1. Visit the shelter or website: start by viewing our available animals online or stopping by the shelter during our normal hours. You can meet then meet the pets, learn about their personalities and ask questions.

2. Complete an adoption application: Fill out a short form with your contact info, lifestyle, home environment and any pets you may have. This helps our staff ensure it’s a good match for both the pet and the adopter.

3. Application Review: shelter staff or board members will review your application and if all looks good, the adoption will proceed same day.

Please note: if you rent, you will need a copy of your lease or agreement from your landload indicating it is acceptable to have pets.

4. Approval & Paperwork: Once approved, you’ll sign an adoption agreement which outlines responsibilities and what is included in your adoption.

5. Pay the Adoption Fee: Fees vary by animal. Please see the section on what is included in adoption fees.

6. Take your new pet home! Be sure to bring a carrier (for cats & kittens) or a collar & leash (for dogs). We do not have these items available to rent or use.

Pricing may vary depending on the animal you are looking to adopt.

Adult Cats: Our adult cats are priced at $100.

Kittens: Our kittens start at $175.

Adult Dogs: start at $200

Puppies: start at $300.

Taxes are not included.

If there is more vetting or if there are specific circumstances involving an animal, the adoption fee may be more.

Keep in mind: We occasionally have adoption specials on our longest residents to help encourage their placement into a forever home.

Your adoption fee helps cover the cost of care and medical services the animal has received at our shelter. When you adopt from us, the fee includes:

Spay or Neuter Surgery

Age Appropriate Vaccinations (ex: rabies & distemper, bordetella)

Current Flea/Tick Preventative

Deworming & Itrafungols

Basic Wellness Exam

Nail Trim

Ear Cleaning

Heartworm (4DX) Testing (Canines)

Feline Leukemia/FIV Testing (Felines)

Starter Food Sample or Care Package

Post-Adoption Support and Resources (tips on transitioning, care, behavior, etc)

By choosing adoption, you are not just giving an animal a loving home - you’re also helping us continue to provide care for other animals in need.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of variable involving animal care & interested parties and for these reasons we do not offer deposits or holds on our animals.

We certainly do! Please read "What is the Adoption Process?'“ for more information.

Yes, you certainly may. However, you will be required to provide proof from your landlord or building manager regarding permission or a section of your lease indicating you may.

At this time, we do not offer a ‘foster to adopt’ or trial adoption program. Our staff are here to help you find a great match to ensure long-term success for both you and your new pet.

While we understand wanting to be sure before adopting, our team works closely with adopters to make the best matches possible and are here to answer questions along the way. With that said, all adoptions are final. We are unable to reserve space or resources for animals that are placed in a home and encourage adopters to be sure and firm in their decision to adopt.

Yes, we do. We do our best to ensure you are matched with the correct animal prior to adoption. We want to ensure a great match for great long term outcomes. We reserve the right to make recommendations regarding animals & their temperaments/behaviors, however we respect your decision to proceed aside from our recommendations.

Our staff goes out of our way to ensure there is great compatibility and longevity behind an adoption. Historically, adopting pets to serve as a gift has not bode well for both the animal and the recipient. It would be best to allow the recipient to be involved in the adoption process.

Yes, animals are spayed and neutered prior to adoption. In the event there is a circumstance where the animal has not been spayed or neutered, a non-transferrable voucher will be issued to the adopter to be used within 3 months of adoption.

Age appropriate vaccinations are given to the animals at our shelter. In the event adoption takes place prior to the next recommended vaccination, the adopter will assume all responsibility to complete those vaccines.

MIcrochips are not a service we provide at this time. We do hope in the future that we may be able to do so.

Sometimes we are given a background to an animal’s background or history through the surrender process. However, most of the animals that come to our shelter are found as strays. There isn’t much background or history that one can gather from that. We are glad to fill you in on the information regarding any particular animal upon request.

We keep our felines and canines in their respective sections at our shelter for their protection and sanitation purposes.

We do not ‘test’ dogs with cats, or cats with dogs prior to adoption. We can offer a controlled ‘test’ by placing a cat in a cage and having the dog come near by however this is not indicative of a home setting and we may no guarantees that the animals will co-habilitate peacefully in a home. There are a lot of variables at play in this scenario.

We recommend slow introductions after allowing the animals to proprerly decompress and assimilate into their new surroundings. We are avid advocate of the 3,3,3 rule.

As far as children, most of our animals are used to having children around. Some do better than others and we will be sure to note who is not kid friendly or who may prefer kids of a certain age group.

This is a question with a variable answer. Many of our animals stay for around 3 months time, however come and stay for just a bit. This can be days to weeks to months. Before an animal can go home, we want to ensure they are healthy, spayed/neutered and ready to go medically.

