Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Giroux.
Hi Danielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
What makes Runaways Animal Rescue so special and unique starts with my own journey and passion for saving the most vulnerable animals. For over 15 years, I’ve dedicated myself to this mission. In the beginning, I worked through a small but mighty network of foster homes, and I shared our lifesaving work on social media through my Dani the Cat Lady accounts on Instagram and Facebook. While working a full-time corporate job, I also volunteered at municipal shelters and with various nonprofit organizations. Through that experience, I saw firsthand just how much more our community needed to truly support animals in need — and I started dreaming of creating my own rescue.
In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a leap of faith. I left my full-time job and founded Runaways Animal Rescue. What started as a dream quickly became a reality thanks to the support of incredible volunteers, fosters, and donors. In 2021, I was fortunate enough to acquire a building so we could better serve both our community and the animals who desperately need our help. Together with our volunteers and supporters, we renovated that space into a place where animals can heal, thrive, and find their forever homes. My goal is to continue creating a facility that both our animals and our community can be proud of.
At Runaways Animal Rescue, we’re passionate about saving all animals in need, but cats — especially neonatal kittens — hold a special place in our hearts. Since 2020, we’ve saved over 4,000 animals. What truly makes us unique is that we say yes to the most critical cases — the neonatal kittens, the medical cases, the special needs animals, the paralyzed, the blind — the ones who need us most. I believe with all my heart that every animal deserves a chance to live and to be loved, and that’s the purpose that drives everything we do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. One of the biggest challenges was starting a nonprofit animal rescue right in the middle of a global pandemic. The world was shut down, resources were tight, and I was figuring everything out as I went. I had never run a shelter before, so a lot of it was learning on the fly — from navigating nonprofit management to overseeing a facility, fundraising, and building a team.
Another major challenge has been finding the funding to care for the sheer number of animals we save each year — over 1,000 lives annually. We don’t receive any government or state funding, so every dollar comes from generous donors, grants, and community support. Balancing the urgent needs of the animals with the constant effort it takes to raise those funds is no small task. But despite the struggles, the impact we’ve made keeps me going every single day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Runaways Animal Rescue, we focus on saving the most vulnerable animals — the ones often overlooked or out of time. We save over 1,000 animals every year, partnering with local municipal shelters across Florida to rescue those facing euthanasia. Most of the animals we help are neonatal kittens, medical cases, and special needs animals. That’s where our heart is — giving a chance to those who need it most.
What truly sets us apart is that we’re a private shelter. We don’t have a big national name like the Humane Society or SPCA behind us. We had to build trust from the ground up and make a name for ourselves in the community — no bells, no whistles, just hard work and a commitment to doing what’s right for the animals.
One of my personal passions is TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return), and I’m incredibly proud that we were able to hire our own veterinarian and medical team to open our very own clinic. This has been a game-changer — not only does it provide immediate care for the animals we rescue, but we also partner with other local rescues to offer low-cost spay/neuter services. Our TNVR program helps about 120 community cats each month, making a real impact on overpopulation. And we don’t stop there — we also run a pet food pantry to help local families feed their animals during tough times.
We do all of this on an annual budget that’s a fraction of what surrounding shelters operate with, thanks to our incredible volunteers, the support of our community, and our small but mighty team of six employees. That’s what I’m most proud of — that together, we’ve created a rescue that’s built on heart, resilience, and the belief that every animal deserves a chance.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
When I need motivation or a reminder of why I do this work, I love listening to podcasts like The Animal Welfare Junction and The Humane Roundup. They really help me feel connected to the larger rescue and sheltering community and remind me that others are facing the same challenges and victories.
Personally, I’m a big believer in lifelong learning, so I also follow blogs and social pages from groups like Best Friends Animal Society and Maddie’s Fund — both are great for new ideas, research, and inspiration on how to do better for the animals and the community we serve.
And when I need to clear my head? A good walk with my dogs or a quiet moment with one of my fosters is sometimes the best “resource” of all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.runawaysanimalrescue.org
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/runawaysanimalrescue
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/runawaysanimalrescue
