Mickey is a wonderful kitty. He is very playful and oh so loving. He loves to have lap time and adores being hugged and cuddled. Mickey is looking for a forever home without any other kitties. He is a bit of a bully with other felines. Please click on Mickeys picture for more information about our Mickey Man . Darling Ginger is looking for a retirement home that will give her a warm bed, peaceful walks outside, and most of all lots of LOVE! Please click on Ginger's picture for more information about our sweet Gingersnap.. Don't add to the overpopulation problem, ~ Please Spay or Neuter your pet. ~
We are excited to be a part of the Petfinder community and hope to find many homeless animals "forever" homes. Our kitty foster home is located in Webster Minnesota. Just minutes south of Lakeville/New Market/Elko. Our Doggy foster home is in Dundas, just Southeast of Lakeville on the south side of Northfield. Need to rehome your cat/kitten? Please place an ad on Petfinder by clicking on classified ads. You can also print flyers and drop them at your local veterinary clinics or animal supply stores.
Once the animals arrive they receive any necessary medical care and are altered prior to going to their new homes. No animal leaves our hands unaltered. We believe as rescuers, it it our duty to make sure the animals who come through our homes do not add to the overpopulation problem when they go to their new homes. We will not euthanize an animal unless it is beyond medical intervention and can no longer enjoy life. We just received our first bounced check from an adopter. Unfortunately rescuing animals is not a money making endeavor. In fact, most months, we just barely squeak by with our expenses. We will no longer be accepting checks. All adoption fees are CASH ONLY!! To a fabulous group that paid off our special darling Rudy's medical bills. Friends of Flicka is an amazing group that helps out special needs dogs throughout the country. It was created in memory of a beloved golden retiever. We are eternally grateful to this group that gives with all of their heart. Please check out their website and send them a huge thank you for helping out Rudy. Their website is www.flickasfriends.org. To MaryGwen, Dennis and Elizabeth for always thinking of our homeless fosters and helping to keep them fed and in "clean litter". We really appreciate the donations and visits!! Oh and who can forget, the cookies and treats for us humans too. Yummy!!! (MaryGwen and Elizabeth are excellent bakers!!) I am so glad we met through the adoption of Miss Sophie and Lucy. The girls couldn't have asked for a better home!!! Thank you again for all you do for our homeless kids!!!
They work on obedience, manners and housetraining while the dogs are in their care. The dogs live in their home and are spoiled members of the family. Many of the dogs get to go jogging with their foster dad Matt. Matt and Jenny are involved in obedience and agility with their own dogs. Most of the foster dogs get a chance to attend obedience classes while living with Matt and Jenny. They focus on POSITIVE training methods and work with each dog individually. We couldn't ask for a better foster home. A Few Fosters and Residents just hanging around
Obedience training can help you and your new canine companion live together in Harmony. Many times the problem is not the animal, but the lack of communication/understanding in the relationship. Obedience training helps you to work together and to understand each other. We highly recommend taking a class with your new companion so you can learn to be a "team". If you are looking for a wonderful, positive training school and are around the Lakeville area; Please contact Tails Up Dog Training at (952)469-1540 for more information. Tails Up offers all levels of obedience training, puppy kindergarten, agility, and conformation instruction as well as canine good citizen testing. Please keep a collar and identification tags on your pet. Better yet, have your pet microchipped. If you lose your pet, call your local police department to get in touch with animal control. If you can, visit the facility where the animals are held. Place an ad on Petfinders classifieds, search the "found" Petfinder classifieds, place an ad on your local Craigslist and make flyers if you can. A picture is worth a thousand words. Time is of the essence in finding your lost friend. Loose dogs can kill a cat with one swift shake. A kitty is no match for a fast moving vehicle and kitties don't know how to use the crosswalk. Just a small spill of antifreeze from the neighbor filling up their radiator, can kill your feline (or even your canine) friend. Antifreeze tastes sweet. Many animals are attracted to it. Kitty can snack on a dead rodent. Was that rodent poisoned? Ingesting a poisoned rodent can kill your kitty. Ingesting a live rodent can give your kitty parasites, some of them can be passed on to you and your family. These are just a few of the thousands of dangers your kitty faces when they are outdoors. If you must let your kitty "taste" the outside world. Build/Buy an enclosure. Google "cat enclosures". You can buy many different types and some sites have blueprints to build your own. 
