Frequently Asked Questions
How can I visit the adoptable animals?
You can visit any of our adoptable animals during our open house events every Thursday from 12-4p (November-March) or 12p-6p (April-October)
We also have open house events the 2nd Saturday of the month from 12p-4p.
All other times require an approved application and an appointment in order to visit with the animals. This allows us to have the socialization space and time to dedicate to your adoption.
How long do you keep an animal at the shelter and available for adoption?
As long as necessary. We do not euthanize animals simply because they have not been adopted within a certain time frame. We do work with other rescue organizations if we have an animal that isn’t thriving in our environment and we feel it is necessary to transfer that animal out of the shelter.
Do you offer veterinary care like vaccinations and sterilization procedures for the public?
No, we do not. We do not have an on-site vet like some of the larger shelters are fortunate to have. We take our animals to the vet for their spay and neuter procedures and to get their Rabies vaccinations too.
We can place a microchip in your dog or cat with an appointment and a current Rabies vaccination. Call us at 651-388-5286 to schedule an appointment.
Are you considered animal control for Goodhue County?
No we are not animal control, we are the impound facility for the stray animals within Goodhue County and surrounding areas. We hold all of the stray animals and offer food, shelter and veterinary care while they wait to be reclaimed. The local police and sheriff departments provide the actual animal control services of picking up stray dogs and or cats per their individual contracts.
Minnesota stray holds require animals to be held for 5 days to allow owners the opportunity to reclaim them.
Wisconsin stray holds require animals to be held for 7 days to allow owners the opportunity to reclaim them.
What is required to have a pet within the city of Red Wing?
All dogs and cats within the city limits are required to have a rabies vaccination and a license. Licenses are available at the Humane Society. For more information, visit our licensing page.
I'd like to support the humane society, how can I help?
You can help in many different ways such as donating money, items we can use, or your time as a volunteer. We are very grateful for any support you are able to give!
What should I do if I find a stray dog or cat in my neighborhood?
If you find a stray cat or dog and do not recognize it as a neighbor’s animal and are able to catch it, please call the shelter to let us know you have a stray and will be bringing it in to the shelter. If the animal has an ID tag, try and contact the owner. Stray dogs can be brought in by the person that found them or you can call the local police department. Cats should be brought in by the person that found them. The local police departments will not bring cats to the shelter.
What should I do if I find a stray dog or cat in Wisconsin?
If you find a stray cat or dog in Wisconsin, DO NOT bring it to the shelter. Animals CANNOT cross state lines without being seen by a veterinarian to receive a Rabies vaccination and a health certificate. Contact your local police or sheriff department or town representative to arrange transfer to our shelter.
Do you provide impound services to other areas?
Yes. We provide impound services of dogs to the communities of Hastings and River Falls.
Can I rent a live trap from you?
Yes. We have traps for small critters, cats and dogs. There is a deposit required that you get back in full when you return the trap. Traps can be rented for 7 days and we accept cash, check or credit card for the deposit.
How do you receive funding for the shelter?
We are a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that relies on the community we serve for donations. We also have minor contracts with the City of Red Wing and Goodhue County to provide impound services to the strays picked up in those areas. We also have the ability to apply for animal related grants.
How do I support you/donate?
You can donate monetarily right on our webpage! We have a donate button that will lead to a safe and reputable site where we have a longstanding PayPal account set up. Here you can donate once or sign up to donate on a regular basis. We also accept cash, checks and credit card donations at the shelter during business hours.
Our wish list is also posted on our webpage along with links to our Amazon wish lists.
Do you let volunteers interact with the animals?
If you are interested in volunteering at the shelter, we do have a minimum commitment requirement and an orientation. Check out all the volunteer information under that Volunteer tab. Applications also available here.
Can my church/school/work group come in and volunteer together?
No. We do not provide this option anymore. Our facility is not designed for large group opportunities. If we do have opportunities that come up and are looking for a group of volunteers to help with some work around the shelter, we will post it on our Facebook page.
We appreciate the interest of your group wanting to volunteer your time and talents at River Bluff Humane Society. If your group still wants to help, we encourage you to have a donation drive or fundraiser at your place of employment, school, home, etc. Reach out to the shelter if you need any helpful handouts/wish lists etc. We can also help promote your fundraiser/donation drive on our Facebook page.
Do you allow community service hours to be fulfilled here?
Yes, please complete the volunteer application found under the Volunteer tab. Please complete the community service information and contact the shelter manager to discuss scheduling opportunities.
I can't keep my pet anymore, can you take him?
Possibly. When space permits, we take in animals whose owners are unable to keep them for any reason. We charge a surrender fee (to help offset our expenses in caring for your pet), and will also ask you for information about your pet, including past health and behavior history. You may contact any shelter staff person for more information specific to your situation.
Are you a no-kill shelter?
No. However, we do try to avoid euthanizing animals whenever possible. We take in all of the homeless pets in our area and that occasionally includes animals that are extremely ill or aggressive. We give sick animals medical treatment when appropriate, but for some extremely ill animals, we believe euthanasia is more humane. We also do not adopt out aggressive pets and those animals are euthanized. No adoptable animals are euthanized – once an animal is up for adoption, it will remain up for adoption until it finds a home. You may review our complete euthanasia policy here.
Are you part of the County/City government?
No. We have contracts with the City of Red Wing, Goodhue County, and other areas to handle certain aspects of animal control. As such, we do receive some funding from these government entities in accordance with our contracts. However, we are an independent organization and the majority of our income comes from public support. We do not receive state or federal funding.