With the dog days of summer in full swing, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) is looking to the community to find new homes for their spike of furry friends. In an announcement touched on by minneapolismn.gov, MACC is launching an adoption drive from July 30 to August 3, hopeful that this effort will ease the overflow of the shelter, which is currently housing 130 animals.
There's a growing need for space as MACC deals with the summer impound surge, incurred by factors like rising veterinary care costs and the persistent specter of housing insecurity that has forced community members to surrender pets. The shelter, full beyond its intended capacity, is seeing adopted rates that aren't keeping up which stress on the animals and their caretakers has inevitably escalated.
The shelter, with a guiding principle that "no animal suffers here," as Danielle Joerger, the shelter supervisor, told minneapolismn.gov, is not just providing a temporary roof over the heads of pets but also the necessary medical treatment to ensure they're healthy and can eventually find a forever home. The commitment from the staff and the network of volunteers, logging more than 7,000 hours annually, is apparent in the activities and care they offer.
Minneapolis residents stand to benefit from this adoption event, as they are exempt from adoption fees, paying only for a City license. Nonresidents, on the other hand, should prepare to shell out $100 for dogs and $25 for cats. The MACC makes no effort to ensure the cats and dogs leave their care spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. As explained by Madison Weissenborn, the shelter's volunteer and outreach coordinator, “Out of everything we do, there’s no better feeling than seeing the animals we adore go to good, loving homes.”
The shelter’s doors at 212 17th Ave. N. will be open to anyone looking to provide a loving home for these animals. MACC’s week-long adoption hours provide ample opportunity for visits: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; extended hours on Thursday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Prospective pet parents are encouraged to connect with a staff member or volunteer upon arrival, who will aid in the match-making process, ensuring pets and people pair up appropriately.
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control's work extends beyond adoptions, encompassing rescue operations, animal welfare enforcement, and the investigation of animal crimes, a dedicated effort to foster a safe and healthy community for both animals and Minneapolis's residents.
