Bath County woman launches Strays and Runaways Rescue to place animals into foster homes

A Bath County woman, Ashley Bennett, has started a nonprofit aimed at getting animals into foster homes and matching them with the care and placement they need, according to LEX18. Bennett said she launched Strays and Runaways Rescue to address what she described as a growing local need for help with stray and runaway animals.

Bennett’s effort centers on recruiting and coordinating foster homes, then working to ensure animals receive basic care while they are in temporary custody. The nonprofit’s stated goal is not only to rescue animals but also to help them move through a structured pathway toward adoption, including the attention required before they can be placed with permanent families.

In the LEX18 report, Bennett framed the project as community-based, with foster families playing a central role in stabilizing animals while volunteers and the organization work to line up longer-term outcomes. Foster placements can also allow animals to be assessed in a home setting rather than waiting for space at shelters, Bennett said, adding that the approach can reduce the time animals spend without consistent care.

The nonprofit’s name, Strays and Runaways Rescue, reflects two categories of animals Bennett said she wants to serve. The report described an effort to respond to strays and to cases involving animals that have gotten loose or are otherwise not under an owner’s immediate control, with the intent of quickly connecting them to temporary care and then working toward adoption when possible.

Bennett’s initiative comes at a time when communities nationwide have faced pressure from animal intake demand, limited shelter capacity, and the operational costs of housing, veterinary care, and ongoing support. While the LEX18 report does not cite specific county-level statistics, it describes the launch as a response to increased need in the local area and the practical challenges of maintaining care until animals can be placed.

According to LEX18, Bennett is working to build the nonprofit’s capacity to take in animals and coordinate with fosters. The next steps for the organization, as described in the report, include strengthening its volunteer and foster network so it can respond when animals need help and ensure there is a pathway from intake to placement.

Bennett’s launch also underscores how rescue organizations can affect animal welfare outcomes through private, community-led support systems. The effectiveness of such efforts typically depends on stable foster recruitment, consistent funding for basic care, and clear intake and placement processes, elements the report ties to the nonprofit’s stated model.