From Tuesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 3, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) encourages adoptions to help more pets find their forever homes and make room in its shelter.
MACC is seeing a spike in impounds during the summer months. Just last week, 130 animals were in its care. Staff say that increasing vet care costs and housing insecurity are likely causing more community members to surrender their pets. This increase in surrenders—combined with a lagging adoption rate—have left the shelter full. Now, City staff are turning to the community for help.
“A key part of our mission is that no animal suffers here,” said Danielle Joerger, MACC Animal Shelter Supervisor. “Each adoption frees up space so we can care for every animal that needs us. And when we can lower our shelter population, we lower stress on our animals.”
Staff provide in-house veterinary care so that the animals are healthy and, when needed, rehabilitated. Additionally, volunteers contribute more than 7,000 hours annually, providing animal enrichment activities, taking dogs out for the day through the Fido Field Trip program, and more.
“Out of everything we do, there’s no better feeling than seeing the animals we adore go to good, loving homes,” said Madison Weissenborn, Animal Shelter Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator.
MACC encourages those interested in adopting to stop by the shelter (located at 212 17th Ave. N.) this week. Visitors will pair up with a staff member or volunteer to help them find the right pet for them. MACC is open for adoptions during the following hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Minneapolis residents are not charged adoption fees for dogs or cats; they just need to pay for a City license. For nonresidents, adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $25 for cats. Puppies younger than six months are $250 regardless of your city of residence. Adoptable cats and dogs are already spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control works with residents to create safe and healthy communities for people and animals. Staff rescue and care for animals, enforce laws pertaining to animal welfare and investigate animal crimes.