The large field at Leatherback Brewery was full of frolicking puppies Sunday while Ruff Start STX signed up people to volunteer to help the animal rescue save lives or to adopt one of the dogs.
“We’re having a good turnout. A lot of our dogs are here. We have 80 dogs in our care almost all of the time. In and out. They’re all in foster homes besides three dogs that live in our office in Frederiksted, and they’re moving along to their foster homes soon,” Katie Nelson, founder and president of Ruff Start, told the Source.
Ruff Start volunteer Mary Pat Strasser talked to people interested in fostering dogs. She has fostered around 20-25 dogs annually for the last three years until they were adopted. Frankie is her current foster dog who she will accompany to Maryland, where a permanent home is waiting. People can pick the dog they want to foster and commit to a short period or a long period of time, she said.
“There have been a good amount of inquiries today,” Strasser said about potential foster parents.
Other volunteers deliver supplies and accompany dogs scheduled to fly to the mainland. They also take them to veterinarian appointments, clinics, and cruise ship events.
Ruff Start’s free monthly health clinic is manned by volunteers who register people and pups or dispense medication.
Volunteer Laurie Fideo talked to people about helping the pups on cruise ship day. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers mind puppies who play with visitors and talk to people about the organization.
“It’s kind of a public service. The cruise ship passengers are lonely for their own dogs,” she said.
(Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Fideo also talked about Ruff Start’s education program in St. Croix schools. Volunteers visit and talk to students in all grades about caring for their pets. She said the students seem to pay attention.
Around 300 puppies and grown dogs have been flown to the mainland during the first three months of 2025. Big dogs flew on Amerijet to agencies or individuals who have arranged for homes in advance.
A way to get small pets to the mainland to permanent homes is to have them travel with passengers who are already traveling to certain destinations. They meet at the airport, and Ruff Start delivers a clean kennel, with food, water, toys, and of course, the dog. Once they arrive at their destination, they pass the puppy to the adopter who meets the flight.
Volunteers usually keep big dogs in their homes for the last few days before they travel. They are given a carrier, leash, food and water, and whatever else is needed until the travel date. On that day, the volunteer delivers the dog to Flemings Transport next to the airport and keeps the canine company until the flight leaves.
Volunteers are also needed to build out the new Ruff Start home in Frederiksted. Nelson said the 501c3 organization was awarded a grant to do the first building on the property. The deadline to use the grant is Oct.1. Volunteer Robyn Keely said they need plumbers, electricians, and anyone with construction knowledge to finish the project. Nelson said they are waiting for a permit to put together the pre-fabricated building.
Ruff Start’s mission is to search out dogs who need help. So, they travel to dump sites and remove abandoned, sick, and injured dogs. In some cases, they will remove dogs from bad living conditions with the permission of the owner. Then they gain the trust of frightened dogs, provide medical care, socialize them, and eventually find permanent homes.
