Add a new member to your family! We are a no-kill foster based organization and do not have a shelter. All adoptable animals have received full veterinary care, including a physical examination, spay/neuter, distemper and rabies vaccinations, fecal testing, deworming and microchipping. Additionally, cats are FeLeuk/FIV tested and dogs are heartworm tested and receive heartworm preventative.
Click on the adopt button below to view animals currently available for adoption and please complete our adoption application if you are interested in one of our animals. Foster home visits are scheduled upon completion and approval of an adoption application.
Behavior problems in dogs can stem from lack of proper obedience training and failure of the dog to recognize the owner as the pack leader. All dogs should attend dog obedience training with their family. Twin Cities Dog Obedience Training Club (TCOTC) offers an effective and humane approach to dog obedience training. Please contact TCOTC directly at (612) 379-1332 or visit their website for class information.
Behavior issues can sometimes be caused by a medical condition which requires veterinary treatment. Always rule out a medical problem first and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Document when the behavior started, how often it occurs and if you notice any triggers to the behavior, and bring this documentation to your appointment. This information will be helpful for your veterinarian. Once established the behavior is not caused by a medical condition, your veterinarian may be able to give assistance on correcting the behavior. If not, the next step is to contact an animal behavior specialist for assistance. Some qualified animal behavior specialists are listed below. Most behavior problems can be eliminated when properly addressed.
Veterinary Behavior Specialties of MN Dr. Margaret Duxbury and Dr. Deborah Bryant (612) 554-1182 www.vetbehaviormn.com
Dr. McMenomy (cats only)
Kitty Clinic (612) 822-2135
Maureen Hagerty (dogs only) The Canine Coach (612) 202-4732 www.theK9coach.com
The tragedy of homeless cats has reached epidemic proportions in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. Abandoned cats and their offspring who have had minimal contact with people develop a natural fear of humans. These cats live in colonies that can be found behind abandoned buildings and in shopping and business areas, parks, universities and rural areas.
Tragically the life of a community cat is filled with suffering. Many freeze to death during the winter months, while others die of starvation. The lucky ones are part of a trap-neuter-release program. Studies on how to deal with this growing problem have shown the most successful method is trap-neuter-release. Once sterilized, these cats can no longer reproduce. Trap-neuter-release also involves a caregiver who helps manage the food, water, shelter and when needed, medical care for the cats in the colony. While a loving home is an ideal situation, this method allows these cats to live out their lives as comfortably as possible--without adding to future generations of misery.
The Minnesota Humane Society is committed to alleviating the suffering of community cats and reducing their population. We provide grants to caretakers for trap-neuter-release and insulated cat houses for those caretakers who do not have shelter to offer. Each cat house provides shelter for up to seven adult cats. Houses are built by volunteers and funding for materials to build the houses is provided by the Minnesota Humane Society. If you are caring for community cats and are in need of a grant for trap-neuter-release or shelter for them, please contact us at info@mnhumane.org. Those interested in building a cat house, click on the button to the right for plans to build an insulated cat house.
Find Minnesota's Anti-Cruelty Statutes here, including dog house requirements.
There are two forms of animal cruelty: passive or active. Passive cruelty or neglect is caused by lack of action, such as inadequate shelter, starvation, dehydration, and failure to seek needed veterinary care. Active cruelty is an intentional act to harm an animal.
When reporting a case of animal abuse or neglect, contact both the local police department and the cruelty investigators with the Animal Humane Society (contact information below). We also suggest contacting the appropriate sheriff’s department as well. All three of these agencies are responsible for enforcement of anti-cruelty laws. Animal abuse and neglect is a crime and all law enforcement agencies should be alerted.
Once reported. it is important to follow up 2-3 days after your initial call to enforcement agencies to determine what, if any, action or investigation has taken place. Further follow-up may be necessary to ensure action is taken against the perpetrator and to protect the animal.
If an animal's life is in immediate danger, please call 911.
Fortunately, Minnesota has led the nation in protecting companion animals in the face of danger. Minnesota was the first state in the country to address animals in the event of a radiology catastrophe. Not only are there showers to decontaminate humans, but also for their companion animals. In addition, Minnesotans will not be asked to leave their pets behind. The public will be notified of specific shelters to temporarily house pets. Minnesota has even gone as far as to add a State Animal Coordinator to their emergency management team. This individual is responsible for identifying animal issues as they evolve during a disaster.
Although Minnesota has taken important steps to protect our companion animals, YOU must also become prepared for a disaster now. It CAN happen. Here are some steps you can take to become prepared.
1. Have ID tags on your animal(s). Better yet, have them micro-chipped too and keep the registration updated.
2. Get to know the physical characteristics of your animal(s), keeping in mind that the general features like fur might change.
3. Prepare a disaster kit which includes photos of your animal(s), including good close-ups and some in which you are shown with your animal(s), vaccination records and a directory of pet-friendly motels.
4. Have a carrier for each of your animals, with litter pans for cats and other small animals. Emergency shelters might require crates for large dogs.
5. Have available a supply of any medications for your animals' needs.
6. Keep available an extra supply of food and water.
7. Make plans now for alternative shelter sites - at friend's and relative's.
8. And most important of all, never evacuate your home without taking your animal(s) with you. Not even if you are told it will only be for a few hours. A few hours can turn into days or weeks.
Caring for animals can be expensive. The Minnesota Humane Society offers grants to qualified Minnesota residents. Grants are not given for preventative care such as spay/neuter and vaccines, but are instead for injury or illness treatment only. See below list of low cost spay/neuter and vaccine options.
