Founder’s Story

Hi, I'm Amy Spence, founder and Operation’s Director of H.E.A.R.T. Rescue.

I've always believed that every life matters, no matter how small. Long before H.E.A.R.T. Rescue became a reality, I found myself drawn to the tiniest, most fragile kittens—the ones that needed bottle feeding every few hours, intensive medical care, or simply someone willing to fight for them when others thought they couldn't be saved.

As a Licensed Veterinary Technician, I've had the privilege of caring for countless animals throughout my career. Working in veterinary medicine showed me firsthand just how many orphaned neonatal kittens, critically ill kittens, and special-needs kittens fall through the cracks because they require an extraordinary level of time, medical knowledge, and resources.

In 2023, I started a community Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program with the goal of reducing the number of homeless cats and preventing unwanted litters before they were born. Although the program was ultimately discontinued because there weren't enough volunteers to sustain it, it changed the course of my life. Through TNR, I encountered countless orphaned neonatal kittens that had no mother, no safe place to go, and very few organizations equipped to provide the specialized, around-the-clock care they needed to survive. It became clear that there was a critical gap in our community—a gap that needed to be filled.

That realization became the foundation for H.E.A.R.T. Rescue.

H.E.A.R.T. Rescue was built on the belief that the most vulnerable animals deserve the greatest chance. Whether it's a one-day-old orphan needing around-the-clock bottle feedings, a kitten battling panleukopenia, one recovering from major surgery, or a kitten born with congenital defects, every one of them deserves someone who refuses to give up.

Rescue is far more than finding homes—it's providing hope. It's celebrating every tiny milestone, from the first successful bottle feeding to the moment a once-fragile kitten is healthy enough to run, play, and finally meet the family that will love them forever. Those moments remind me why this work matters.

My hope is that H.E.A.R.T. Rescue is more than just a rescue organization. I hope it's a place where people learn, become inspired to help, and discover that saving lives doesn't always require doing something extraordinary. Sometimes it starts with opening your home to foster, making a donation, volunteering your time, or advocating for spay and neuter in your own community.

Every kitten that comes through our doors has a story. My promise is that as long as H.E.A.R.T. Rescue exists, we'll do everything we can to help those stories have happy endings.

Thank you for being part of our journey and for believing, as I do, that every tiny heartbeat deserves a chance.