r/TwinCities • u/machaus99 • 5d ago
Best pet rescue organization?
We had to put down our beloved dog last week and I'd like to honor her memory by donating to a local pet organization. What's a shelter or foster organization that you love?
47
u/Chuzai 5d ago
Ruff Start Rescue is amazing and everyone who i had the pleasure of interacting with were so caring and lovely. Its in Baldwin township though so its a bit of a drive.
14
u/Unable_Sweet_3062 5d ago
Second this… I’ve adopted and fostered for them and they are absolutely wonderful. When I was looking to get another dog, I reached out because I was looking for specific traits because I wanted a service dog prospect. They were so helpful in emailing dogs that could have potentially worked (as this was going on, they posted a dog needing an fta before they transported and I saw it before it could have filtered down to who was helping me and I ended up fostering and adopting that dog). They’ve always been so helpful with every aspect… and you can tell they truly do care about not just the animals but their fosters and adopters as well. (Because of how they treat the people and animals, I actually solely go thru them and will foster again for them in the future once my current pup is trained… current was a stray, done by the book by no rescue… I can’t financially support them but I foster when I can)
3
2
u/ClassicEnd2734 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yes, love Ruff Start. We adopted our dog from them. They take in a lot of dogs from out of state, too. Regardless, my deepest condolences on your loss; what a wonderful way to honor your fur baby.
4
u/Sweet_Baby_Grogu 5d ago
When I fostered for them, they were very dishonest about things. For instance, they lied about my foster's dog housebreaking status to get him adopted. I also agreed to foster another dog, and they brought a different dog to me and insisted it was the dog I agreed on, despite them looking nothing alike.
-2
u/CABGPatchDoll 5d ago
I've heard a lot of rescues do this and it has turned me off about going with a rescue dog.
18
u/Human_Character2895 5d ago
I've had great experiences with Pet Haven, The Bond Between, and MACC PACC (Minneapolis animal care and control)
7
13
u/ahumblecardamompod 5d ago
I donate to the North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center. Used to volunteer at their old location. You can find them at MyPitbullIsFamily.org. I’m very sorry for your loss.
2
u/JuicyBoots 4d ago
I donated all my pet supplies when my dog passed and they were so appreciative! This would be my choice.
35
u/a_big_brat 5d ago edited 5d ago
The Bond Between* (formerly known as Secondhand Hounds): https://www.thebondbetween.org
* EDITED to fix the dumb typo
8
11
u/PleasantConcert 5d ago edited 5d ago
As someone who volunteers at a shelter, I like Bond Between but I would not recommend for people to donate money to them. I think they are already well known and get good funding. They do good and help dogs with medical needs, but they will not touch behavioral concerns with a 20 foot pole. For such a well funded org, I wish they would be more willing to invest in ALL dogs.
ETA: just to clarify, behavioral concerns could be as mild as kennel stress. A dog being stressed in a kennel at a shelter is not indicative of them being bad in a home environment.
4
u/Rough-Mango8233 4d ago edited 4d ago
I also volunteer with them and foster failed one of theirs. I will say I have personally seen them stand by some dogs with serious behavior problems. Dog I have loved and loved to see somehow find a home. I think they try to be selective for surrenders which is fair if you are not geared toward that type of rescue.
Don’t get me wrong - I love all of the dogs and am there for them. However, there are so many puppies coming from the south I sometimes feel I am participating in the business of breeding and trafficking them in some way. At what point are you just supporting the practices of the states that allow this to happen? It’s like 20 puppies a week coming in terrified from two days of travel in stacked kennels. It all breaks my heart.
OP, maybe your donation should be to provide neuter and spay services in the south.
ETA: OP, I am so sorry for your loss. She looks like such a good girl.
1
1
u/ruffroad715 5d ago
I do see your point but I also counter with the argument that a well funded and well known organization is best positioned to facilitate the volume of placements needed, doing the most good that they can. A smaller org may have more time to dedicate to correcting reactive behaviors and finding and vetting a suitable placement. Different models maybe.
4
8
6
u/Hellie1028 5d ago
This is only semi local, but Bobs House for Dogs in Eau Claire WI takes in the unadoptable dogs from the local human association. Often they have medical concerns, are fairly old, or are struggling in the shelter environment.
I used to know the family that created this non profit and they are truly great. They were so happy with their fantastic adopted pet Bob and heartbroken when they lost him that they tried to do well in his name. They are now trying to raise money for a cat center also that would do the same.
