him. While he was only in his adoptive home for a fraction of the time we'd all hoped, this kitty Momma has a supportive circle of care as she navigated the scary situation and grieves her loss. We hold her and her beloved kitty in love during this difficult and tender time. Anyone who has cared for an animal through a traumatic event knows that the bonds we form can be swift and strong - and her loss is felt by all of those who have been caring for the cats from his group. We're grateful to Azizi's mom for her devotion to him, and wish her peace as her heart mends from this painful loss. 

Here's the thing that we keep learning again and again: No matter what comes our way, we can love each other through it. Thank you for being part of this community of love and care. 

Dallas

Hello Supporters, 

We are really feeling the gaze of the public move on from Minnesota. And I understand that the violence here is no longer as dramatic as it was, but I promise you - people are still scared, and ICE is still taking people. They have shifted to be more active in the suburbs, and they're heading toward greater Minnesota, which means that it will be harder to keep tabs on them. 

Our volunteers are doing an amazing job meeting requests very quickly - we have screened more people, which means most folks receive their supplies within 24 hours. 

Minneapolis Public Schools announced that they have "made the decision to extend the temporary online learning option through April 6 for families who need it. Temporary online learning was originally scheduled to end Feb. 12.” 

And there are MANY families who have been torn apart, people don't know where their loved ones are, and others are struggling to get home to Minnesota. The devastation has been huge, and it continues. 

But so do we. 

In the past few days, we have been doing more with vetting (especially spays! Five spay surgeries in three days!), and we have some dental needs on the horizon. The vetting network has been incredible, and we're so grateful for all of the clinics, DVMs, CVTs, and transportation volunteers who are caring for animals and their families in these difficult days. Our area's low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Minnesota Spay Neuter Project, and The Bond Between's Vet Center have been incredible partners for us. We're incredibly grateful to be in this work with them. 

Our Instagram and Facebook pages are now up and running, which gives you another way to connect with us and will help us reach more people who can spread the word about the support we provide. (And I include you in that "we"!!) Please follow and share. 

Dallas

PS - I don't know if this made it much beyond our neighborhoods, but last night someone set fire to Renee Good's Memorial. The intimidation is not over. Abolish ICE. Photo credit: Modern Ghost.

Hello Supporters, 

It's been another busy weekend with Ice Hurts Animals, Too MN. 

* We helped a cat get an emergency C-Section. It was very scary to get a message through our website that this young cat had given birth to one dead kitten and had been unable to birth another in over 12 hours. She got to the emergency clinic, got the surgery, and is healing well.  (We offered to spay and neuter the other cats in the home.)

* One of our delivery volunteers, who knows all about rabbit,s went shopping for a nice setup for a bunny who had been living in a bathroom ,and the family was running out of food for her. She bought an x-pen, a hay feeder, a litter box, produce, toys, and more. When she arrived, she and the family set everything up together. This single mom was so grateful for the help and teared up expressing her gratitude. Then one of the kids said to our volunteer, "If ICE takes us away, will you take care of our bunny?" There were more tears and reassurance that she would absolutely take care of their bunny if she ever got a call. Children should not have to ask a stranger questions like this.

* As I type this, we are working to get a dog that one of our dog-walking volunteers worked with into an emergency vet for a major seizure. This dog has been deteriorating for the past two months, and his family has felt helpless about getting him the care he needs. As you may know, there are many people suffering at home rather than risking going to the emergency room for care. While it's not ideal, we are in a position to be able to coordinate rides for animals to get the care they need at animal hospitals, and we're grateful for that. 

* Your donations are also helping us to spread the word with educational materials about how to create a safety plan for your animals and postcards to put in with deliveries at food shelves, so people know they can contact us for help with animal essentials. I have attached one example of the safety plan below (the other side is in Spanish). 

People are still being taken daily, no matter what the national news says. Today, an independent journalist reported on a female ICE agent posing as a distressed motorist on the side of the road with a fake broken-down car. They have shifted their tactics significantly, so they are harder to spot, but they are still everywhere. And the traffic at the Whipple building has not slowed. 

We've gotten three requests TODAY from people in other states wanting to learn about how we have built what we've built. And we will hold trainings on how you can build a mutual aid group focused on animal needs. But for now, I just wanted to thank you again for your support and let you know that it's making a difference. <3

Dallas