By Carey Sharp

Mower County Humane Society

Volunteers at the Mower County Humane Society are greeting 2013 with excitement and anticipation.

Our new shelter building is nearing completion. Final selections have been made for the cat cages and dog kennels, and work is progressing quickly on the building’s interior. It’s hard to believe that the dream of a new, modern shelter is actually a reality.

Now we just have to coordinate the transport of over 20 dogs and approximately 110 cats to their new locale. Should be a piece of cake.

Keeping the number down

The MCHS adopted out a total of 122 dogs and 142 cats in 2012. We rescued 85 dogs and 108 cats from the city pound. A total of 160 new cats arrived at our shelter in 2012; an alarmingly high number.

At this time, both the cat and dog sides of the shelter are over capacity. We are currently caring for 23 dogs and close to 110 cats. Sadly, as soon as one animal is adopted, there is always another waiting to take its place.

Spaying and neutering is of the utmost importance in the fight against overpopulation. With shelters everywhere filled to capacity, there is really no reason for anyone to bring another litter of puppies or kittens into the mix. Many people complain that it’s the cost of the surgery that deters them. There are options and organizations available to help.

The MCHS is once again sponsoring a Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic at the Austin Veterinarian Clinic. This event will run from the end of February into the first three weeks of March. It is open to only 175 cats at a cost of $40 for spaying and $20 for neutering. Please call Austin Veterinarian Clinic at 433-5225 to schedule appointments now.

The spaying and neutering of 175 cats can drastically reduce the number of unwanted litters in our area.

Kittens are cute, but seeing hundreds of them homeless is not.

On Thursday, May 2, the MCHS will once again sponsor the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP Wagon) at our new shelter. This mobile team will be at our shelter to provide spay and neuter surgeries for the cats and dogs of income eligible people in our immediate area. Low cost vaccinations and microchipping can also be performed at the time of surgery. Please check out mnsnap.org for details, including appointment scheduling, prices, and eligibility requirements.

 Pasta dinner and auction on deck

Our next big fundraiser is our annual Pasta Dinner and Auction, to be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Holiday Inn in Austin.

This year’s event is shaping up to be fantastic, with baskets donated by many local businesses. Also up on the auction block: a boy’s genuine John Deere bicycle, a child’s guitar from Apold’s Music, and handcrafted bird cottages.

Local band “Rush Hour” will also be performing during the event. The proceeds will benefit the shelter’s day to day expenses. Our vet costs alone for 2012 were $60,000. Please join us for fun, music, and good food.

We are grateful for memorials received in memory of David Klinger, “Thunder” Braaten, LaDonna Johnson, “Sasha” Williamson, “Casey” Nolting, Dorothy Holby, Jean Cipra, Bob Wolfe, Dick Seltz, Warren Marti, Gene Roden, Marti Friest, Marlene Gebhart, Agnes Rush, Emily Hansen, “Colton” Swanson, Dale Wiste, Paula Ettinger, “Cookie” Sandell, “Gretchen, Porter, Humphrey and Hannah” Levine, Dick Johnson, Michael Vilt, and Howie Greenlee.