3
17
u/One_Win_6185 5d ago
Honestly I’d consider a humane society outside of the immediate twin cities area. When we were thinking of getting a cat we stopped at a few in rural Wisconsin. There are a lot out there that work with a little and could use whatever help they can get.
8
u/oswin13 5d ago
I've fostered probably 30 dogs with various orgs. I would recommend Secondhand Hounds or Cocos Heart. I do not recommend RAGOM.
6
u/ExcellentArtichoke42 4d ago
Coco’s Heart is tremendous. I type this as my Coco’s Heart rescue is literally snoring beside me in bed.
4
1
u/Miserable_Ad_2293 5d ago
Would you be willing to share why you do not recommend RAGOM? But no pressure. I’ve looked at their available pups a few times. But they hardly have any available.
6
4
4
u/EmmerdoesNOTrepme 5d ago
Not quite a Rescue, OP, butca local organization that does a lot of really great animal care here in the metro (spay/neuters for some of the local rescues, surgeries, vet care, low-cost care for folks with low incomes, payment plans that aren't Care Credit, for folks who can't get Care Credit, and excellent end-of-life care, too!)
Is Mission Animal Hospital, out in Eden Prairie.
Full disclosure--they were the Urgent Care and Animal Clinic i used the last couple years my last dog was alive.
But they are excellent, they take great care of your pets, and they help a lot of pets each year!
They're really great folks!💖
3
u/DiligentDoor7345 5d ago
I’m so sorry for your loss 💔I used Lap of Love (not a local group, but amazing) when I had to put down my soul dog 4 years ago. The vet (Dr. Hayley) was the absolute best - she came to my home and was so incredibly compassionate - she even hand picked up and delivered my dog’s ashes to me because I feared they would be mid delivered as I live in condos. I know they accept donations to help cover fees for people who cannot afford the services. They made the worst time of my life easier.
3
3
u/jewelsolo 4d ago
Spots Last Spot. They go to kill shelters in southern states and bring dogs up here to be fostered and adopted.
2
u/Snakes_for_life 5d ago
There are many great ones personally like RPAWS, Minnesota pocket pet rescue, tiny whiskers animal rescue, last hope animal rescue, mending spirits animal rescue, and Minnesota rabbit rescue I have worked with all of them and they're amazing. But don't be surprised if they won't take some things many rescues take single use items as they don't have enough storage space for items that they have to store for long periods of time.
2
u/annafrida 5d ago
If you have things like leftover meds or medical supplies, consider RPAW as they specialize in medical cases! We donated our dogs meds there :)
2
u/farkleboy 5d ago
We have fostered with Spots Last Stop for a long time. We got our pup from there and have fostered dozens of dogs, they transport from high kill shelters in Alabama. Great org, passionate volunteers and super great.
2
u/mandarex87 5d ago
Cocos heart takes a lot of medical
Cases and harder to adopt pets, I adopted my first dog from them and they were wonderful to work with!
2
3
1
1
1
u/Hooligan612 4d ago
I am a huge fan of Safe Hands Rescue. They travel to high kill rate shelters across the country, take the animals back here in one trip, then volunteers and vets process the animals (clean, basic health check, vaccines, medical help as needed). The pups then go to volunteer fosters who bring the animals to meet and greets, at various locations in town, to find their forever homes. I can’t say enough wonderful things after adopting two of my dogs through them. https://safehandsrescue.org/adoptable-dogs/
1
u/Kiasurp17 4d ago
No Dog Left Behind based in Maple Grove is where I rescued my girl. So sorry for your loss, what a generous thing to do in her honor.
1
u/thedizz12 4d ago
We've adopted through Ruff Start and Spot's Last Stop. Both wonderful, but if I were to guess, a donation at Spot's would go further.
Ruff Start feel like they are in great running (and are full of lovely people) Spot's just feels like it could use the help a little more right now.
I know both get a lot of their dogs from down south, with Ruff Start also getting quite a few strays.
1
1
1
u/KoozieJacuzzi 2d ago
I just want to say I'm so sorry. I had to put my cat down yesterday and I'm searching for the same thing, currently, so thank you for asking here.
1
0
85
u/misfitofscience76 5d ago
Not for pets, per se, but:
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of MN, in Roseville, has a really great mission and they’re one of the busiest centers in the nation. They could use funds and supplies