Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the shelter located?
The current Redwood Area Animal Shelter is not an user-friendly
location. Drive North on Swain St., turn left on Walnut St, immediately
turn right at the gated road and follow the steep decline to the end of
the road. The gate at the top is frequently locked to the burn pile
road/animal shelter. so if you are interested in looking at an
animal, please call Ken or Christine Harmon (627 - 5835) and arrange for
either of them to meet you there.
2. What does the animal shelter do?
The Redwood Area Animal Shelter takes in lost, surrendered, and unwanted
pets, which include almost every animal imaginable. Dogs and cats, of
course, are the most common residents, but occasionally the animal
shelter has been home to guinea pigs, chickens, ferrets, hamsters,
monkeys, and many other kinds of animals. All the animals in the shelter
are taken care of by Ken Harmon and his daughter, Christine. However,
volunteers in the community also take the dogs out for walks and
exercise. Ken Harmon is also called on for other animal-related issues,
including removing bats from homes and other events.
3. Is the animal shelter the same as a humane society?
No. Humane societies are run by groups of people, usually volunteers,
and the animals are commonly placed in foster homes until a good home
can be found. Unfortunately, the animal shelter does not have a
fostering program. However, if you are interested in fostering an
animal, please talk to Ken Harmon about the possibility to start a
fostering system, this would make more space available for incoming
animals. The Redwood Area Animal Shelter is managed by the City of Redwood
Falls, as opposed to strictly volunteers, this shelter gladly accepts donations,
especially in the form of dog and cat food, leashes, and cleaning
supplies. Once again, contact Ken or Christine Harmon if you would like
to donate items or friends.
4. Why do some pets have to be killed?
There are three main reasons why some of the pets at the animal shelter
have to be euthanized (killed):
1.) The first reason, which is becoming less and less common due to more
people adopting from the shelter, is lack of room at the shelter and
lack of people willing to adopt. Although we try our best to find the
owners of lost pets with the help of license information, the newspaper,
signs at local businesses, and public notices, some pets are never
claimed and no one seems interested in adopting them. In rare
circumstances, when the cages get full of surrendered or lost pets,
there is nowhere to keep the animals, so the ones who have been there
the longest are the ones who get euthanized. However, the animal shelter
is now working with other area shelters to try to ensure good animals
are not needlessly killed. (When food and supplies are donated to the
shelter, it is possible for the animals to stay there longer, which
means they have an increased chance of being adopted.)
2.) Unfortunately, some animals impounded are sick or injured
beyond help and are euthanized if no owner claims them.
3.) The final reason why some animals euthanized is if the animal
is considered dangerous. Some present a direct threat to humans or are
overly aggressive towards other animals These animals are unsafe to adopt
out.
5. Could the animal shelter adopt a "no kill" policy like some humane
societies?
It is possible, with the help of people willing to be foster homes, for
no adoptable animals to be killed. However, there will always continue
to be animals too dangerous to adopt out or so sick that no one
will be willing to or should be be able to adopt them for safety reasons.
6. Do you have to pay to adopt a pet?
The City charge a fee for each animal adopted. The funds paid
for the pet are used for food, cleaning supplies, and some shots.
7. Do the pets have all their shots and are they spayed & neutered?
Every animal that coming into the shelter has a different history. Some are spayed or
neutered and have all their shots, some have never even been to a
veterinarian before, some are puppies or kittens that were born at the
animal shelter from a pregnant animal that came into the shelter. Some
are old and had lived with the same family their whole life. Some are
house broken and know how to sit on command, others have been neglected
by previous owners. As for the animals that are not spayed or neutered
and do not have their shots, the animal shelter does give them some of
their shots but does not have them spayed or neutered, although it is
strongly encouraged that you do so after the adoption. (Remember, if
everyone spayed and neutered their pets, we wouldn’t have the
overpopulation that we do and absolutely no adoptable pets would ever
need to be killed.) However, Redwood Veterinarians on Mill St. provides
a free examination of every pet after adoption to ensure they are in
good health.
8. Why should I spay or neuter my new/current pet?
The main reason millions of pets world-wide are killed every year is
because there are too many of them. The supply of cats and dogs outweighs
the demand. Spaying or neutering your pet is the humane thing to do.
Even if you know someone who wants the puppies or kittens, there are
plenty of animal shelters and humane societies for them to visit to find
a nice pet that needs a home. It is a life or death situation for
these animals and with each dog or cat you bring into the world, there
is one more without a home. If it is not the new puppies or kittens you
have, it is the lonely dog or cat at the animal shelter that would have
gotten adopted if those puppies or kittens hadn’t been born. If you
really love these animals, please… have your pets spayed or neutered.
9. Why is it important to get my dog a license every year?
There are several reasons for making sure your dog is licensed yearly.
1. The community can be sure your dog currently has all its shots, which
is important because dogs can share some diseases with humans and other
animals.
2. If your dog runs away and is caught, the license gives a number so
you can be contacted immediately.
3. If your dog has been hit by a car and found by the side of the road,
either dead or injured, you will be called immediately.
4. When your dog has its license on its collar and is caught running
away, there is no impound charge for you to pay if it is the dog’s first
escape. (The regular fee for impounding a dog is $35.)
