The Journey of Scarlet Paws: From Independent Rescuers to Non-Profit Heroes

The co-founders of Scarlet Paws were independently rescuing cats in their community near Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ when they began to encounter each other regularly. Maryanne, one of the co-founders, was trying to catch a cat named Scarlet who was often seen on College Avenue. However, someone was feeding Scarlet, making it difficult for Maryanne to trap her. Through this process, Maryanne discovered that a Rutgers University professor was feeding Scarlet. The professor, with his connections, helped bring the rescuers together to form an organization. This group of dedicated Rutgers faculty and staff decided to become an official non-profit, and Scarlet Paws was officially established in 2011.

More about Scarlet: Scarlet had a litter of kittens, and Maryanne trapped the kittens and found homes for them. Scarlet continued to evade capture, and over a year later, Scarlet had another litter of kittens, which Maryanne also managed to trap and rehome. Eventually, Maryanne successfully trapped Scarlet and welcomed her into her home, ensuring a safe and loving environment for Scarlet and her second litter.