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M: Closed T: 12:00-6:00 W: 12:00-6:00 Th: Closed F: 12:00-6:00 S: 12:00-5:00 Su: 12:00-5:00 |
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.:: Frequently Asked Questions ::. Where does Heartland Humane Society get its funding? More than 80% of our budget comes from donors, mostly individuals living within the communities we serve. Additionally we have a contract with Benton County and a contract with the City of Corvallis to house stray domestic animals. These contracts account for less than 17% of the money we need each year to serve the animals. We receive no money from national humane organizations and we are not funded by United Way. We are a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and all donations to Heartland are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Where does the money from my donation to Heartland go? Your donations all stay within our community to help animals locally. We keep our administration costs to a minimum and the vast majority of every donation goes straight to our programs of sheltering homeless animals, humane education and providing resources to animal guardians such as lost and found, behavior counseling and a pet-food bank for those in need. How many animals do you help each year? We care for more than 2,300 dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets, rats and other small domestic animals every year. Are you a "no-kill" shelter? What are your adoption rates? We are an open-door facility, meaning we will never refuse any animal. Additionally, because we serve as the impoundment facility for our municipalities, we have an ethical obligation to humanely euthanize animals that pose a threat to the community. However, for the past few years our dog adoption rates have been 80% or higher and our cat adoption rates have run between 60% -65%. These rates are well above the national average, which is unfortunately, less than 30%. Never the less, we will not be satisfied until no animals are unnecessarily euthanized. Please help us reach this goal. How much time does an animal have before it is euthanized? There are no time limits. As long as an animal is healthy and happy and we have space, we will keep him/her until she is adopted. Additionally, we utilize foster homes to increase the space we have available. Does Heartland Humane Society pick-up stray animals? No. Benton County and Corvallis have Animal Control Officers who do that important job. How can we adopt an animal? Please see Adoptions for the specifics on finding your new family member. Do you have animals other than cats and dogs? Yes, we always have rabbits. We often have guinea pigs, ferrets and other small companion animals. We do not adopt out reptiles or farm animals. Do you ever get Rottweilers/Labs/Doxies/Persians/Etc�.? Yes, more than 25% of the dogs we receive are purebreds. Additionally we receive lots of Siamese, Persians and other popular cat breeds. Moreover, if we don't have what you are looking for we can put you in touch with a rescue group for the type of animal in which you are most interested. Can I bring my animal to the shelter to have it euthanized? We believe this service is best done by your regular veterinarian who has served your pet throughout his/her lifetime. Can I bring the remains of my animal to your shelter for disposal? Yes, we work with Rest Assured Pet Cremation, LLC www.restassuredpetcremation.com located in Springfield, Oregon. They offer both private and general cremations. Who do I call when I see animal abuse? Animal abuse and neglect are crimes. Please call your local law enforcement division. Can you recommend a veterinarian? Where can I find low-cost veterinary services? Heartland Humane Society is the beneficiary of support from all the local veterinarians. Therefore, we will not recommend any specific clinic or person. Clinics' prices do vary widely, but we suggest you look at more than just prices when choosing your pets' doctor. On occasion we do hear about low-cost vaccination clinics that are being held in our community and are always willing to pass this information on. Why do we have to have our adopted pet "fixed?" Pet-overpopulation is still a major problem in this country. For every person born there are 15 dogs and 45 cats born. That means a family of four (humans) would need to house 60 dogs and 180 cats to ensure that every pet had a home! Spaying and neutering and responsible pet guardianship are the only answers to the tragic problem of pet overpopulation. Moreover, these surgeries prevent many common causes of infections and cancers and reduce or eliminate many problem behaviors. The problem of over-population and the medical benefits of spaying/neutering extend beyond dogs and cats and are also true for rabbits. How much does it cost to adopt? Adoption fees vary depending on the age and reproductive status of the animal. Additionally, we have a G.E.M. program allowing our super-star animals to provide a financial legacy for other animals that will be in the shelter longer. How much does it cost to release a pet to the shelter? On average it costs us $185 to care for each animal that we shelter. There is no charge for stray animals brought to the shelter from within Benton County. If the animal is being released by its owner, the fee is on a sliding scale of $35 - $100. The person releasing the animal decides where they fit on the scale. This money is simply used to off-set the costs of housing, vaccinating, medicating when necessary, etc� Without these funds we would be unable to serve any animals. Can we volunteer? Yes! There are many ways for volunteers to get involved. Please see our Volunteer sections. How can you stand to work there? Isn't it sad? Working and volunteering at Heartland Humane Society is a great honor. Yes, it is sad at times. But mostly there are happy endings in a world of purrs and wags. Working together to build a more compassionate community by teaching humane messages to our youth, caring for homeless animals and strengthening the human-animal bond is very inspirational and rewarding. If you would like to volunteer but think that the shelter environment would make you sad, consider volunteering at the Cat's Meow Thrift Shop or helping us outside of the shelter through fundraising and other community events. |
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