Our hours of operation include Monday - Friday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm and by appointment only on Saturdays. We are closed all major Holidays (except for animal care). Please follow our Facebook page for updates.

No, you do not need an appointment to visit. You are welcome to come visit anytime during our open hours of operation. The exception to this would be in the event we are caring for animals with contagious illnesses or need to be isolated for other purposes.

Our mailing and physical address is 201 Sherwood Drive, Redwood Falls, MN 56283.

We are located North on County Road 101, across from Farmers Union Industries, behind Northwoods Church & Stephens Funeral Home.

We love to set up tours and visits. Please contact us to set up a date and time. 507.644.3853.

Great question! We have several ways you can help!

1. One Time or Monthly Monetary Gifts: donate online, by mail or in person. We accept all forms of credit/debit cards, checks, cash and online donations (ex: Paypal giving).

2. Sponsor a Pet: Cover the care costs or adoption fee for a specific animal

3. Memorial or Tribute Donations: Give in honor or memory of a person or pet.

4. Workplace Giving & Matching Gifts: Check if employers match charitable donations

5. Planned Giving or Bequests: leave a legacy gift by including the shelter in a will or estate plan

6. In-Kind Donations: pet supplies (food, litter, toys, collars, leashes, carrier), cleaning supplies (bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, trash bags), office supplies (printer paper, pens, stamps, printer ink, envelopes), towels, blankets & bedding (used or new, washed & clean), homemade pet enrichment items (DIY toys, snuffle mats or fleece blankets).

1. Volunteer your time or skills: dog walking, cleaning, photography, social media, construction

2. Professional Services: groomers, trainers, vets, graphic designs, contractors.

3. Become a Monthly Shelter Champion: give time or money on a recurring basis.

4. Host a Fundraiser: bake sale, garage sale, Facebook birthday fundraiser

5. Donate Proceeds from a Business or Event: a portion of sales or entry fees

6. Amazon or Chewy Wish List: purchase items and ship directly to the shelter.

7. Vehicle or Equipment Donation: transport animals, perform lawn services, fix or provide equipment for maintenance.

Yes! We are a registered 501©3 and all donations are tax deductible.

We do accept volunteers. We would love to have you help us at the shelter. Our volunteers often assist with letting dogs out, cleaning, laundry, errands, transport of animals to the vet and back, socialization, gardening/weeding and anything that needs to be done.

Volunteers do need to be 16+ years of age to volunteer on their own. 16 and under need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

We do require a signed liability release to be on file for our volunteers.

Yes, you certainly may. It is your responsibility to contact us prior to set up a date and time. You must be 16+ years old or older to volunteer on your own. Under 16 years, volunteers must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

1. Act Quickly. Time is critical. Begin searching immediately, especially in the first few hours.

2. Search Your Neighbohood. Walk or drive around your neighborhood multiple times a day. Call you pet’s name, bring treats, toys or familiar sounds (like jingling a collar or shaking a treat bag). Ask neighbors, delivery drivers, and mail carriers if they’ve seen your pet.

3. Notify Us. Contact your local animal shelter and animal control to file a lost pet report. Give a detailed description, a recent photo and your contact info. Check back daily in person, if possible.

4. Post on Lost & Found Websites and Social Media. Facebook: Post in local ‘Lost & Found Pets’ groups, community page, and your personal page. Petco Love Lost: try other pet-specific sites: 1. PawBoost.com, Petco Love Lost, Nextdoor, Craigslist under ‘Lost and Found’.

5. Make and Distribute Flyers: Include a clear photo, pet’s name, brief description & your phone number.

6. Microchip Company: If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company to report them missing and ensure your contact info is up to date.

7. Don’t Give Up: Pets, especially cats, can hide for days or even weeks and often return on their own. Continue to reach out to shelters and follow their social media pages for updates. Recheck hiding spots and repost online regularly.

8. Set out familiar items: place familiar items out for the cat such as litterbox outside. Sometimes the scent may attract the missing pet to return.

1. Observe the Animal’s Behavior: 1. Friendly & Approaches People: May be someone’s lost pet. 2. Shy, Hiding or Aggressive: Might be feral or very scared. We cannot accept feral or aggressive animals as they present a safety threat to our staff & visitors. 3. Injured or Sick: Needs immediate vet care. The shelter is not a vet clinic and we do not have vet services available.

2. Safely Contain the Cat (If possible): Use a carrier or box with air holes, or coax them into a safe space like a garage or bathroom. Offer food & water, but be cautious - scared animals may scratch or bite.

