The story of Rude Ranch Animal Rescue has spanned three decades, two husband-wife pairs, and one shared goal: help animals.
THE VERY BEGINNING
The hard work is easy when you hear the calls of animals in need
After discovering skeletons of a mother and kittens behind the former Uncle Nicky’s restaurant in Crofton, MD, Bob Rude and his spouse, Kathy Evans, decided to take action to save as many cats as possible.
They partnered with a local veterinarian, Dr. Larry Richmond, to fix 25 cats. Bob and Kathy then found homes for friendly adults and kittens and took home those that didn’t socialize well. Over the next decade and a half, Bob would bring 10-20 cats to Dr. Richmond each week to and would serve as an attending vet tech.
SAVING LIVES FOUR PAWS AT A TIME
Being kind and
Rude isn’t a paradox when it’s true
Recognizing that animals were being adandoned and euthanized at a high rate, Bob and Kathy stepped up. They joined and ran SAVE A Life Animal Rescue adoption program, placing about 1,000 cats through pet stores and CFA and TICA shows.
Bob and Kathy were among the earliest proponents of pediatric spay/neuter in the area. As such, many kittens up for adoption were fixed by Dr. Richmond, who affectionately starting using the term “Rude Ranch” on invoices – the name stuck.
THE RANCH IS BORN
Every great story has origin and evolution together
Rude Ranch Animal Rescue did not have a home to live and grow. Bob and Kathy purchased a house in Harwood, MD, and started renovations, including excavating for a koi pond with a backhoe. They decided to focus on special-needs animals including FIV, FeLV, feral, and hospice, eventually working with veterinarians at Cornell University and at the University of Florida.
Since IRS determination as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2001, Rude Ranch has adopted out about 5,000 animals and found foster homes for 10,000. At one point, there were over 130 animals in the sanctuary.
A HELPING HAND FOR A NEEDY PAW
No matter how many animals, it only takes one person to make a difference
We have lost count of the number of times Rude Ranch was called upon for help: There was the cat colony in Baltimore City; a colony of 80 cats near the Baltimore Zoo; a dog named Bruno that had been homeless for three years; a hoarder case of 500 animals where we rescued 63 cats & kittens; colonies at Laurel Print Shop, Fort Armistead, Atlantic City, BWI, and a sheep farm across from Belair Veterinary Hospital.
We have found that it only takes one person to change the lives of thousands of animals. If you’re reading this, we bet that you agree.
A COMMUNITY WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY CATS
Every animal deserves the right to live and needs help with the protection of that right
Recognizing that spay/neuter would help control the pet population and thus save animals from being euthanized, Rude Ranch Animal Rescue opened its own spay/neuter clinic, Spay Spa & Neuter Nook. Since 2012, the clinic has performed over 65,000 surgeries and partnered with over 160 animal rescues and shelters.
Despite these efforts, many community cats were still being euthanized. Rude Ranch worked with its partners Cats R Us, Sunshine’s Friends, and Friends of Anne Arundel County Animal Control to promote the passage of 96-17, the Anne Arundel Community Cat Bill. This bill ensured that as long as community cats were fixed and ear tipped, they would be protected.
NEXT GENERATION RANCHERS
Building into the future
means building upon the past
After a combined 50 years of service to to Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, Bob and Kathy stepped down from their executive roles and found another married couple to become next generation Ranchers: Drs. Erik and Sandra Andrulis. Drs. Andrulis bring the same dedication to and love for animals to Rude Ranch with experience in small animal medicine, spay/neuter, fostering, grant-writing and non-profit management.