Halle (Hal-ee) was a beautiful little black kitten who I picked up beside the road on Halloween 2004. She was sickly and very thin. She tested positive for exposure to a deadly virus and it was suggested that I euthanize her. I knew she found me for a reason and it wasn't to have her die before she had even experienced life. She spent almost 9 months with me being spoiled and loved before the disease finally took her. She was a bright light of sunshine in my day. She was in my life for such a brief period of time, but she will live in my heart forever.
I miss you my dear sweet little Halle. ~Heidi
Our Featured Ham of a kitty...
Mickey Man
Sweet and loving cuddlebug with a bit of a wild streak, looking for someone to love him and pay the bills. Our Featured Dog...Ginger
News
We are in the process of applying for our 501C3 non-profit status. Once we become an official organization, any and all donations will be tax deductible and will help us save many more homeless animals lives. Check back for an update on our status soon!!!!
We do not take cats or kittens from the general public. We are not an open admission shelter. We pull cats/kittens from local animal controls or rural Minnesota Humane Societies that are out of room. Who We Are
We are just a few dedicated people who have decided to do our part to help homeless pets, educate the public and try to help control the pet overpopulation problem. We take in stray animals from local animal control facilities when their time is up. We also pull animals from rural Minnesota Humane Societies to help open cage space at their facility.
You can help us!!
We are a private rescue so we depend solely on adoption fees to help cover our expenses. We receive no government funding. You can make donations directly to the vet clinic we use. Please include either in the memo area or in a note that you would like to make a donation for Halle's Friends.
Countryside Animal Hospital
708 Schilling Drive
Dundas, MN 55019
You can also send a gift certificate online through Petfinder. Please use the Dundas zipcode 55019 to find us.
Adopting a friend
The first step is filling out an application. We prefer that you have a veterinarian that you have a working relationship with who is able to give you a good reference. We can email or fax you an application. Since we foster out of our homes, we prefer all potential adopters be pre-approved before making an appointment to meet one of our wonderful furry friends. Our adoption fees help to cover some of the veterinary expenses incurred.
Come Visit Us!
We do not have a shelter at this time. All visits with animals living in foster homes are by appointment only.
We would like to send a huge THANK YOU.....
To our wonderful and dedicated friends at Countryside Animal Hospital in Dundas. We appreciate and Applaude that Dr. Rich Lorang and Dr. Signe Wass offer their talents to our homeless babies at negotiated rates. We love to work with their friendly and professional staff!!! If you are looking for a caring and compassionate clinic just outside the Southern Metro, call Countryside today (507)645-4522!!!
To Tails Up Dog Training in Lakeville. Not only are you a wondeful, positive training school, but you are helping so many homeless dogs be better canine citizens. Many of these dogs have had a rough start and little to no training. We could NEVER afford to pay for obedience training for all of our canine friends. Thank you for allowing our foster dogs to attend classes for free. We appreciate it and so do our new dogs families. If you are looking for an awesome training center in the Southern Metro, call Tails Up today (952)469-1540!!!A little about our cat foster home!
Heidi has been owned by cats for over 18 years. Her parents would not let her have a cat and now she just can't have enough. (Thanks mom & dad!!) Heidi worked for an Animal Hospital in Eagan Minnesota. She was the Director of Cats for a local non-profit animal rescue organization for over 9 months before deciding to start Halle's friends. John works behind the scenes, building and modifying to make our kitties very comfortable while they are passing through.
Heidi and John have modified their garage to house the homeless.
Heidi's Favorite quote: Dr. Rich telling me "Rescuing cats could keep you busy and broke for the rest of your life." I told him "It's like a hobby, everyone has to spend time and money on something." I love what I do. I love meeting all these wonderful personalities and helping them along. Each one is special. They have something to give. They just need to find the right person out there willing to recieve it.
A little about our dog foster home!
Matt and Jenny are a wonderful foster home. They are devoted pet lovers. They have a houseful of their own critters and chose to take in foster dogs.
Why is obedience training so important?
Most dogs just want to please their owners. Unfortunately we don't have the capability to communicate with just words to make a good team. A dog understands dog language. Humans understand Human language. Did you know a lost pet only has 5 days to be found?
In the state of Minnesota, lost pets have 5 days to be reclaimed by their owners. If they are not claimed, they are either transferred to a Humane Society or Animal Rescue. If there is no room available at either facility, they are euthanized. Thinks it's safe to let kitty out??
Remember all the COOL CATS hang out indoors.
