Nonprofit organizations spend a lot of time focused on fundraising, but Katie Nelson, founder of the Ruff Start Rescue St. Croix, solved part of the problem by opening a business to help fund the dogs in her care.
“We’d been talking for a while about what could be a revenue stream. We were talking about a movie night and events when we heard the bar was closing, so we said, ‘Why don’t we do the bar,’” Nelson told the Source.
The business — Ruff Night Hair of the Dog bar and restaurant — marked its first anniversary this week with its first donation — several thousand dollars to Ruff Start. Nelson said they didn’t make enough money during the first year in business to donate before now.
Nelson has lived on St. Croix for 10 years and began rescuing dogs in 2018. By 2020, Ruff Start was a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. Currently, there are roughly 80 dogs under Ruff Start’s care — most in foster care, others living in the Frederiksted office until homes are found for them.
Ruff Night is managed by a handful of volunteers who serve drinks to customers including many cruise ship visitors. There is another volunteer who keeps pooches under control while customers get a puppy fix or walk a dog in the park on the waterfront.
In addition to drinks, customers can purchase Ruff Start merchandise, such as T-shirts, key chains, jewelry, wallets, stickers, and Great Dane Lapdog hot sauce, while they explore the courtyard, which is filled with canine ceramics, dog bowls, and comfortable corners for relaxing.
“People I don’t even know who they are bring donations” of merchandise and homemade dog treats for Ruff Start to sell and keep the proceeds, said Nelson.
“Even if this bar only ever breaks even, just the amount of exposure and numbers of adoptions coming through would make it all worth it,” she said.
On Sundays and Monday nights, local chefs volunteer to create “pop-up” special dishes. One of St. Croix’s favorite chefs, Sean Skerrette, who is frequently the guest chef, prepared and served a formal dinner for his clients. As part of his tip, he was given several large bags of dog food.
“Now, you’re officially one of us,” Nelson told him.
Live music is frequently featured at Ruff night, and Nelson said they now have a regular following of customers. Additionally, when cruise ships spend the day at the Abramson pier, hundreds of people visit — some spending the entire day relaxing at one of several comfortable seating areas.
Ruff Start has hosted a popular monthly free clinic at Loops in Frederiksted for more than a year. Owners bring pups for free exams, vaccines, and heartworm tests by veterinarians. Low-cost medication for flea/tick and heartworm prevention and vouchers for free neuter/spay services are available. Donations are used for Ruff Start programs. Nelson said some people bring their dogs back several times just to socialize with other pooches.
Looking ahead, Ruff Start plans to open a facility in Frederiksted this October. With the help of a grant, they have purchased several rundown buildings and will begin by constructing a kennel. They will then renovate space for a veterinarian, a surgical room, and an adoption center.
Ruff Start is organizing a benefit concert on March 3 at Loops featuring Mama’s Black Sheep, as well as an art show in April at the Farmers in Action property, located across from the National Guard. Dates and times will be announced. For more information, visit ruffstartstx.org or find them on Facebook.
