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STANHOPE, Iowa – It’s been almost an entire year since Katherine Flockhart, of Stanhope, and some colleagues saved over 50 cats from a hoarder’s home in nearby Stratford.

At the time, Flockhart – who works at a veterinary clinic and is passionate about animal rescue – kept the cats in a vacant building next door to her bar, Flocky’s Tap. As a majority of the cats found homes, Flockhart says her desire to operate a no-kill animal rescue shelter kept the vacant building in use, now dubbed, “Kitty City Rescue & Rehab.” In the last year, Flockhart’s shelter has been inspected and approved by state officials, is licensed as an official rescue shelter, is in the approval process for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and has helped rescue over 75 cats and several dogs.

But at its one-year anniversary, Kitty City Rescue & Rehab is in trouble. Flockhart’s bar, Flocky’s Tap, had to shut down earlier this year due to stagnant business. Though the building is in the process of being sold, Flockhart says it’ll cost her about $5,000 to purchase the mortgage covering the neighboring building she houses the animals in.

“We get so many donations in the form of food and litter,” Flockhart said. “The day-to-day operations of this place are covered largely by donations.”

But the day-to-day necessities won’t matter if Flockhart can’t raise the money needed to keep the building in her name. In the past year, the local community has donated new floors and other supplies to make Kitty City more comfortable for the rescue animals. Flockhart says it will have all been for nothing if she loses the building.

“We’ve raised about $1,200 in just the first week of August, so people are stepping up,” she said. “But we are too small. We need to reach out further.”

Flockhart says donations can be sent by mail, or done online through either a PayPal account set up at Kittycityrr@yahoo.com and a GoFundMe page.

“These cats have nowhere else to go,” she said. “And once we find a home for one, we have the space to take another one in. And there are a lot more out there that need our help. We’re the only no-kill cat rescue shelter in Northern Iowa, and we can’t afford to lose it.”