10. How can I help?
There are many ways to help. As mentioned before, the food supply is
limited. The Redwood Falls animal shelter gratefully accepts dog, puppy,
kitten, and cat food donations. Cat litter, cleaning supplies, leashes,
and even items like paper towels are also gladly accepted. If you don’t
have any of these items to give, simple money donations are also
appreciated. Although if you want to know exactly how your gift will
help the animals, it is best to donate specific items. The dogs at the
shelter are always in need of someone to visit and walk them. They
really appreciate the exercise and opportunity to explore. If you would
like to help even more, becoming a foster home for a dog or cat would be
especially helpful. It would provide pets with a loving home until a
permanent home can be found. It also allows more room for incoming pets,
thus resulting in fewer animals being euthanized. Remember that
spaying and neutering your pets makes a huge difference! You will be
saving lives!
A non-profit group called Friends of the Animal Shelter has been formed to assist the animal shelter. They are in the process of
seeking funds to replace the current shelter. Visit www.friendsfftheanimalshelter.com to find
out more information or send donations to:
Friends of the Animal Shelter
333 S. Washington
P.O. Box 10
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
How Do I Adopt a Pet
The Friends of the Animal are extremely pleased that you have decide to
look into adopting one of our animals. To adopt a pet from the Redwood
Area Animal Shelter, send Ken or Christine Harmon
an email at ken@friendsoftheanimalshelter.com and arrange for either of
them to meet you there. You may call: 507.637.7195 for more information.
The Redwood Area Animal Shelter charges a small fee for each dog and
cat adopted. The money paid for the pet is used for the purchase of food,
cleaning supplies, and some shots.
Congratulations!
So you've taken the plunge and adopted a pet of your own.
Great! But what do you do now? No doubt you're excited and
looking forward to forging a lifelong friendship with your new buddy.
But try to keep in mind the confusion he is feeling right now. Whatever
his past history, coming home with you is a new experience. He is likely
to be a little disoriented, wondering where he is and who all these new
people are.
The key to helping your new pet make a successful adjustment to your
home is being prepared and being patient. It can take anywhere from two
days to two months for you and your pet to adjust to each other.
Supplies
Prepare the things your pet will need in advance. You'll need a collar
and leash ( dog), food and water bowls,and, of course, some toys.
And don't forget to order an identification tag right away.
Welcome Home
Try to arrange the arrival of your new pet for a weekend or when you can
be home for a few days. Get to know each other and spend some quality
time together. Don't forget the jealousy factor—make sure you don't
neglect other pets and people in your household!
Health Care
Take your new dog to the veterinarian within a week after adoption. With
every pet adopted the Redwood Veterinarian provides an examination free of charge
Free wellness examinations for each animal
Free new pet start up kit, which contains free merchandise and coupons.
House Rules (Dog)
Work out your dog-care regimen in advance among the human members of
your household. Who will walk the dog first thing in the morning? Who
will feed him at night? Will Fido be allowed on the couch, or won't he?
Where will he rest at night? Are there any rooms in the house that are
off-limits?
Training and Discipline (Dog)
Dogs need order. Remember, they are pack animals, so make yourself the
"pack leader." Let your pet know from the start who is the boss. When
you catch him doing something he shouldn't, don't lose your cool. Stay
calm, and let him know immediately, in a loud and disapproving voice,
that he has misbehaved. Reward him with praise when he does well, too!
Sign up for a local dog obedience class, and you'll learn what a joy it
is to have a well-trained dog.
Housetraining (Dog)
Assume your new dog is not housetrained, and work from there. Read over
the housetraining information given to you at the time of adoption. Be
consistent, and maintain a routine. A little extra effort on your part
to come home straight from work each day will pay off in easier, faster
housetraining.
Crating (Dog)
A crate may look to you like the canine equivalent of a jail cell, but
to your dog, who instinctively likes to den, it's a room of his own. It
makes housetraining and obedience-training easier and saves your dog
from the headache of being yelled at unnecessarily for problem behavior.
Of course, you won't want to crate your dog all day or all night, or he
will consider it a jail cell. Just a few, regular hours a day (but no
more than four hours at a time) should be sufficient. The crate should
not contain wire where his collar or paws can get caught, and should be
roomy enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn around, and sit
comfortably in normal posture.
If you still can't face the idea of a crate, at the very least consider
some sort of confinement to a dog-proofed part of your home. A portion
of the kitchen or family room can serve the purpose very well. (A baby
gate works perfectly.)
Let the Games Begin
Dogs need an active life. That means you should plan plenty of exercise
and game time for your pet. Enjoy jogging or Frisbee? You can bet your
dog will, too. If running around the park is too energetic for your
taste, try throwing a ball or a stick, or just going for a long walk
together. When you take a drive in the country or visit family and
friends, bring your dog and a leash along.
A Friend for Life
Finally, be reasonable in your expectations. Life with you is a
different experience for your new companion, so give him time to adjust.
You'll soon find out that you've made a friend for life. No one will
ever greet you with as much enthusiasm or provide you with as much
unqualified love and loyalty as your dog will. Be patient, and you will
be amply rewarded.