Three humane societies in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota have merged to better serve the homeless cats and dogs that come through their facilities. The Animal Humane Society of Minneapolis and Coon Rapids, the Humane Society for Companion Animals of St. Paul and Woodbury and the Greater West Metro Humane Society of Buffalo will become one organization, to be named later, effective Dec. 31.
The shelter merger was announced by Martha McPhee, president of the Animal Humane Society; Janelle Dixon, executive director of the Humane Society for Companion Animals; and Tammy Hauser, interim executive director of the Greater West Humane Society. “We all worked together to rescue animals and find them homes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” said McPhee. “It just went so well, and we realized that with collaboration we could do so much more for animals. This merger is driven by our mission.”
The organizations plan to combine the animal protection, animal care and community outreach programs of their five facilities. The merger will help the groups do the following:
- Increase animal cruelty investigations.
- Increase the humane society’s geographic coverage.
- Increase services at all five shelters, allowing transfers of animals among shelters when required.
- Increase spay and neuter surgeries, including use of two mobile service vehicles.
- Increase humane education programs.
- Provide more animal behavior training services for pet owners.
The merger will not result in lost jobs or shelter closings. “We need all the good minds and warm arms we have,” Dixon said.
For more information on the merger, visit the Animal Humane Society website.