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Minnesota

Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society

David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society

#100 in United States, #15 in Minnesota

1250 N. River Drive Mankato, MN 56001

http://benchs.org

info@benchs.org

Service areas:

Mankato, MN

The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS) is a local, independent, 501c3 non-profit in Mankato, Minnesota. BENCHS was established in 1969 and in 2010 BENCHS opened its doors at its current location on North River Drive. Each year, BENCHS cares for thousands of homeless, injured, abandoned, and abused animals. We are a limited admissions shelter, caring for and treating all healthy and treatable pets. BENCHS utilizes best practices and participates in lifesaving programs. The first community service BENCHS provided to the public, the BENCHS Food Shelf, began in 2006. Donations of pet food are received from area businesses and community members. Community members are able to come twice monthly for pet food. In 2017 BENCHS began partnering with other rescues to transport dogs and cats to Minnesota from southern states. Not only have we found homes for numerous dogs and cats who were homeless, we also began taking on more heart-worm positive dogs. For dogs in Texas a heart-worm positive result is a deadly sentence in many shelters. With the support of our donors, we are able to give them a second chance on life. In 2020, the cities of Mankato and North Mankato began contracting with BENCHS to provide animal care services on their behalf. We now take in an average of 57 stray and lost animals a month. We are proud of the fact that over 200 cats and dogs were reunited with their families in 2022. Being microchipped is the key to a successful reunification. Helping to control the pet population has long been a part of the BENCHS vision. For many years, we have required that our adopted cats and dogs be spayed or neutered. We partnered with many other agencies to perform those surgeries for us. In 2020, we remodeled Elin’s Surgical Suite at the shelter and hired a part-time veterinarian to perform those surgeries in-house. We are now able to perform almost all of our own spay/neuter surgeries, with the exception being those needing a specialized surgery at a vet clinic. In 2021, we broadened that vision by opening our BENCHS Outreach Clinic for Rescues in July. We are currently servicing five areas rescue organizations by performing low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for the animals in their care. Surgeries are performed by our two in-house veterinarians. In 2022, BENCHS completed 1,151 spays and neuters on rescue cats and dogs! The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society is not only about caring for animals, but also about humanity. The love and comfort of a pet sustains a person through the most difficult of times, providing unconditional friendship and love. Properly caring for a pet instills in children a sense of responsibility and compassion which remains throughout their lives. The services of an animal shelter reach all segments of society, from the wealthy to the destitute, from preschoolers to the retired, and those who are shut in. The shelter operates with limited paid staff, and relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to maintain quality care for the pets it accepts and places. The only funding or support BENCHS receives from national animal welfare or humane associations comes through grant applications for new programs. We rely heavily on the help of our community. With the generous donations from our members, we are able to provide shelter, food and love to animals awaiting a permanent home. Now is the time to get involved and make a lifesaving difference.

Mission and Vision

The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding loving forever homes for homeless cats and dogs, using spay/neuter programs to reduce the number of unwanted pets, and reuniting lost and found animals with their owners.

Adoption Policy

Dog Adoption Process • All dogs and puppies currently available at our shelter are displayed on this page. You can click or tap on an animal’s photo to view additional images and learn more about them. This page is updated in real time. Dogs are removed for multiple reasons, including medical holds. • You are also welcome to visit BENCHS during Adoption Hours and view many of our available dogs and puppies in their kennels. • If you want to interact with the dogs, you need to be approved for adoption. o If you have not been approved to adopt a dog from BENCHS in the last couple of years, you will need to complete a Pre-Adoption Form. o If you have already been approved for adoption, please update your information. If you are unable to update your previous submission, please email our Animal Coordinator and a staff member will contact you as soon as possible. The purpose of this form is to give BENCHS information about you as a pet owner. By listing which animal(s) you are interested in, our staff will get an idea of what type of pet you are looking for. Because we typically receive multiple adopters expressing interest in the same animal, there is no guarantee the animal(s) you listed will be available for you to meet and/or adopt. Our pet population changes rapidly so we cannot guarantee the animals listed will be available for you. • Staff will review your information and contact you to review and/or approve you for adoption. BENCHS does reserve the right to deny adoption approval to anyone, for any reason. • After you have been approved to adopt from BENCHS, you will be able to make an appointment to interact with and/or adopt . We do require an appointment so we are able to provide our undivided attention to you and your potential new family member. Appointments may be scheduled after you are approved to adopt, either by clicking on the link provided in your approval email, or by speaking with a staff member. If you can’t make it during Adoption Hours, email staff to see if they are able to accommodate your schedule. • Before you come to meet your new best friend, remember to bring an appropriately sized collar and leash to take your new dog home with you. Dogs and puppies cannot go home without a collar and leash. We always want our adopted pets to have a safe and easy transition from shelter to happy home. • We complete all adoptions digitally, so we can either text a checkout link to your mobile phone or you can complete the process using one of our devices. • Before the dogs are able to go home, they are altered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped. Fee Information Puppies: $500 (8 weeks – 6 months) Teenagers: $440 (6 months – 1 1/2 years old) Adults: $375 (1 1/2 years – 7 years old) Seniors: $250 (7+ years old) Adoption Fees Include: Spay or neuter, 4dx Testing (Heartworm, Lymes, Anaplasmosis, Erlichia), Current on Vaccinations, Flea/Tick/Heartworm protection, Age-appropriate deworming, Microchipped and registered Fees do not include tax. Credit/debit card only. BENCHS reserves the right to modify fees as needed. PLEASE NOTE: BENCHS conducts adoptions on a “first-come, first-serve” basis as we place holds on animals in very a limited number of circumstances. BENCHS reserves the right to deny adoption to anyone, for any reason. BENCHS reserves the right to determine suitable placement for each animal.

https://benchs.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs/

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David Adams

June 25, 2024

Dog Rescues & Shelters

David Adams

About the author

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development. David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners. Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature. David is based in Salem, MA.

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Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog. Our dog parks are designed for the ultimate dog exercise. Our private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. We provide off leash enrichment - exploration and activities you can't get anywhere else; wear your dog out for days. We make it easy to have playdates. Socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot - it's great exercise and it's fun for you and your dog.

Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society

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Adoption Policy

Testimonials

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