Rescued gets new home in its journey to save pets

A 3-year-old gray cat named Pinball was the center of attention at the Rescued boutique in Silvis on Friday, March 8. Pinball and his owner, Erin Roberts of Silvis, were at the business to lend their support to Rescued, a boutique store that helps animals in need, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new […]

A 3-year-old gray cat named Pinball was the center of attention at the Rescued boutique in Silvis on Friday, March 8. Pinball and his owner, Erin Roberts of Silvis, were at the business to lend their support to Rescued, a boutique store that helps animals in need, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new home at 825 First Ave. (That site is in downtown Silvis at the corner of First Avenue and Ninth Street in a red brick building.) 

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The boutique is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Rescued has been in business since 2015 when it was opened by Erin Granet and Kris Westmoreland. However, it recently moved from its Moline location and reopened in Silvis. For the past nine years, Rescued has collected donated items, sells them and uses the money to help pets. Almost all the money – more than $700,000 since it opened – is used to help pet owners pay veterinary bills to help their animal friends. Without that financial help, many pets would not get needed medical help and survive. Ms. Robert’s cat Pinball is one of those pets who got a second lease on life with the help of Rescued. “He’s a superstar. He’s one of our success stories,” Ms. Granet, co-owner and co-founder of Rescued, said during Friday’s ceremonies at the store. Rescued’s leaders said Pinball and many other pets in the region have been helped through the generous donations from the community. “It’s really a family here. … We get to see success stories. We can step in and make their lives better,” Ms. Granet added. She said even though Rescued is in a new location, the boutique will continue its mission of improving the lives of pets as it is already getting a warm welcome from Silvis. “The community has been very welcoming to us,” she added. Silvis Mayor Matt Carter added to that welcoming message. During Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, he told the crowd that animal lovers across the community will be happy to see Rescued thrive in its new home. Many people have already started to help Rescued in its new home. Before Friday’s ceremony, dozens of people were busy buying various goods at the new location. Some of the items for sale at Rescued included:

• A sign with the message “Keep smiling.”
• Many toy Hot Wheels cars.
• Locally designed greeting cards. One of the cards has the message: “I have lived with several zen masters. All of them cats.”
• Many books. One of the books has the title “Never Cook Bacon Naked.”

Go here to see the many items Rescued takes and does not take at its shop. Ms. Roberts was among the customers looking over those many items on Friday. She liked what she saw and likes Rescued’s new home. “I love it here. It’s now much closer to me. I live just down the street,” she added. In addition to being a customer, the local woman also volunteers her time with the organization. She said she wants to help pay back Rescued for providing funds that paid medical bills for her cat Pinball. “Before he got help from Rescued, I didn’t think he was going to make it,” Ms. Roberts added.