Assiniboia’s Street Cat Rescue Service Ends After Seven Years Of Dedication

ASSINIBOIA — For seven years, Darlene Skalicky has been a lifeline for the stray cats of Assiniboia, offering her time and resources to rescue and care for these vulnerable animals. However, this chapter of community service has come to a close. Skalicky recently announced via Facebook that she can no longer continue her volunteer street cat rescue work, citing personal and practical challenges.

In her heartfelt post, Skalicky shared the difficult decision: “With a torn heart, I am letting the community know I will no longer be rescuing street cats. When I bring the cats to get fixed and vaccinated and bring them to my house or garage, my cat Millie gets very anxious and with the stress develops health issues that need to be addressed. I can’t kill my cat saving others. I will pay up my bills and tie up the loose ends, and if there is money left over, I will leave it at Bonnie’s vets office to use at their discretion if someone needs help.”

Skalicky’s operation was entirely self-funded. She organized bake sales, garage sales, and sold various items—including woodwork created by her husband, donated bottles and cans, and handmade crafts—to raise money. She also offered Christmas photo shoots, sold calendars featuring rescued cats, and accepted generous donations from the community.

“People also donated items for draws that I sold tickets on, and I don’t want to leave anyone out,” Skalicky said, expressing her gratitude for the community’s support. “People are generous and wanted to help raise money needed for this cat rescue.”

Despite working alone and fitting the rescue efforts around her schedule, Skalicky managed to make a significant impact. She estimates that over 100 cats and kittens have been rescued under her care. In 2023 alone, she spayed, neutered, vaccinated, and re-homed 28 adult cats and provided vaccines for 11 kittens. Skalicky ensured every cat was vetted before finding their “fur-ever” homes, even offering new owners donations for food and litter.

The personal satisfaction of knowing these cats would no longer reproduce and could enjoy a life of comfort in a warm, safe home was the highlight of Skalicky’s work. “I am in contact with lots of the owners still, and it makes my heart happy. Some are right here in town, and some cats have been adopted out in BC,” she shared.

However, the demands of the rescue work began to take a toll on Skalicky. Her cat Millie’s health issues, the difficulty in securing foster homes, and her own physical challenges, including a bad back, made it increasingly hard to continue.

“I feel sad not doing it anymore, but I couldn’t do half a job, and a big part of the rescue is the fostering,” Skalicky admitted.

Skalicky hopes someone with a similar passion for cats will step up to continue the work she has done. She urges pet owners to take responsibility by spaying, neutering, and vaccinating their animals, which would significantly reduce the need for rescue operations. “I plead for people to do the responsible things and do this, as well as be kind to street cats. Give them food and for sure set out water for them. They haven’t asked to be homeless. People have let them down. It really breaks my heart.”

While Skalicky’s efforts were independent, she acknowledges the support of Running Wild Rescue, which helped find homes for some of the cats she saved.

In response to her announcement, many community members expressed their gratitude for Skalicky’s years of service. Whether someone will step in to fill the void left by her absence remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that Skalicky’s contributions will be missed in Assiniboia.