Blue Mountain Animal Rescue has expanded to locate operations in the Cat Cottage at Camp Papillion in Monroe County and is having an open house to mark the occasion.

Donna Crum, founder of Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Inc. and president, stressed that the organization will continue to serve Carbon and surrounding areas.

The open house will be from Saturday through June 15 at Blue Mountain Cat Cottage, 128 Brainerd Lane, Stroudsburg. Hours for the open house are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, then open during the next week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including Wednesday night and Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m.

Crum said a silent auction will go on all next week with over 50 items. The winning tickets will be drawn at 3 p.m. on June 15.

In addition, she said they are having a monthlong raffle this month and are selling tickets to auction off a 6 1/2 by 8 1/2 queen-size quilt with cats on it. They will draw the winner during this year’s Rockin’ Rescue event (held July 12-14), with the raffle drawing for the cat quilt on July 13.

“We are very excited to announce our next new direction at Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Society,” Crum said. “In the past 11 years, we have diligently and consistently been in the forefront as a special needs rescue to Carbon County and surrounding areas.”

The group accepted the invitation to set up base at Camp Papillion, but will still be foster based in Carbon County.

Crum said Blue Mountain has always been a “foster first” based rescue, not a ‘shelter’.”

“We will not be changing our policies on adoption or special needs programs. We are taking on a larger role in the rescue community and will not be absent from our Carbon dedication on the front lines, but rather evolving and serving more needed assistance to both Carbon, Monroe and surrounding areas.

“We are very proud of our 98.5% no return adoption rate even though we do have a 100% return guarantee. We are a rescue that knows that in these times of post COVID, it is experiencing overpopulation problems like never seen before.”

“Our loyalty will always be to the best interests of the animals we care for, and will be there for the network we have built throughout many years and our mission is to expand on that.” she said

“We are not relocating entirely. We are reaching a new height and as always, reaching for nontraditional alternatives to help ease the overpopulation crisis of cats in their troubled times. Networking saves lives, and we will continue to reach out and be available as much as we can on all sides.”

Crum stressed the group need volunteers and foster families. She said the “Meet & Greet” adoption program will be introduced to Monroe County.

The organization will continue to offer their “wheelchair for dogs” program and its junior program, which involves our next generation of animal rescuers from ages 12 to 18.

Crum said the organization will continue its Community Education and Awareness programs and will still be open for the Carbon Animal Food Bank and Special Needs Dog program.

The new building will house the adoptables in a family setting, including the need for volunteer kitten and cat cuddlers, as well as the upcoming “Dog Day Afternoon” room.

Crum said they have added Yoga with Cats, which is held every other Tuesday. The next session is at 6:30 p.m. on June 18. Reservations are needed.

The Cat Cafe will be opening soon with light drinks and prepackaged delights to enjoy while people comfortably engage and socialize with their in-house feline friends.

Crum said they will also have a “Rummage Room,” which will be like a year-round yard sale for donations.

She said Blue Mountain Cat Cottage will open in stages, and they welcome monetary donations, along with kitten and cat food and litter.

She said to watch their Facebook Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Society for updates as each stage of opening is scheduled.

“It is an adopting center, not a shelter,” Crum said. “We have feline residents that will be up for adoption, come in for meet and greets.

“We’re collaborating with more rescues because of the need; we are not changing, we’re just evolving with the need,” she said. “There’s a serious need in this area and all over with overpopulation of cats; we utilized this building so we could expand and do more at large.”

Crum said there are 18 kittens and 23 adults either in foster or currently residents at the center.

For more information, visit www.bmars.org, email bmars.fr@yahoo.com, visit their Facebook page, or call 570-249-7890, or 610-703-6558.