Congratulations to Julie for successfully completing American Humane Association's Shelter Operations School for Managers!~Jenny's hard work (on behalf of FOTSI) applying for grants is much appreciated. Because of her efforts, we have been awarded a $1,000.00 grant from St. Croix Valley Foundation as part of the Humane Society Grant Program. The grant represents a distribution from The Belisle Fund of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. The grant money is to be used for grooming equipment. ~ Thank you to our great foster homes, wonderful volunteers, and all donors. "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." WE ARE IN NEED OF GOOD KITTEN FOOD AND GOOD CANNED CAT FOOD. WE ARE OVERLOADED WITH CATS AND KITTENS. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS YOU CAN NO LONGER KEEP, OR STRAYS AT THE SHELTER WHEN NO ONE IS THERE, PLEASE CALL AHEAD (or email) TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR WHEN WE CAN MAKE SPACE THROUGH ADOPTIONS AND FOSTERS. WE ARE NOT MIRACLE WORKERS AND NEED SOME TIME TO TAP INTO OUR RESOURCES. WE DO NOT WANT TO EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE AS IN THE PAST, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU!! Please check out our adoptable pet list to see if you can help make another happy ending story for one of our shelter residents! Here's the DIRECTIONS TO THE SHELTER: Do not use MapQuest!

From Hwy. 380 – Take the Urbana exit, go towards town, turn left just past the gas station, go through 2 stop signs and head out of town on W26, continue straight on this road for 6 miles. Take a Right on the first paved road (Oak Grove Church is located on this corner) the road is 61st Street but also known as county home road (not marked). Go 6 miles and the Vinton Animal Shelter is on the Right side of the road.

Traveling 218 S or N – Turn on 13th Street going East. Stay on this road for 1 mile out of town and you will see the Vinton Animal Shelter on the North side of the road. Note: if you are going 218 S you will see 13th Street soon after Alco but not past Thiesens. 218 N you will be in a residential area and 13th Street will be a few blocks after the school on your Right.

Hwy 30 W - take county road Hwy W26 towards Shellsburg. Stay on W26 N for 9 miles until you come into Shellsburg. Take the 2nd paved road (after car wash) on your Right, take to first stop sign and take a Right (you will still be traveling W26 N). You will go through 2, 4-way stop signs and continue out of town for 5 miles. Take a left on 61st Street (Oak Grove Church is located on this corner). Drive 6 miles and the Vinton Animal Shelter is on your Right. We hope to see you there!!

CAN'T ADOPT BUT WANT TO HELP? WE WOULD APPRECIATE PAPER TOWELS, BLEACH,LAUNDRY DETERGENT, CHEW BONES, KITTY LITTER, TOYS AND FOOD FOR PUPPIES.

The Vinton/Benton Co. Animal Shelter is managed by Friends of the Shelter, Inc. We have many available pets for adoption listed on this website. If you are in Benton Co. and need help re-homing a pet (provide proof of up to date shots and they are spayed/neutered) or want to report a missing pet, call the shelter at (319) 472-4623 and leave a detailed message or email jdcasey@hughes.net. At this time, the Vinton Shelter's hours are by appointment only.

WE APPRECIATE ANY OF THESE NEEDED ITEMS THAT ARE DONATED, THANK YOU! bleach or Odo Ban, paper towels, kitty litter, dog leashes (medium and large), Q-tips (to clean cat's ears) and cloth towels for drying bathed dogs. These items can be dropped off at the shelter, email if you need directions (do not use mapquest). Thank you!

Our Featured Pet Dena Friends of the Shelter, Inc. is a private non profit animal shelter and we also manage the Vinton/Benton Animal Shelter. Many improvements have been made at the Vinton Shelter and we are excited about the future of animal care and adoptions. Our board members, volunteers, and supporters (past and present) have worked towards that goal for years and will continue to do whatever we can to help the homeless and abandoned pets of Benton Co. Some of Friends of the Shelter's adoptable cats are available at the Adoption Center at PetSmart in Waterloo, IA. Our Adoptable Pet List Click to see our lost/hold pets! Information Friends of the Shelter, Inc. P.O. Box 82 Vinton, IA 52349 If you have a pet that you need to relinquish, please contact us ahead of time. Make sure they are up-to-date on shots and have their health records available and are spayed or neutered. We will do our best to find them a good home or rescue. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN SEND YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER, INC. THROUGH UNITED WAY? ASK US HOW! Over 800 homeless pets have come to the Vinton Animal Shelter in 2008 and we estimate that number to be much higher in 2009. Please spay and neuter your pets and encourage others to do the same. Up-to-date vaccinations, regular vet checks, and your companionship and love are a must for a healthy happy family pet. Contact Us The shelter does not have set open hours but you can call the shelter (319-472-4623) to set up an appointment or email.: jdcasey@hughes.net

Volunteers This page is dedicated to every Friends of the Shelter volunteer, supporter, and rescue person who has truly made a difference. To the world you may be only one person, but to a shelter animal, you are the world! Our goal is to try to improve the lives of homeless animals and save as many pets as possible without having to humanely euthanize them. We realize that we can not save all the homeless, abandoned dogs and cats, but we continually try to do our best. Some of the animals at the shelter are strays, others are unwanted and have been abandoned while others are owner surrender because of unfortunate circumstances not their fault while still perfect in all important ways. We are devoted to the animals, we want to make sure they are placed in only good homes. We are always in need of your help, whether it be volunteering your time, or making a monetary donation, or donating needed items to the shelter. Some items in need: bones, chew toys, cat toys, cat litter, kitten food, blankets, and wash cloths . Thank you for visiting our web site and your interest in the welfare of shelter animals. Friends of the Shelter, Inc. Friends of the Shelter, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to help make the homeless animals in Benton County be healthy and safe while we find them forever loving homes through adoptions or rescues. All donations go directly for the welfare of the animals. Some of our expenses are for spaying/neutering (Rebecca Lynn Young Fund for spaying/neutering), medicines for treatable health issues, and other supplies. You can mail your tax-deductible donations to: Friends of the Shelter, Inc. P.O. Box 82 Vinton, IA 52349 Thank you! Adopting a friend ALL ANIMALS ADOPTED ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED. ADOPTION FEES FOR DOGS/PUPPIES: Adoption fee for 6 months and older, includes: spay/neuter, up to date shots, and heart worm tested~ $100 Adoption fee for puppies includes age appropriate shots~ $90. It is IA state law that the adopter must have the puppy spayed/neutered by the date listed on the contract and proof sent back to the shelter for our files. All of this information is provided at the time of adoption. ADOPTION FEES FOR CATS/KITTENS: $70.00 which includes age appropriate shots, and felv/fip tested if 6 months or older If a kitten is too young to be altered at the time of adoption it is IA state law that the adopter must have the kiten spayed/neutered by the date listed on the contract and proof sent back to the shelter for our files. All of this information is provided at the time of adoption.