To be eligible for a Minnesota Humane Society veterinary assistance grant, the animal for which you are seeking a grant must be yours and reside with you, and you must meet certain income and household size requirements. If you do not meet the requirements and accept a grant from the Minnesota Humane Society, you are committing fraud and may be subject to prosecution.
To be considered for a grant, animals 6 months of age and older must be spayed or neutered. Proof of spay/neuer must be provided. In rare circumstances, a grant may be approved if the spay/neuter can be performed at the time of treatment.
The Minnesota Humane Society has limited resources and occasionally a grant for assistance cannot be made even when a person qualifies. Additionally, the Minnesota Humane Society reserves the right to refuse or withdraw a grant for assistance if the applicant/recipient behaves in a way that is uncooperative, disrespectful or affects the safety of others.
The treating veterinarian is required to consult with the Minnesota Humane Society regarding the animal's diagnosis, prognosis and recommended treatment. Treatment beyond diagnosis may not be covered depending on the prognosis and survival rate.
Grant recipients are responsible for paying the initial 25% of treatment charges and the Minnesota Humane Society will pay 75% of the remaining charges, up to a maximum of $1,000. Due to the high demand for grants, you are not eligible for a grant if you or a member of your household have received grant funds totaling $1,000. We are no longer able to award more than $1,000 in grant funds to an individual or household.
To apply for a grant, click on the "apply" button below. Grant inquiries or applications are not reviewed or processed in the evening after 5:00 p.m., or on weekends and holidays. If your animal is in need of immediate veterinary care, where any delay will put your animal at risk, it is your responsibility to seek care for your animal immediately. Below is a list of veterinary clinics offering lower pricing. Some of these clinics do offer payment plans. Both Mission Animal Hospital and Access Veterinary Care have weekend and evening hours.
If your cat is an indoor cat, first immediately search your neighborhood. Cats who are unfamiliar with the outdoors often become scared and will try to hide. Pay close attention to anyplace your cat could be hiding. While calling to your cat in a calm, loving manner, search next to houses, behind and under bushes and small trees. Look under cars or anything else that your cat may be under. Ask everyone you come into contact with if they have seen it. Give them an accurate and complete description of your cat. Ask neighbors to check in their garages and all other buildings on their property. In warmer months, have neighbors check in their cars. Cats will sometimes climb into cars through windows that have been left open.
Many times a cat that has gotten out will be scared and need to be coaxed home. Make a comfortable bed in a sheltered, cat accessible area of your yard—on a porch if possible—be sure to put something in the bed with your cat’s scent on it, such as a blanket or favorite toy. Next put out a spoonful of tuna fish; real tuna, not tuna cat food. Use a tuna fish packed in oil; the scent can travel 2 or more miles. Other cats and animals may dine on your tuna as well, but if your cat is still in the area, it will more than likely show up as well too. Once your cat is back in your yard and finds the bed with its scent on it, it usually stays.
Dogs Only:
First, look in the immediate area—if you see your dog running, call it by name in a happy tone of voice, while squatting down and holding your arms open. Do not run after your dog because that may cause the dog to run farther or think that you are playing a game. If your dog likes to ride in the car, open the car door and call for it to go for a ride. Use whatever techniques work best for your dog. If the dog comes to you, praise it for coming to you. Do not scold your dog or it will be afraid to come to you when you call.
Both Cats And Dogs:
If you do not find your cat or dog in the immediate area, report it missing to your local police department, animal control facilities and area humane societies. Give a detailed description, including its breed or mix, coat type, age, ear and tail characteristics, the sex , whether it has been neutered or spayed, name, the date and area last seen, type of collar it was wearing and any tags it may have on. Also include any identifying marks or characteristics. Animals can travel quite far, so if lost near a city or county boundary, file a report with every possible community your cat or dog could be picked up in. Each community has their own animal control.
Call all facilities on a daily basis and visit them in person at least every three days until you find your cat or dog. State law requires that strays be kept for only 5 days before they are euthanized or placed for adoption. Going in person avoids mistakes that can be made over the phone. When checking at Humane Societies, ask a staff person to take you back to the holding area where the stray animals are kept.
Make up flyers with a photograph of your cat or dog and include the same information you gave when filling out the lost animal report with the humane societies and impound facilities. Be sure to include on the flyer a telephone number you can be reached at that has voice mail and program your outgoing message to let people know they have the correct number and to leave any information they have regarding your cat or dog.
Display flyers any and everywhere possible—on traffic poles, at bus stops, grocery stores, community centers, gas stations, coffee shops, and veterinary clinics within at least a 2-mile or a 20-block radius of where your cat/dog was last seen. Also send flyers to all veterinary clinics within a 60-mile radius. Offering a reward is a good idea because it becomes an incentive for others to be on the lookout for your cat. The more people who see your flyer, the better chance your cat/dog will be found.
Walk or drive through your neighborhood as many times as your schedule will allow each day. Talk to and hand out flyers to all your neighbors, mail carriers, delivery people, or anyone else you happen to see.
Place an ad in your city and local newspaper. Again be sure to give an accurate description including the area and date your cat or dog was last seen.
Post your cat or dog on the online sites listed below:
Lost Dogs MN - (Facebook account not needed to use site);
Lost Cats MN - (Facebook account not needed to use site);
Lastly, do not give up your search. Animals who have been lost for months have been returned to their homes. When you do find your cat or dog, consider having it micro-chipped. Microchips can be implanted in animals by veterinarians, and contain owner information. All impound facilities, humane societies and veterinary clinics are able to read microchips. Those animals with a microchip are returned to their owners much quicker than those without.
