COMMUNITY PROFILE CREDIT: CAT EVANS A THRIFTY RESCUE BY CAT EVANS DEMI’S ANIMAL RESCUE (DAR) IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE ANIMAL SHELTER – it doubles as a thrift store as well. Tucked off Evans Avenue in Denver, the no-kill rescue focuses on solving pet homelessness through adoption, spaying and neutering, and increasing pet retention. The nonprofit has been operating for 11 years and is open to taking all cats and dogs, regardless of breed or special care required. The thrifting component was a mid-COVID addition that was initiated to help drive traffic through the rescue. Walking inside, the thrifty nature of the establishment is immediately apparent with recycled, donated clothes stacked high and low, and one room leading to another. There are two cat rooms with glass sliding doors, also known as the cat lodge, which is reserved for high-risk cats – cats that are harder to get homes for. Interested adopters can engage with the cats upon request and observe them as they go by. DAR’s goal is to find long-lasting homes for the pets while providing resources and outreach while promoting awareness on behalf of pets in need. Behind the scenes, you’ll come across a young woman named Demi Merritt. Merritt founded the rescue in high school, after working and volunteering with various animal and human rights organizations. She found herself to be an activist fighting to end breed-specific legislation and, eventually, developed DAR in her parents’ basement. She officially made it a nonprofit when she was just 14 years old. For the first three years, Merritt fostered cats in her own home, and as DAR grew, she began establishing a network with reliable fosters. She now has five board members who have remained the same for the past eight years. Everyone who works at the rescue also has a full-time job, so Merritt is working to expand DAR’s volunteer base. CREDIT: CAT EVANS 8 DENVER VOICE May 2022
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