The Minnesota Humane Society (MHS) is a statewide education, advocacy, and rescue organization dedicated to protecting the lives and interests of Minnesota’s animals. The Minnesota Humane Society extends its care and concern to all animals, both domesticated and wild.
Founded in 1869, it is the oldest humane society in Minnesota. From its early victory in the late 1800’s of establishing one of the first laws making cruelty to animals a crime, we have consistently confronted the issues, raised awareness, and taken bold action to make Minnesota a better and more humane place for animals.
What We Do
Advocacy: MHS has taken a leadership role in promoting humane legislation on behalf of both domesticated and wild animals. Each legislative session, MHS works to protect Minnesota's animals. In the late 1800's, MHS was responsible for establishing one of the first laws making cruelty to animals a crime. Recent legislative efforts include the repeal of pound seizure where publicly funded shelters and pounds are required to provide unclaimed dogs and cats for experimental and educational purposes, successfully preventing legislation making undercover humane investigations a crime and legislation allowing the inhumane practice of using hounds for bear hunting. MHS also actively worked with a large coalition of animal organizations to pass legislation protecting dogs and cats in Minnesota's largest breeding facilities. MHS is currently working to pass legislation increasing the penalties in Minnesota for egregious acts of cruelty against companion animals and prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores while allowing adoption events sponsored by animal shelters and rescue organizations .
Rescue: MHS does not maintain a shelter; rescues are kept in foster homes until adopted. All MHS rescues are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, tested for a variety of health conditions and receive any needed medical attention, from deworming to surgery. Interested adopters fill out a detailed application to help determine if the home is a good match. The goal of MHS is to find a forever home for each of its rescues.
Community Cat Trap - Neuter - Release: Perhaps one of the greatest needs in Minnesota, as well as across the nation, is population control of community cats. Numerous studies on how best to control these breeding populations have determined that the most effective means of population control is "Trap, Neuter and Release" (TNR). The objective of TNR is to sterilize the colony members and provide food, water and shelter for them in the areas they normally live. MHS provides significant funding for TNR of community cats. Annually, MHS provided subsidies for over 400 community cat sterilizations. This funding has allowed thousands of cats to be trapped, neutered and released to be cared for by their caretakers.
Elliott Veterinary Assistance Fund: Several years ago MHS rescued a stray Shar Pei puppy suffering from a very severe case of mange; he was completely bald other than a tuft of fur at the tip of his tail. Elliott required a significant amount of medical care, but recovered and was adopted. In this little puppy's honor, the Elliot Veterinary Assistance Fund was established. This fund provides grants to needy Minnesotans whose animals would not otherwise receive medical treatment. Grant recipients must reside in Minnesota and receive some form of public assistance or met certain income requirements. Grants are given for illness and injury care and do not include preventative care such as spay/neuter and vaccinations. Find grant program information and apply for a grant here.
475 North Cleveland Avenue, #100B St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone:
(651) 665-9311
E-mail:
You may e-mail us at: info@mnhumane.org We will answer your questions as soon as possible.
Federal Tax ID:
41-0956478
Animal Surrender:
The Minnesota Humane Society does not take in owner surrendered animals other than those previously adopted from the Minnesota Humane Society. If you need to return an animal you adopted from the Minnesota Humane Society, please email us at info@mnhumane.org. The terms of our adoption contract require that all animals adopted from the Minnesota Humane Society be returned to the Minnesota Humane Society.
