Carlton County Animal Rescue Raising Money As Dangerous Cold Conditions Approach

The Rescue joins organizations across Minnesota on the 15th Annual Give to the Max Day

Dozens of nonprofits and schools across the Northland are making an extra push for fundraising today.

It’s the 15th Annual Give to the Max Day and thousands of organizations across Minnesota are looking for donations. These include the Duluth Children’s Museum, the Superior Hiking Trail Association, and Chum.

One Northland organization is spreading awareness of the dangers of cold weather on stray cats and dogs in a unique way! Two Carlton County Animal Rescue workers, Meredith Kujala and Leslie Pedro, have shaved their heads in solidarity with animals out in the cold. Their heads will experience the elements, just like the stray animals stuck outside. All the money raised will go towards food, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering. Kujala says when the temperatures drop, she can’t help but think about a Pitbull named Honey.

“She was initially found, maybe over a year ago, in January, frozen to someone’s steps and was in just deplorable conditions,” Kujala said. “And it was very cold out there, there was a lot of snow. Her tail was so frozen, her tail and part of her body, that we had to amputate her tail and part of her body had to have skin conditioning because she had so much frostbite.”

If you see a cat or dog out in the cold, contact your local animal rescue and Missing Pets of the Northland. Kujala and Pedro will continue to shave their heads until they reach their goal of $3,000. You can find their fundraising page here: https://www.givemn.org/story/Vr7otf