The Martin County Humane Society

(WE'RE OPEN: Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6pm-8pm & Saturdays from 10am-2pm.)

INFO AND UPDATES:

• WISH LIST:

  ~ One of our biggest onging needs is monetary donations to go toward the medical treatment and healthcare of our homeless animals. Gift Certificates to a vet clinic are also welcome. You can also designate your gift certificate to spay or neuter a specific animal we currently have.

  ~ Any kind of Science Diet food (canned or dry)

  ~ Science Diet I.D. - bags of this dry food are needed for the cats and the dogs (this is a special kind of Science Diet, found only at vet offices - it's specifically for animals with diarrhea, and we use a lot of it!)

  ~ Purina Kitten Chow, Purina Puppy Chow, Purina Dog Chow, Purina Cat Chow

  ~ Non-scoopable Cat Litter (we litter-ally use a TON)

  ~ Chewy Dog Treats

  ~ Cat Toys and Squeaky Dog Toys

  ~ Pet Carriers / Pet Taxis (all sizes are needed to transport animals to and from the shelter)

  ~ Mature Volunteers

  ~ First Class Stamps

  ~ Bleach, Laundry Detergent and fragrance free dryer sheets

  ~ Stand Alone pet cages or kennels (any size is helpful)

  ~ Nylon Leashes

  ~ Used Blankets, Used Comforters, Used Quilts, Used Rugs (all of our animals get something to snuggle on)

  ~ Wash Clothes and Towels.

  ~ Another useful item that we could use at the shelter: bottled water! Our successful adoption rate is largely due to our volunteers who put in countless hours at the shelter. They spend their time socializing the animals, cleaning, walking dogs and playing with cats. Their hard work leaves them thirsty in the summer months - so donations of bottled water are appreciated and needed!

  ~ And last (but definitely not least) . . . loving families and individuals to adopt the spectacular animals we have available for adoption! Be a hero to a homeless pet - adopt today!

• FARM HOMES NEEDED FOR FELINES:Because of the many cats and kittens flowing through our doors daily, and because we need to make room for the so many strays needing to come in on a regular basis, we are looking for families willing to take a cat or two (or three?) to live on their farm or acreage.

  We rarely have to euthanize for overpopulation. RARELY. If it weren't for those willing and able to give some of our homeless cats a farm life, it would be very likely that we would have to euthanize when we become too full.

  Any cats we send to live on farms are already spayed or neutered, have their distemper combo and rabies shots, are dewormed, Frontlined and have tested negative for Feline Leukemia.

  We have only a few simple "requirements" of families interested in taking cats in this situation:
  * First of all, food, water and shelter must be available to the feline 24 hours a day.
  * Secondly: anyone taking a cat(s) to live on their farm must be able to keep the cat enclosed for 5 to 7 days. By enclosed, we mean in a large enough carrier to fit a litter box or in a shed or barn where the cat cannot get out. The reason for this is because it takes a cat 5 to 7 days to get their "inner radar" activated at their new home. This way, should they wonder away, they will have that inner compass to find their way back home.
  * Thirdly: we ask that those taking our cats to their farms give their new outside pets the love and attention that every pet deserves.

  We will obviously NOT send any cats to farms who are declawed, who are not spayed or neutered and who have never lived outside before. We take our responsibility very seriously to find suitable placement for all of our animals, and we won't send a cat to live outside if we think they will not do well in that environment or if we think they will only survive as an inside cat.

  If you are interested in helping out our critical cat overpopulation by taking a feline or two (or three?) to live on your farm or acreage, please contact Cindilee at: 507.238.1885. We thank you, and the cats thank you.

  GET TO KNOW US:

  We are the Martin County Humane Society - also known as The Carl Nettifee Memorial Animal Shelter. An animal control officer in Fairmont many years ago, Carl pioneered the ideals of which we operate. He has since passed on, but his legacy of finding loving owners for homeless animals lives. His wife, Charlene, carries on his memory as a board member and volunteer. Thank You, Carl, for helping us realize our potential for the humane treatment of all animals!

  ADOPTING A FRIEND:

  Potential Adopters who are blessed with one of our animals will pay a $50.00 adoption fee, unless otherwise stated. This fee includes a "Sterilization Rebate" form which gives the owner $25.00 off the cost of having their new pet spayed or neutered at the time of service (we reimburse the vet personally). We have many different area vets who have agreed to participate in this program - please feel free to contact us for a complete list of participating vets: call us at: (507) 238-1885 or email us at: pawprints01@hotmail.com

  [NOTE: if your vet is not listed, please contact them to see if they will honor our sterilization rebate form. Our experience has shown that most will! If your vet is not able to honor our sterilization rebate form, we will refund the $25 directly to you, upon receipt of the completed sterilization rebate form and proof of spaying or neutering.]

  If the pet you are going to adopt is already spayed or neutered, the adoption fee remains $50 (or whatever fee is being charged for the individual pet), as this is still a great deal and will save you the money of doing it yourself.

  Once the Adoption Application has been received, references will be checked and you will be notified of an approval status. After being approved by a Humane Society Member, the owner agrees to abide by specific guidelines stated in a signed contract.

  Here are a few of the guidelines of the contract: the owner agrees to have the pet spayed or neutered; the pet will receive annual physicals, along with yearly shots; the owner will practice humane and gentle obedience and training; the pet will not be sold for experimental purposes or to a science lab; the pet will receive adequate food, water and shelter 24 hours a day; the pet will receive immediate medical treatment for any injuries or sicknesses.(And, of course, there's the simple requirement of giving your pet lots of attention, lots of hugs and lots of love!)

  For more information, please give us a call! We're ready to answer your questions!

• MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE: Have you wondered what part you could play in helping our homeless animals? Become a member! Small annual donation fees not only help maintain the shelter's financial security, but lets you belong to an organization whose number one goal is to save our community's homeless animals! Email us for more information: pawprints01@hotmail.com - THANKS!
  

• HSUS PET OVERPOPULATION ESTIMATES:

  The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) give the following staggering statistics regarding pet overpopulation in our country:

  1) Number of cats and dogs entering animal shelters each year: 6-8 million

  2) Number of animal shelters in the United States: between 4,000 and 6,000

  3) Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25%

  4) Average number of litters an unspayed, fertile female cat can produce in one year: 3

  5) Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6

  6) IN SEVEN YEARS, ONE FEMALE CAT AND HER OFFSPRING CAN THEORETICALLY PRODUCE 420,000 CATS!

  7) Average number of litters an unspayed fertile dog can produce in a year: 2

  8) Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10

  9) IN SIX YEARS, ONE FEMALE DOG AND HER OFFSPRING CAN THEORETICALLY PRODUCE 67,000 DOGS!

  These are only nine reasons to make sure ALL of your pets are spayed and neutered! Please spread the word and help us fight the overpopulation of companion animals!

• DID YOU KNOW???: We are guessing that the general public is not aware of how doomed black dogs are when they are brought to a pound because black dogs, particularly black labs or lab mixes, are euthanized at a horrifying rate at many pounds & shelters because people pass them up for lighter colored dogs.

  Our darker dogs, especially the larger sized ones, take much longer to place simply because of their color. If you are thinking about adopting a dog please don't overlook our black dogs because they are just as loving & wonderful as our lighter colored dogs!