Sierra Pacific Furbabies is a non-profit cat rescue in Riverside, California. The rescue captures cats on highways, roads, and other dangerous places. They also save cats at other shelters from euthanasia and have a TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Release) program to help reduce the number of homeless cats and kittens.

And while cats are the main focus at SPF, David Loop, the founder and president of the rescue, and his team also tend to save dogs when they can. 

In the past years, Loop has been seen on CBS news talking about how people tend to drive by the rescue and throw dogs out of their cars and leave. Recently, Loop acquired four German shepherds after finding them being dropped off outside the rescue’s gates.  

At a young age, Loop got into helping animals, saying he grew up on a farm where they raised the animals for food, but he never liked eating meat, and he still doesn’t now. Teaching him that if he didn’t take care of the animals, then no one would. 

Before starting the rescue, Loop remembered a social media post that caught his eye. 

“There was a dog that was on the euthanasia list, and that dog was gonna die that day, and he wasn’t the prettiest dog; he was really like the ugliest dog you’ve ever seen,” Loop said. 

Seeing that post sparked something in Loop that compelled him to rescue and adopt the dog.

“I saw this post and I thought to myself, ‘this is so sad that nobody is going to see this dog’s picture and say that’s the dog I wanna adopt and save its life and take it to my family,’” Loop said.

In the end, Loop saved the dog, named him Bob Marley, cleaned him up, and helped him live out the last year of his life in a safe and happy place. 

Volunteering at this rescue means feeding, cleaning, refilling water, and socializing the cats. 

Staff and volunteers at SPF Rescue shared opinions and information about animal cruelty and easy ways to help animals in everyday life.

Brooke Morgewicz is a volunteer at the rescue. She shared why she started volunteering and explained that she has always loved animals.

“I just always loved animals from a very early age,” Morgewicz said. “I volunteer here at the shelter on Saturdays. I stay extra long and play with the kitties, and give them extra love. I drive around and I feed strays.”

Loop explained some of the ways he and his crew of volunteers help animals is by taking in injured, stray, or unwanted animals. Loop said the rescue will rescue the animals, provide them with medical treatment, and try to get them adopted. The end goal at SPF is adoption, so every cat that comes is immediately looked at and examined to get them healthy and ready to be taken to a loving home. 

“People need to learn that you can do it, don’t be afraid you need to take that step and that leap of faith and be the person be the voice for these animals,” Loop said.