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nimal Humane Society
What if… AHS couldn’t help other shelters?
Many animal shelters in Minnesota with limited space or resources rely
on AHS for assistance. Organizations in Red Lake, Willmar, Fergus Falls
and Brainerd are among them. The relationship between AHS and Friends
of Animals in Cloquet is one of many partnerships—the shelter brings
eight to 10 dogs and a few cats to AHS every other month. According to
Friends of Animals Executive Director Mike Licari this has been of great
assistance in relieving the pressure on his organization. “We’re located in
a rural area where many stray dogs come into our shelter, filling us to
capacity. Often, they’re full of porcupine spikes or have been sprayed by
skunks or in fights. If we didn’t have AHS to transfer some of these dogs
to, I don’t know what we’d do.”
Some groups in Minnesota just can’t handle the volume in their regions
Helping another rescue organization
We work with groups in other states
because their shelters are overcrowded
with dogs and we have the capacity
to help.
and drive five hours or more to drop off animals at AHS, often bringing
30 or more at a time. That could be a full capacity for a shelter in certain
parts of the state.
“Some of the shelters we partner with have very limited space,” said AHS
Community Programs Coordinator Jen Faehnrich. “For example, I talked to
one last week that has only five dog kennels. They had just taken in two
more dogs and had no room for them. If AHS didn’t exist, two of these
dogs would have had to be euthanized regardless
of their adoptability.”
It’s not just in Minnesota. AHS’s willingness to help
now stretches across state lines. Frantic calls come
from as far away as Oklahoma from desperate rescues
needing room for animals on an emergency basis.
“We work with groups in other states because their
shelters are overcrowded with dogs and we have the
capacity to help here,” Jen said. “In Oklahoma, for example,
they tell me they would have a 100 percent
euthanasia rate if they could not get the dogs to
other rescues. None of the agencies there can take
them. We’re basically the last chance for these dogs.”
The relationships in Oklahoma began with a very
small local rescue contacting AHS. Word spread and
now more and more groups in Oklahoma are contacting
AHS with their requests for help. “We are really
fortunate to be in the position to be able to help so
many animals and organizations,” said Jen.
Continued on next page.
www.animalhumanesociety.org • ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY MAGAZINE WINTER 2009/10 • 11