About Us
St. Francis Animal Rescue (SFAAR) is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating homeless and abused dogs and cats throughout the community. All of the animals we rescue are provided with necessary medical care, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. Our animals are placed in foster care in our volunteers' private homes. We have an adoption day each Saturday where the public is able to meet our animals and potentially adopt them. We are a no-kill group unless extreme behavioral or medical issues are noted. 

Our Mission
The mission of St. Francis of Assisi Animal Rescue is to rescue and rehabilitate homeless dogs and cats, relieve the pet overpopulation problem by spaying and neutering all companion animals before adoption, and educate the public on animal welfare and positive people / animal relationships.

Our History
Incorporated in 2001, SFAAR began as the result of two local women who saw that there was a need for an alternative to euthanizing homeless pets in animal control facilities. The vast majority of animals in animal control are wonderful, loving pets who simply need a good home with someone to care for them. SFAAR was created to help that happen.

Where Our Animals Come From
Although we accept animals from a variety of sources, our first and foremost priority is to rescue animals from animal control facilities in Minnesota before they are euthanized.

SFAAR is contacted by various animal control facilities, rescue organizations, veterinary hospitals and humane societies to take animals into our program that would otherwise be euthanized. SFAAR is also contacted by pet owners who are no longer able, or no longer willing, to care for their pets. In addition, good Samaritans who have rescued stray or abandoned animals contact us looking for help in placing the animals they have found. SFAAR always accepts animals that were adopted through our program that need to be returned.

Where Our Animals Stay
SFAAR is a foster-based rescue organization. Our animals are cared for in the private homes of our volunteers. We do not have a facility.

In addition to foster homes SFAAR partners with Camp K-9 Kennels in Forest Lake and Waterview Kennels in Stacy. In an emergency situation where an animal must be placed immediately, and there is no available foster home, the animal is placed in a kennel on a temporary basis.

Our Animals Health
After an animal is accepted into our program it is immediately scheduled for ”processing”. Volunteer veterinarians and veterinary technicians give the animal a physical exam and administer all required vaccinations. In addition, the animals are treated for fleas and worms. If the animal is not altered an appointment is made to have it spayed or neutered. Once an animal is placed in a foster home its’ booster vaccinations are provided by SFAAR on an as needed basis. If an animal requires a veterinarian for whatever reason, SFAAR partners with a number of area veterinarians who provide us with medical assistance at reduced prices.

How Our Animals Find New Homes
Adoption Day: Every Saturday a number of our animals are brought to a local PetSmart store or other area business. SFAAR volunteers introduce the animals to the public to further awareness of our mission and find prospective adopters.

PetSmart: SFAAR partners with local PetSmart stores to find homes for our animals. PetSmart has made a number of kennels in their Luv-A-Pet cat center available for our use. Prospective adopters are able to meet and adopt our cats that are housed there during store business hours.

Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet Stores: A number of Chuck & Don's stores have partnered with St. Francis to help find homes for the cats in our program. These stores set up a "kitty condo" for one of our cats to live in temporarily. Patrons of the stores are able to meet the cats and spend some time with them before deciding if they would like to adopt.

Internet: All of our animals have their photos and a short personality profile placed on the St. Francis Animal Rescue website. Anyone interested in a particular animal is asked to phone or email us for more information on that animal and how to go about meeting them.

Petfinder.com: Petfinder.com was created with the goal of finding a home for every adoptable pet. Petfinder.com is an on online directory of nearly 11,000 adoption groups, including SFAAR, that post the animals they have available for adoption.

How our organization is funded
SFAAR is a non-profit organization that is funded entirely through individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, and fundraising events. SFAAR has no paid staff and all funds donated go directly to the care of our animals.

We are extremely grateful for the kind support we have received over the years!