Common Questions

Northwoods Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization. We do not receive any funding from the city, county, state or country. We are a 501(c)3 organization. Our tax ID number is 41-1487872.

What are your adoption hours?

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday – Friday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm

Saturday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Is Northwoods a “no-kill” organization?

Northwoods Humane Society is a limited-admissions facility; we accept animals by appointment and pets are screened for adoptability prior to our taking them. We do NOT euthanize to make room for more animals or put a time limit on their stay. However, we do euthanize for severe temperament or health issues. 

We choose not to use the term “no-kill” for our organization.  This term can be  very confusing.  Most of the general public thinks that a “no-kill” organization doesn’t euthanize any animals but in reality, in the animal rescue and shelter industry “no-kill” organizations use that term as long as they euthanize less than 10% of the animals that they take in.  We prefer to be more transparent about our operations.  You can view our yearly statistics for intakes and adoptions here. 

At Northwoods, we strive to find placement for all of the animals that we take in by returning lost pets to their owners, putting them up for adoption, placing cats as barn or working cats, or working with other rescues and shelters with more suitable (for example, foster based) a​doption programs; we even have a hospice foster program for animals with terminal health issues that still have good quality of life. But, if an animal has a health issue that is causing them to suffer that cannot be addressed or cannot be addressed in a way that will give them good quality of life or an animal will be dangerous to our staff, volunteers and/or the community, that animal will be humanely euthanized, not “killed,” as the term “no-kill would imply.

I found a stray cat or dog. What do I do?

Call us and we can get you the number for Animal Control in your area (if applicable) or direct further if needed. We will also check our lost and found reports to see if anyone has called in their missing animal that might match the one you have found.

I lost my dog or cat. What should I do?  

Call us and we can first take a lost report with the details of your pet and where it was lost, and cross-check it with any reports that have been called in. Then we can supply the phone numbers of the Animal Control facilities that would cover the area where your pet was lost from. We also recommend calling the Sheriff to leave a report with them, as well as any veterinarians in the area.

I need to surrender my dog or cat. Can I bring it to you?

We are a limited-admissions facility, therefore we do intakes by appointment only, to ensure we will have space for your animal. Please call Monday through Friday to set up an appointment to bring your animal. We will try to assist you as soon as possible, but if our availability for an appointment is not soon enough for your needs, we will refer you to another facility.

Do you offer vet services to the public?

No, we legally can’t provide vet services or medications to the public. However, we do facilitate assistance programs for low-cost spays and neuters, and post any low-cost vaccine clinics in the area when they become available.

Are there any low-cost veterinarian clinics?

The clinics that offer low-cost services year around are listed on our Spay & Neuter Assistance page. Many local vets and/or cities offer vaccine clinics in the Spring, which are advertised at the vets or in the newspaper. If the time has come for your pet to be humanely euthanized, but you are unable to afford the cost of this service at your vet, the Animal Humane Society provides this service for owned animals at a lower fee. Please call them for more information at 763-412-4969.

Are the animals up for adoption already spayed or neutered? Are the cats declawed?

Yes, every cat, kitten, dog, and puppy are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Pediatric spays and neuters allow us to place young kittens and puppies while still being altered.

We do not declaw cats unless there were to be a medical reason such as an injury that the declaw procedure would benefit. If you are looking for a declawed cat, many of the cats that are brought to the shelter are already declawed.

How old do you have to be to adopt an animal?

You must be 18 years of age or older to adopt an animal.

How old do you have to be to volunteer?

You must be 16 years of age or older to volunteer. However, if you have younger children that are interested in helping, the option of becoming a foster family does not require a minimum age.

My pet recently passed away, would you be able to use their food or toys for the animals awaiting adoption?

Yes, we would certainly be able to use the food or supplies, even if the bag has been opened.