3. Check with your neighbors, family & friends: perhaps someone you may know has lost their pet.

4. Spread the Word: Facebook: Post on Facebook. Nextdoor: a great collaborative source to connect neighbors. Craigslist (Lost & Found): connect with others in your community. PawBoost.com: include a clear photo, where you found the animal and if it’s safe with you.

5. Check for a Microchip: We can help scan for a microchip or you can take the animal to a vet clinic for quick scanning. A chip could quickly reunite the cat with its owner.

6. Make a ‘Found Animal’ Flyer: Post in your neighborhood, nearby vet offices, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. Be sure to include: Photo, Where/When Found, Your Contact Info

7. Can’t Keep the Animal? Ask us if we can take the animal. Please note: we keep active waiting lists for most of the year with requests to intake stray and surrendered animals. We reserve the right to deny acceptance to a shelter. The only reasons we deny an animal is because of space, lack of resources, behavioral issues.

Holding Period Requirement:

Under Minnesota Rules, part 1721.0520, subpart 10, all impounded or stray animals must be held for at least five regular business days before they can be adopted, transferred or euthanized. Exceptions are allowed if:

1. A licensed veterinarian determines the animal is suffering beyond recovery.

2. The animal has bitten a person, in which case it may be euthanized and tested for rabies, before the five-day hold if so requested by the Department of Health.

Minnesota Statutes 346.47 similarly requires that animals sized by public authority must be held for at least five business days, unless local ordinance sets a longer period.

We are more than happy to post your missing pet on our Facebook page. We have nearly 10,000 followers and would love to assist in helping you find your missing pet. Please message us with your contact information, a photo and details about your pet. A flyer is always a great idea as it is visual and keeps all of the information contained in one document.

Please contact us to discuss the surrender process. We have an active waiting list for requests to bring in strays and surrenders. Please have the following information readily available:

1. Name, Age, Breed & Sex

2. Spayed/Neutered Status

3. Vaccination and Vet History

4. Personality Traits (Ex: Good with Kids, Dogs, Cats, etc)

5. Any behavior concerns (ex: anxiety, aggression, litter box issues, any bite history, food or toy resource guarding)

You will need to bring vet records (if you have them), your photo ID and any item(s) your pet loves: blanket, toy, bed, favorite food - as these items can ease their transition.

We may need to do an assessment to evaluate if an animal would do well in a shelter setting and/or poses a risk to public safety. We reserve the right to deny placement for an animal.

Yes, we are a donation based service and charging a surrender fee helps us offset expenses involved in their care. This could include vaccines, spay or neuter surgery, testing, etc.

CATS:

1. Fully Vetted Surrender: $50

healthy cat, spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines & meds (with medical records), feline leukemia/FIV tested (negative)

2. Partially Vetted Surrender: $100

healthy cat, spayed or neutered, needs vaccines, needs flea/tick meds, needs feline leukemia/FIV testing

3. No Vetting Surrender: $150

healthy cat or has managable health condition(s), needs to be spayed or neutered, needs vaccines, needs flea/tick meds, needs feline leukemia/FIV testing

DOGS:

1. Fully Vetted Surrender: $100

healthy dog, spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines & meds (with medical records), heartworm (4DX) tested (negative)

2. Partially Vetted Surrender: $150

healthy dog, spayed or neutered, needs vaccines, need flea/tick meds, needs heartworm testing (4DX) testing

3. No Vetting Surrender: $200

healthy dog or has manageable health condition(s), needs to be spayed or neutered, needs vaccines, needs flea/tick meds, needs heartworm (4DX) testing

These are general guidelines. We reserve the right to assess and assert an appropriate surrender fee based on the needs of the individual animal. All fees will be used to offset the vetting costs associated with providing care for the animal. We reserve the right to accept or deny an animal based on our criteria.

We understand how deeply you care about your pet and asking question shows your heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that a pet will be adopted and here’s why:

1. Each Pet’s Situation is Unique:

Age, health, behavior, breed and even stress levels in the shelter can all impact a pet’s adoptability. Some pets adjust well and get adopted quickly; others may need extra time or support.

2. Shelter Resources are Limited.

We work incredibly hard to find every animal a loving home but space, funding, staffing and population may affect how long an animal can stay in care. We may work with a network of other rescues and shelters to provide an opportunity for adoption if we have utilized every resource on our end. We are a no-kill shelter and would not euthanize simply for space. In some very rare situations - especially if a pet is suffering or poses a serious safety risk - euthanasia may be considered as a last resort.

3. Shelter Policies. We are no-kill shelter and have limited admission due to limited space and resources.

We are more than happy to add you to our waiting list. We currently have a waiting list for our stray and surrender requests. In the meantime, please keep trying to connect with people through social media about rehoming your pet. Also, contact other area shelters and rescues and see if they can help sooner or at least put you on their waiting list.