Tri-County Humane Society
Adopt. Donate. Volunteer.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We believe in the human-animals bond and exist to support Central Minnesota by practicing and promoting quality adoption services and education programs. Our shelter is committed to providing animals with: * FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST: An adequate, healthful diet and ready access to fresh water * FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT: An appropriate living environment, including a clean, comfortable resting area * FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY AND DISEASE: Prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury or illness * FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIORS: Sufficient space, exercise and the opportunity to enjoy company of the animal’s own kind * FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS: Conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering and stress
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Our services
Tri-County Humane Society serves the community, both people and animals, primarily by: providing quality care and adoption services for animals in need, offering educational programs to encourage awareness, understanding and practice of humane principles, and handling questions and complaints regarding animal care and behavior, including alleged cruelty and neglect complaints.
Foster Care
Foster care continues to be a critical piece of our lifesaving efforts. When an animal is too young, sick, injured or just needs someone to teach them basic manners, foster parents help fill the gap between the time the animal is brought to the shelter and the time they are adopted. Our foster program helps us save more lives!
Cat litter
Foster Homes Needed For:
•Injured/Sick Animals
•Pregnant Animals
•Orphaned Animals
•Behavior Modification
•Overflow (during peak periods)
Greatest Need: Foster homes for cats and/or kittens that have upper respiratory infections and are in need of 2-4 weeks of antibiotic treatment.
We Provide: All pet supplies, medication, de-wormer, vaccinations and veterinary care (although donations are welcome!)
You Provide: TLC and a comfortable environment for pets to thrive.
Contact our Foster Care Coordinator for more information:
Kallie Braun, [email protected], (320) 252-0896 ext. 16
Volunteer Program
Volunteers are essential to everything we do! Shelter volunteers provide hands-on animal care such as grooming, exercising, and socializing the animals while they wait for their new homes. In addition, volunteers assist with kennel cleaning, general housekeeping, and customer service.
Other volunteer opportunities include off-site adoption events, animal photography, office work/data entry, yard work, building maintenance, newsletter mailings, fundraising events, humane education and pet visits at schools and day cares, senior care pet therapy visits, veterinary medicine, and the Board of Directors.
Service Learning Program
This type of volunteer service is used when someone is looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity. It is often used when students are looking for credits for a class or extracurricular program. Due to a shortened training process, these volunteers do not work directly with the shelter animals. Individuals or groups may be eligible for this program depending on their goals and the needs of the shelter. Please contact the volunteer coordinator directly if you are interested in this type of service.
Community Service Program
TCHS accepts court-ordered community service workers. However, there are very specific rules and guidelines for this type of service. For more information on community service, please contact our volunteer coordinator.
Pet Intake
Each year, around 4,000 pets find comfort at TCHS. The majority of pets we receive are cats, followed by dogs. However, we also receive many small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, ferrets, birds, reptiles, etc… We offer a safe, welcoming place for people to bring the animals they can no longer care for.
We strive to adopt out all animals that enter our shelter. This can be challenging, as we are an open-admission shelter and we accept animals regardless of their age, health, species, breed or behavior, with the exception of pets who have recently bitten and require veterinary quarantine.
All pets receive a basic temperament evaluation and a basic physical examination. We will not knowingly adopt out aggressive animals.
Many people think animals at humane societies are all strays or animals with behavior issues. The majority of owned pets surrendered to us are arriving due to no fault of their own. A few common reasons include moving, can't afford to keep, not enough time, or allergies in the family.
Education Program
We offer free humane education visits to schools, daycares and community groups. Visits focus on humane education, and cover topics such as pet care tips, dog bite prevention and safety with animals, and pet overpopulation statistics in our community. We can even bring pets if you like!
We also offer training opportunities at our shelter, including Doggie 101, Cat 101, and Caring for Bottle Baby Animals.
To schedule a school visit, contact Kate Kompas at (320) 252-0896
Pet Adoption
Thousands of homeless animals are sheltered at TCHS each year. Many of our animals come from loving homes, some do not. All deserve to be loved and are looking for a safe home with caring companions.
Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers will assist you in finding a good match for you and your household.
In an effort to reduce accidental litters and decrease the number of unwanted pets, all animals are spayed/neutered prior to being adopted.
A basic temperament evaluation is also done along with a basic physical exam. Dogs and cats are vaccinated, dewormed and micro-chipped, and treated for any parasites or injuries that we discover. The health or temperament of adopted animals cannot be guaranteed, although we will not knowingly adopt out sick or aggressive animals.
Birthday Parties
What better way to celebrate your child’s birthday than with the Tri-County Humane Society? Not only will your child have fun, but they will also learn about how they can help homeless animals. Plus, your birthday fee will go directly towards helping us care for the thousands of homeless animals we receive each year. TCHS is an independent, non profit organization that relies heavily on private donations.
What’s included:
•Printable invitations for your guests.
•Use of party room and kitchen (bring your own cake and snacks if you like).
•Name displayed on outdoor marquee sign.
•Naming rights to one of the shelter pets.
•Party hats (puppy or kitty ear headbands).
•Educational tour of shelter.
•Interaction with a variety of adoptable pets.
•Animal themed game or craft project.
•Clean up.
Where: Tri–County Humane Society
Who: Intended for children ages 5-12. Up to 10 guests.
When: During hours of operation. Call or e-mail volunteer coordinator for availability
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $25.00 non-refundable fee to hold date and $5.00 per guest the day of the party (birthday girl/boy is free).
To schedule a party, contact our volunteer coordinator at (320) 252-0896.
Where we work
Awards
Certified Animal welfare Administrator 2003
Society of Animal welfare Administrators
Affiliations & memberships
Society of Animal Welfare Administrators 2000
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals rehomed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Pet Adoption
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of sheltered animals
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Pet Intake
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We envision for the future:
A time when Tri-County Humane Society has abundant resources and finances to carry out its mission and vision.
A time when Tri-County Humane Society will use technology efficiently to meet the needs for all staff, adopters and animals.
A time when the community will be well educated about the Tri-County Humane Society mission, vision, purpose, and practices.
A passion to continually explore new options and embrace new opportunities and improved animal care and enrichment techniques.
A time when Tri-County Humane Society is recognized as the leader in responsible companion animal care.
The continual development of a sound foundation to support the shelter as it evolves to meet ever changing community and animal welfare needs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
• Strive for the highest level of animal care through the adherence of best practices and enrichment programs
• Increase number of adoptable animals through behavior modification (using foster homes and the adoption ambassador program)
• Increase number of adoptable animals by leveraging foster program to provide care for treatable illnesses
• Work to decrease the number of unwanted animals- with in home counseling, training programs, and spay/neuter education
• Focus on an environment that helps animals thrive
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Board and staff are focusing on ways to Improve and expand revenue sources.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For years now, we have achieved and maintained the goal of no euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals. Our focus has now been on the goal of no euthanasia of treatable and rehabilitatable animals. The progress made thus far is remarkable and staff takes great pride in every additional animal saved. Foster homes are one of the main tools in our tool box to make this happen. We have a full-time foster care manager and our placement rate was 94% in 2020.
The wellness of the animals in our care is always at the forefront of our minds. We have a dedicated team of animal health care specialists who helped some of the most vulnerable members of our society, the animals coming to TCHS. We are so grateful for the services they provided. Those services gave 3,700 animals that first big step toward another chance for a happy life. Many local veterinary clinics provide complimentary first visits for adopted animals.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Tri-County Humane Society
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Cheryl Ley
Vicki Davis
TCHS
Kris Stewart
TCHS board member
Cyd Reuter
TCHS board member
Matthew Larson
TCHS board member
Cheryl Ley
TCHS board member
Ron Brandenburg
TCHS Board Member
Jason Hallonquist
TCHS Board Member
Kourtney Piepenburg
TCHS Board Member
Merrilee Stang
TCHS Board Member
Kelly Sayre
TCHS Board Member
Emily Bezdicek
TCHS Board Member
Tim Stewart
TCHS Board Member
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/19/2019GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.