About Us

SOS Prairie Rescue is a 100% volunteer-run registered charity dedicated to transforming the lives of cats — and the communities that care for them — across Saskatchewan.

We work where the need is greatest: rural towns, northern and remote communities, and households facing limited access to veterinary services. Our focus extends beyond simply rescuing cats in crisis. Every cat in our care receives full veterinary follow-through, including spay or neuter — every time, without exception — because responsible rescue means preventing suffering, not contributing to ongoing cycles of overpopulation.

Through foster care, adoption, emergency medical intervention, and community partnerships, we step in when cats have nowhere else to turn. At the same time, our Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) and accessible spay/neuter programs address the root causes of homelessness, stabilizing populations and creating sustainable, humane solutions.

Education is central to our mission. We support caregivers with guidance and resources for responsible pet ownership and humane community cat care — empowering people to be part of the solution.

SOS Prairie Rescue doesn’t just save lives today; we work to protect the lives of generations to come. Because real rescue isn’t about quick fixes — it’s about lasting change.

SOS Prairie Rescue is a registered Canadian charity.

Our Story

SOS Prairie Rescue was born in 2019 from a simple but powerful realization: far too many cats across Saskatchewan were falling through the cracks, especially in rural and underserved communities where supports were limited or nonexistent. Two women who had spent years working in rescue saw firsthand how endless the need was — and how few options existed for families trying to do the right thing. They knew something had to change.

What began as a grassroots effort fueled entirely by compassion quickly grew into a movement. Word spread, volunteers stepped forward, foster homes opened their doors, and veterinary partners joined the mission. One rescue turned into hundreds… then thousands. Each cat helped became proof that community, when it comes together, can move mountains.

Over the years, faces have changed, roles have evolved, and the scope of our work has expanded well beyond what anyone imagined back in 2019. But the heart of SOS has never shifted — only strengthened. We remain rooted in the belief that every life matters, that rescue must be responsible and compassionate, and that lasting change starts with showing up where help is needed most.

SOS Prairie Rescue today is more than an organization. It’s a network of everyday people choosing to step in for cats who would otherwise have nowhere to turn — and proving that even the smallest acts of kindness can ripple across an entire province.

Meet the Board

  • ASHLYN WENINGER: President

    Ashlyn’s SOS Prairie Rescue journey began in 2021 with one foster cat and a plan to help “just a little.” Fast forward to late-night highways, phone alerts reading “We found another one…” and Ashlyn helping pull rescue teams together across Saskatchewan. In 2022, she became President & Chief Opurrrator, guiding missions fueled by teamwork, caffeine, and a whole lot of heart.

    If kennels are being loaded under porch lights or volunteers are heading out on last-minute saves, Ashlyn is often the one behind the plan — sometimes behind the wheel too. She works full-time, wrangles life with her newly adult son and three cats, and believes rescue isn’t always about taking cats away — it’s about supporting caregivers and challenging communities to do better for future generations.

    She’s proud to stand alongside the incredible SOS volunteers who make every mission possible.

  • MAAIKE MCGILL: Treasurer

    Maaike started her SOS journey as a foster and quickly became a cornerstone of our rescue family. Now our longest-standing board member and Treasurer, she’s the definition of “cat lady with a calculator.” Known for her endless optimism and unparalleled generosity, Maaike combines her love for cats with sharp business savvy. She’s always ready to help fosters and has earned the title “Queen of Poop Troubleshooting.” No mess is too messy for Maaike!

  • KATIE EDWARDS

    Katie started as an SOS Foster, but as a Type A control freak, she got involved with the Board fairly quickly. Katie would like to spend all day reading indoors with her pets, but is willing to leave the house for cat-related activities. Katie handles communications related tasks for the rescue, including support on social media and the website.

  • MADDIE FAST

    Maddie is a true jack-of-all-trades on the team, most often found trapping at TNRs or behind the scenes keeping the rescue’s website up to date. Her cat rescue journey began in 2019 with her first foster—who never left. Little did she know, she was saving him just as much as he was saving her. Since then, she’s recruited her parents into fostering and most recently wrangled “Cat Step-Grandpa” into driving a foster all the way to Richmond, BC.

    Maddie is also the president’s right-hand partner in chaos—whether it's driving to PA at 10 p.m. to pick up cats evacuated from a wildfire, or heading to a trailer park “just to look” and coming back with 20 cats. If there’s a spontaneous cat mission, Maddie’s probably in the passenger seat.

SOS Prairie Rescue is guided by a dedicated board of volunteers who donate their time, skills, and leadership to support life-saving work across Saskatchewan. As a foster-based, community-funded, no-kill organization, our board is committed to ethical rescue practices, responsible stewardship, and strengthening the systems that protect cats and the communities they live in.