Our Mission

AskMrFrisky.Org is a Registered Non-Profit and IRS Recognized 501c3 Public Charity. 

We are 100% Volunteer run and led (our Founder and Board Members receive no compensation, and we have no paid staff).

Our Mission includes:

• Intake of cats and dogs in need, in particular special needs, hospice, and elderly; strays and ferals. 
• Providing safe space for wildlife per the National Wildlife Federation standards. 
• Providing Free Pet Care information and resources. 
• Providing food to pet parents (including homeless) having trouble feeding their cats and dogs via our Anne Erspamer Memorial Pet Food Bank.

In 2023, we hope to successfully fundraise to put up our first rescue barn for intake of more special needs cats and dogs, and space for emergency overflow foster for local shelters, rescues, and pet parents who have to temporarily find a home for their pet.

Watch our 2022 Year in Review.

Even as a child Lauren was always helping strays and neglected or abused animals. As an adult she began volunteering at animal shelters and rescues: cleaning cages, repairing roofs and fences, giving out treats, taking dogs for walk, cuddling cats, assisting Vet Techs and Veterinarians, giving medications, fundraising, giving tours and anything else needed!

After many years of personally rescuing, she started AskMrFrisky.org in Mr.Frisky's memory and honor. The Org primarily focuses on special needs cats and dogs: hospice cases, elderly, high medical needs, neglected, abused, or given up on by the people they depended on to care for them.

In addition to running the Org, Lauren also advises pet parents, rescuers, and shelters on animal care, volunteering and volunteer  programs. She has also spoken on the radio and at schools and civic fairs on how to  care for pets and what to do if you find an animal in need. 

Mr. Frisky was Lauren's first rescue cat as an adult. He was a street cat who showed up about a week after the Holidays. She suspected he was a “gift” to someone who didn’t want him, because no one in the neighborhood had ever seen him before. He was so hungry and thin, mewing desperately, she opened a can of  albacore tuna for him. He ate the whole thing so fast she was afraid he’d get sick. He finished eating and sat down to wash his face. It was clear he had no plans to leave!

Over the following weeks she continued to feed him and give him a place to sleep. I went door to door and put up flyers, notified local shelters and rescues, veterinary clinics. He had no microchip, no collar, and no one in the neighborhood had ever seen him before that week he showed up at my house. 

It became clear he was here to stay, so it was off to the Veterinarian for exam, vaccinations, neuter, microchip, the works!  The Veterinarian declared him a Russian Blue mix of approximately 1.5 years of age, male (which had been obvious being un-neutered), and in good health. She originally named him just Frisky because he was very playful and it was also the brand of food he liked best.

Over the next several weeks, it became clear who was in charge (not her). She filled his fancy new water bowl twice daily but it was rarely used as he insisted on drinking out of her water glass instead. If she slept past morning treat time (she kept dry food out all the time for grazing), he would grab a mouthful of her hair and pull it to wake me up. They ate dinner together and had long conversations. As long as she talked, he warbled back. He would sit regally to survey his new domain in the evenings, sternly but compassionately guiding and ruling the other animals including a 110lb Siberian Husky dog! As a result, it wasn’t long before he became Mr. Frisky.

As he aged, he still remained very Royal, and was never a fan of being held. He preferred sitting on her or next to her,  and laying on the pillow just above her head while she slept. Up until he was 15 he continued to race around the house with his toys. As he aged towards 19, the arthritis in his hips slowed him down and he preferred laying in the sunshine patches by the window, or on the heating pad with the dog.

He passed away a few weeks before his 20th birthday, of just plain old age. He’d been a part of her life for 18 years. He was such a force, such a personality, he will never be forgotten him. Lauren started this Organization in his memory and honor.