"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. " --Bern Williams
Each year approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide where 5-6 million lose their lives through no fault of their own. That's 575 every hour. If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, please consider adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue group. Almost Home is a no-kill shelter, but because of that we can run out of space for new dogs and cats. Help us to find homes for these deserving animals by spreading the word that shelter animals make great family pets. Click on Our Adoptable Pet List to see our current list of available animals.
- Gasoline gift cards
- Tarps
- Rubber garden hoses
- Postage stamps (forever stamps)
- Large metal food bowls
- Instant hand sanitizer
- Kong toys
- Travel crates
To reach more potential adopters, Almost Home is holding Pet Adoption Days at Coon Rapids Petco. Watch the marquee at the top of our home page to see when our Adoption Days are being held. If you are interested in seeing a particular dog or cat at an adoption day, email us before the event and we will do our best to bring that one along. There will be no one at the shelter in Mora who can help wth adoptions on those days so please plan accordingly.
Want to surprise your loved one with the gift of a new pet but don't want them to miss out on the fun of picking their new family member? Why not give a gift certificate to Almost Home instead? Then your loved one can come and pick the right pet at the right time for them. We can provide a gift certificate in any denomination. Call the shelter to find out more.
Hi to all of our friends and supporters! It is hard to believe that fall is upon us already. Our adoption rates have continued at a nice pace all summer. Maybe what they are saying is true that the economy is keeping people closer to home and they are spending on family items. What better treat than to give your family the love and entertainment of a new pet while you are staying closer to home this year? And what a great way to teach your kids that helping animals can have such a fun reward.
We are continuing to see a large number of pet surrenders due to housing changes. If you do have to face the sad situation of having to surrender your pet, be sure to provide us with as much medical and personal information about your pet as possible. We had one family send along a photo of their dog with the kids and a letter from the kids to the new owner about how wonderful their dog is. The first famly that saw this were so touched that the basset was taken home immediately and only had to spend a few days at the shelter. They taped the photo to the bottom of their refrigerator where their new dog could see his former family and know how much they loved him. Taking the time to do those little extras can really help to ensure that your beloved pet finds a great new home as quickly as possible.
Please stop by to visit with the animals at our Adoption Days at Coon Rapids Petco. They will continue monthly through November before we take a couple of months off over the winter. Watch this site to see the date of our next adoption event.
Thanks as always for your support of the animals!
Shelly Sampson, Director, Almost Home Animal Shelter
Hi Shelly! Take a look at the pictures... as you can see Walton is thriving! He is just another one of the kids in our house, sneaking into the kids' beds at night and finds any excuse to swim in the pool, such as an interesting leaf blowing along, he just has to hop in to take a closer look! As we hoped he gets along really well with our 10 year old yellow lab, Rudder. We have to stay on Walton's case at times when he insists on "annoying" Rudder. Rudder suffers from arthritis and doesn't get around very quickly, but usually enjoys challenging Walton to a game of tug-of-war, as long as Rudder gets to stand on the rug and he makes Walton play from the slippery wood floor.
Walton is still not completely trustworthy in the potty department, as he still has accidents. He is kennel trained when we leave him at home and he sleeps in his kennel overnight. We've decided to home school our kids this year so he will have plenty of company during the day too.
We have been reminded that having a puppy in the house is a lot more work that our senior- aged lab but he has been worth the trouble! The kids adore him and are learning a lot about responsibility having someone to take care of. Let me know the next time you will be at Petco in Coon Rapids and we will try to bring him by! Thanks so Much!
Sincerely, Eve M. and family.
Hi Shelly and everyone at the Almost Home Animal Shelter:
I wanted to drop by and give you and update on Brady, we have renamed him Daddy. He is such a wonderful boy and has really opened up to Moe and I as well as Ruger. Ruger has brought out Daddy's puppy energy we never new he had! Sometimes when they both get riled up Daddy spins like a top...its great to see! We have recently moved from the home we were in when we brought him home a few months ago and he loves the huge fenced in backyard, just soaking up the scenery back there and chasing the tennis balls that Ruger will let him chase. His favorite place to sleep is on Moe's side of the bed, he has become quite attached to him but will take a good ole belly scratch from anyone. He is also the protector of the house and loves to howl at any and all sirens he hears! Thank you so much for rescuing such a wonderful boy so he can complete our family!
Sue Ann, Mohamed, Ruger and Daddy (Daddy-O)
Hi Shelly -
It's been awhile since I sent over a Little Bear update. Bear is doing GREAT and is such a WONDERFUL dog!! He is very gentle and caring around our young children and our friends' kids! We trust Bear around everyone and we CERTAINLY LOVE HIM!! My middle child, Katrina, has really attached herself to Bear. Bear is her dog and all her toy puppies are called Beary!
Attached are a few pictures taken this past weekend at our cabin. Bear LOVES it there!! He runs around free (never wanders too far) and loves to play in the water!
Hope all is going well!
Karie L
The mission of Almost Home Animal Shelter is to provide basic needs, shelter, and medical care to homeless pets until each is matched with a new, loving, adoptive home. Founded in 2000, Almost Home is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) no-kill rescue. We receive no government funding and achieve our mission through adoption fees and through the generous donations of our supporters.
Most pets end up in shelters through no fault of their own, and for the constant devotion and companionship pets give us we believe they deserve a chance to live and grow old in safe and happy homes. Almost Home Animal Shelter is dedicated to providing the care and support needed to help homeless pets with this transition. In addition, we recognize that the long-term solution to the problem of abandoned companion animals is to reduce pet overpopulation. Therefore, we ensure that pets passing through Almost Home are spayed or neutered.
Listen for news on Almost Home during the Pet Report which airs Monday through Friday at 3:30 pm on KBEK radio. Sponsored by KBEK and East Central Veterinarians.
Almost Home is located 2 miles east of the intersection of Hwy. 65 and Hwy. 23 in Mora, MN. Hours, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, are between 10 - 5 on Monday - Friday and between 12 - 5 on Saturday - Sunday. We are a small shelter with limited staff, so you MUST call or email for an appointment to be sure that someone is here and available to work with you when you arrive. Payment of adoption fees is by CASH ONLY. Credit cards are NOT accepted.
We do NOT ship pets out of state. All adopters must come to the shelter to meet the animal and be interviewed prior to finalizing an adoption. A downpayment may be made by mail to hold the animal for a reasonable time until you can get here. This is for your benefit as well as for the welfare of the pet because it is important that there is a good match between you and the pet and that they begin to form an attachment to make the transition easier. Remote adoption does not provide this.
Minnesota kennel license number: MN37402
"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That is the essence of inhumanity. " --George Bernard Shaw