Is your cat having oobe's??? (Out Of Box Experiences)
Everyday kitties are given up or euthanized for inappropriate elimination. Many times it ISN'T their fault. If your kitty stops using his/her box, Please take them to your vet. Make sure it is not being caused by a medical problem such as a Urinary tract Infection or crystals. If it is not a medical problem, ask yourself:
Have I changed litters?
Litterboxes?
The location of the box?
How dirty is the litterbox?
Would you spend 20-30 seconds inside there?
Chances are if you won't, your cat doesn't want to either.
Think of it like a port-a-potty; No one wants to use a really dirty one.
A pet defines the true meaning of unconditional love.
They love you no matter who you are, what you have done, what your hair looks like and even when you have morning breath. It just doesn't get any better than that. Rescue vs. Free
Nothing in life is free. If you are going to be a responsible pet owner your new pet will need vaccines, tests and a spay or neuter surgery in the future. So how much is that 'free' new friend going to cost you?
Kittens/Cats
*Testing for Feline Leukemia and FIV $ 35.00
*First FVRCP vaccination (2-3 are suggested for kittens) $20.00
*Revolution Earmite Treatment/Worming $15.00
*Spaying (female) $100.00
*Neutering (male) $70.00
*Rabies vaccination $20.00
*Office visit/Exam $30.00
Dogs/Puppies
*Testing for Heartworm $ 30.00
*First Distemper vaccination (2-3 are suggested for puppies) $20.00
*Frontline $10.00
*Heartguard $10.00
*Spaying (female) $160.00
*Neutering (male) $120.00
*Rabies Vaccination $20.00
*Office visit/Exam $30.00
You will find that most of our animals have at the very minimum $190(cats) to $240(dogs) in vet care already done and paid for.
~Rescue is not only the right thing to do, but it is a great deal too.~
Have you been feeding Fluffy to Fido or Vise Versa?
Take the time to educate yourself about what is in your pets food. What are those mysterious ingredients? Try to steer clear of By-Products, Rendered Fats and Wheat/Corn fillers. What you feed your pet is very important. It can decrease or prolong their lifespan.
We recommend super premium pet foods: Wellness, Innova, Solid Gold, Fromm, Natural Balance, California Natural, By Nature Naturals.
Do I really need to give Heartworm preventative?
Did you know it can cost you hundreds of dollars and possibly your dogs life to treat Heartworm? Not all animals survive treatment. Treatment is expensive and very hard on your canine friend. You could treat your dog year-round for over 5 years with preventative for what it costs to treat an infestation. Please have your dog tested and make sure to keep them on a preventative. Their lives depend on it. 
One Starfish at a time
There was a man who was walking along a sandy beach where thousands of starfish had been washed up on the shore. He noticed a boy picking the starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean. The man observed the boy for a few minutes and then asked what he was doing. The boy replied that he was returning the starfish to the sea, otherwise they would die. The man asked how saving a few, when so many were doomed, would make any difference whatsoever? The boy picked up a starfish and threw it back into the ocean and said "Made a difference to that one..."
The man left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. He soon returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish into the sea....
Although we are small and can't possibly save them all, we know in the end, we are a making a difference for that "one". Maybe you chose that "one" to make a part of your family.
~Adoption is the best option. Choose to save a life.~Halle's Poem
written by a fellow rescuer & cyberfriend "Kutin" - Katie
Young but so very wise. Truly an angel for homeless animals.
I was walking down a road,
I had no place to call home,
My feet hurt badly, like never before.
I was skinny, I was hurting,
I was sick, I was deserted,
And with each minute my sadness grew more.
Then out of nowhere, an angel came,
She took me home, gave me a name,
She said she'd do her best to make me better.
She took me to the vet and tried,
I was sick, the vet said I should die,
My angel told me she'd make me comfortable if I'd let her.
She gave me so many special days,
She loved me in so many ways,
I'll never forget the times that we shared.
When it came time for this angel to fly,
She held me, and then she cried,
I had a special life all because she cared.
I would have suffered without her,
I would have died painfully, I'm sure,
Without my angel, I would have never known love.
She took me to a new place,
I'll remember her face,
And I'll forever look down on her from above.
Thank you, mommy.
You change so many lives,
I am glad you so cherished mine.
Halles Friends
Dundas, MN 55019 & Webster,MN 55088
Email:
hallesfriends@msn.com
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter
