Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonia Tribuzzo.
Hi Antonia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started rescuing cats unintentionally and it all started when I brought my childhood cat, Jane, to live with me in Columbus in 2016. I was working on my undergraduate degree and working part-time at a veterinary hospital. When I heard that my beloved childhood cat was unwell, I drove up to Cleveland and brought her to live with me in Columbus. She and I always shared an incredible bond. She was always my Janie Girl. Jane had a variety of health issues that I had started treating her for. That same week that I brought her home, I started finding sickly kittens in a small neighborhood. I brought them home, helped them become healthy and strong, and then found loving homes for them through the clients at the veterinary hospital where I worked or friends of friends. The funny part was that Jane didn’t particularly like having kittens around. She preferred to be momma’s little princess, but she always was tolerant of them and graciously shared me with them. I loved seeing how Jane and these kittens would thrive when given time, veterinary care, and love. The transformations were incredible. Within six months Jane was acting like a kitten herself again. By this time I had continued to find kittens that needed my help and just accepted it as a strange new hobby of mine. Jane taught me how patience and consistency can transform lives, so I kept following the path.
There were always cats needing help and I loved welcoming them into my home to help them find their way to their new families.
In 2018, I was devastated when I lost Jane to cancer. The diagnosis was sudden and she declined so quickly. That year was particularly difficult personally, but a new challenge helped me find my way back to what I loved most. I started taking in newborn kittens that needed around-the-clock bottle feeding and care. I learned that many facilities are not equipped or trained to care for neonatal animals. I found a new invigorating passion to put my energy into. I started learning more and doing more to be a resource for the Columbus community when neonates were in need. I wasn’t finding as many of the cats myself, but rather people in the community were reaching out for my help. I found that I loved interacting with the community members almost as much as I loved working with the animals. By now I had realized that what I was doing was indeed animal rescue and I took a leap of faith to start an actual rescue. I decided to name it after my beloved cat, Jane, who inspired me to open my home and heart in the first place. For the Love of Jane was the perfect name for the rescue. I started social media accounts, registered the rescue name with the state, and started feeling like a legitimate operation. I had no idea what I was doing or working toward but I was loving every second of it.
I started attending veterinary school in 2019 where I met Tricia, my rescue partner. It took a lot for me to open up to someone new and in an administrative role no less, but Tricia was made for the job. She, like me, has this insatiable drive for rescuing animals. Tricia has the biggest heart of anyone I know and she was just the spark I needed to grow the rescue into something amazing. When COVID moved all of our classes for veterinary school online, we focused our energy on the rescue. Together we rescued 700% more animals than I had been doing on my own, we became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered with the state, became more engaged with the community, and developed a mission and vision for the rescue. We were rescuing dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens as well as Trap-Neuter-Release within the community for feral cats. Tricia and I work exceptionally well together and have become lifelong friends.
Truthfully we are more like long-lost sisters.
Today For the Love of Jane is still a fresh, up-and-coming animal rescue in the Columbus area. Our foundation is still neonatal rescue, but we have taken in just about anything! We have over 20 foster homes, regularly participate in Trap-Neuter-Release in the community, and have adopted out over 400 animals since 2016. Tricia and I are graduating from veterinary school next year and we cannot wait to see where the rescue takes us after that. We plan on continuing to grow the rescue, engaging in more community outreach, and training more people in neonatal care.
The Love of Jane has transformed my life and I can’t imagine it any other way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Animal rescue is a difficult field and it is an around-the-clock job with no vacations. Yet, many people still do it. The benefits have always outweighed the costs for me. I struggle to manage my time while I am in school, working part-time, and managing a rescue.
There is always an emotional toll being taken on you when you see suffering or abuse. I’ve even had people tell me it was unwise to run the rescue while I was in veterinary school. However, these parts of the job give context for the joy that comes when these struggles are overcome. I know it will always be a strenuous task to do the things I love, but I will always do them regardless.
As you know, we’re big fans of For the Love of Jane. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
For the Love of Jane operates as a foster based, 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue that specializes in neonatal care.
We prioritize foster based home care, high quality nutrition, integrative veterinary care, and community outreach to promote animal welfare and end animal suffering. We focus our efforts in rescuing, rehoming and implementing Trap-Alter-Return for community cats.
We try to be supportive to everyone involved at all steps in the rescue process. This includes the community members who are helping the animals, the animals that need our help, our fosters who help rehabilitate the animals, the supporters who help us continue to do our work, the adopters who need support and guidance when welcoming a new animal to the family, and everyone in between. Regardless of where you cross our path, you should feel welcomed, encouraged, and have a good experience with For the Love of Jane.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The world will always need people who care for and look after animals and other people. If you are just starting out in animal rescue, look for mentorship and support from others in the field. Animal rescuers are some of the most compassionate, fierce, and devoted people I have ever known.
Surround yourself with those who build you up and encourage you because when you hit bumps in the road, those are the people who will help you on your way to continue. Remember why you are doing what you do and ground yourself in that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fortheloveofjanerescue.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofjanerescue/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortheloveofjanerescue
