In Montréal, where the issue of stray and abandoned cats continues to grow, Refuge A.B.C.’S Rescue is stepping in to make a tangible difference. Co-founded by Billie Rousse, this non-profit, no-kill rescue is dedicated to tackling overpopulation at its source—through sterilization, medical care, and safe foster placement for cats in need.
Since opening in July 2025, the organization has built a grassroots network of fosters, volunteers, and supporters, creating a much-needed lifeline in areas like Lachine where resources were once limited. But as Rousse makes clear, rescue work alone isn’t the solution—it’s prevention, education, and community action that will ultimately break the cycle. Until then, Refuge A.B.C.’S Rescue continues to show up, one cat at a time, proving that even small, local efforts can spark lasting change.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
We are a non-profit/non-kill cat rescue dedicated to reducing the overwhelming cat overpopulation on Montreal’s streets.
Our mission is simple but urgent: sterilize, socialize, and provide proper veterinary care to cats in need — while giving them the safe, loving environment they deserve until they find their forever homes.
What problem does it aim to solve?
By rescuing cats from the streets and ensuring they are sterilized, we are directly preventing the birth of hundreds more who would otherwise face life in harsh, unsafe conditions.
Every cat we help breaks the cycle — reducing suffering, improving welfare, and creating lasting change for the cats of our community.
When did you start/join it?
We opened our rescue on July 1st 2025, but have mainly been volunteers for the past 15 to 25 years, rescuing animals.
What made you want to get involved?
Because the reality was impossible to ignore. Thousands of cats with no home, no future, and no care — struggling to survive, unseen and unsupported. Starting this non-profit wasn’t a difficult decision. It was the only one that made sense. We saw the need, and we chose to act.
What was the situation like when you started?
When we started, things honestly felt a bit… broken. There was no rescue based in Lachine, which left a huge gap for a neighbourhood full of cats and people who care but don’t always have the resources. If you didn’t have a car, even reaching places like the SPCA Montreal was complicated — not exactly metro-friendly when you’re trying to help an injured or abandoned cat.
At the same time, we were seeing more and more cats on the streets. Entire litters being born outside, colonies growing, and not enough accessible support to deal with it properly.
And one of the hardest parts?
People, often with good intentions but no guidance, were separating kittens from their mama way too early. That leads to fragile babies, more medical issues, and honestly… a lot more suffering than necessary.
How has it changed since?
There’s now a local presence. We went from no rescue in Lachine to having a real, on-the-ground network of fosters and volunteers. People don’t have to feel stuck or alone anymore when they find a cat — they have somewhere to turn.
We’re actively reducing the problem. Instead of just reacting, we’re preventing: sterilizations, proper intake, medical care. Every cat fixed = fewer kittens born into the streets. There’s a real community now. Fosters, adopters, donors, trappers — people are connected. There’s collaboration instead of isolation.
What more needs to be done?
A lot. Because even with the progress, we’re still managing a crisis — not solving it.
We need real, large-scale prevention. That means accessible, funded sterilization programs everywhere — not just for owned cats, but for strays and colonies too. As long as cats keep reproducing faster than we can help them, rescues will always be playing catch-up.
We need stronger collaboration between municipalities, animal services, and grassroots rescuers. Organizations and local rescues shouldn’t be working in silos. The people on the ground — trappers, fosters, colony caretakers — are essential to making any system actually work.
We need education to go further. Too many people still don’t know when to intervene, still separate kittens too early, or don’t sterilize their pets. This isn’t about blaming — it’s about making sure the right information is easy to access and impossible to miss.
We need government leadership. Clear policies, funding, and accountability. Mandatory sterilization across the province would change everything. Supporting rescues that are already doing the work would change even more.
And finally, we need people to understand this: Rescues are not the solution — we are the safety net. The real solution is prevention, responsibility, and a system that supports both. Until then, we’ll keep showing up.
How can our readers help?
Start simple — and start where you are.
You can support prevention, which is the only real long-term solution.
Spay or neuter your own pets, encourage the people around you to do the same, and speak up when you see misinformation. It sounds small, but it’s what stops the cycle before it starts. You can act responsibly when you find cats. If you come across kittens, don’t rush to separate them from their mom. Reach out to a rescue first so the right plan is put in place. The first instinct shouldn’t be to “take them away” but to make sure they’re handled safely and properly.
You can support local rescues directly. Donate if you’re able — even small monthly contributions make a real difference. Share posts, amplify fundraisers, talk about the work being done. Visibility saves lives just as much as money does.
You can also be part of the solution on the ground. Foster if you can. Volunteer your time. Help with transport. Every single role matters, and it takes a community to make this work.
And finally, you can hold systems accountable. Support policies that prioritize sterilization, better access to services, and collaboration between organizations and rescues. Change at that level is what creates lasting impact.
At the end of the day, helping doesn’t require doing everything — it just requires doing something.
Do you have any events coming up?
We’re also building something really exciting with The Miaouse — and it’s all about getting more cats into safe, loving foster homes 🐾
We’ll be hosting a Foster Enrolment Day very soon, so if you’ve ever thought about fostering (even just a little 👀), this is your sign.
Come meet us, ask questions, learn how it works, and see if it’s a fit — no pressure, just good people doing good things for cats.
Stay tuned… you won’t want to miss this.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We love GRAME because they don’t just believe in change — they build it, right here in the community.
Through their work in Lachine, they’re actively making neighbourhoods greener and healthier with tree planting, clean-up initiatives, collective gardens, and environmental programs that bring people together. They also put a huge emphasis on education and accessibility, helping residents better understand how to live more sustainably and take part in protecting their environment.
What really stands out to us is how hands-on and community-driven everything they do is. They’re not working around people — they’re working with them. They empower citizens to get involved, take ownership of their space, and be part of something bigger.
It’s a different mission than ours, but the heart behind it is the same: show up, educate, take action, and create long-term impact.
They’re a reminder that real change doesn’t happen from the sidelines — it happens when people come together and decide to make their community better.
