The Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS) has been searching for a new facility for years. Finally, they have found a suitable building, located in Blue Earth’s West Industrial Park, top right. FCHS president Debby Johnson, pictured above, left, with volunteer Kiera Meyer, could not be more excited about the impending relocation.

Providing a temporary residence for local animals in need is what the Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS) does best.

However, while FCHS strives to locate housing for its four-legged patrons, the organization has also struggled to find suitable housing for itself.

FCHS president Debby Johnson is ready to share some good news with the community: much like many of the organization’s animal friends, FCHS has finally found its forever home.

Currently, FCHS is stationed in a small building adjacent to Blue Earth’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“Originally, it was the dog pound designed for short-term care,” Johnson explains. “Ten years ago, the Faribault County Humane Society restarted, and began taking care of animals here again.” 

According to Johnson, the tiny facility needed a lot of elbow grease to be made suitable for animals.

“The cages were pieced together from wrought iron,” Johnson remembers. “There were only three kennels, and the dogs slept on wood platforms.”

Over the years, FCHS has purchased new nonporous panels for the walls, repainted the floor, and installed a gate which serves to separate the dog area from the area where cats are kept.

“There was no fencing,” Johnson adds. She and a group of volunteers worked to install a fence around the facility, which they considered vital to the well-being of canine guests and to the safety of surrounding community members.

“That made a difference. Now, the dogs can play outside, and it is safe when kids from Blue Ridge Apartments play near the area,” Johnson explains.  

“I don’t know if much, or if anything was invested here until we came,” she admits.

Despite the countless hours of work FCHS volunteers have invested in their current location, the fact remains its fundamental design presents challenges.

“It’s a drawback to have dogs and cats in the same room,” Johnson notes.

The close proximity of the animals when they are clustered in such a small area can be hazardous.

“When animals are this close, things (diseases) will spread,” Johnson says.

However, FCHS feels pressured to accept as many furry residents as it is able to accommodate.

“It’s a challenge having to say we’re full when people bring animals,” Johnson says.

FCHS attempts to provide services as widely as possible within the county.

“We’re a really good clearing house for finding lost pets because of our Facebook page,” Johnson notes.

According to Johnson, FCHS’s Facebook page is quite widely followed by the community, and has become a hub for the advertisement of missing and found pets in the area.

FCHS also locates and cares for animals who are not fortunate enough to have owners.

“The county hasn’t rehired an animal control officer,” says FCHS volunteer Kiera Meyer. Due to the current absence of a designated official, FCHS volunteers often take on the duty of tracking down Faribault County strays.

“There is a big stray cat problem across the county,” Johnson explains. “There were a number of stray cats in Elmore. Citizens contact us to pick them up.”

Johnson estimates Elmore’s number of strays falls somewhere between 50-100 felines.  

Though Johnson and her fellow volunteers have taken on a tremendous workload, FCHS’s high level of involvement within the community and rising visibility on Facebook has had a significant silver lining.

“People realized the animals that get lost or run away could be theirs,” Meyer says. “They saw the state their animals could be kept in.”

A need FCHS had long been aware of became increasingly visible to the community as a whole.

FCHS, campaigned hard to make their dreams of relocation a reality.

Johnson remembers first approaching the Faribault County Joint Powers Animal Control board in 2019 to assert their growing need for a new facility. At this point, a building committee for that purpose was formed.

“That was a huge step forward,” Johnson says.

Meanwhile, FCHS worked hard to raise funds for a new location.

“We got very involved in the community,” Meyer says. “We started advertising the shelter, and were able to grow off of that.” 

“One guy, when he saw the facility, started sending us $25 a month. He’s been doing that for four years,” Johnson shares.

Due to a wide variety of donations such as this, as well as a large fundraiser, FCHS has been able to set aside $100,000 for the project.

It was only recently that FCHS discovered a place toward which the funds could be directed.

The search for a new building had not been easy, given the many requirements necessary for a building to be suitable to house so many animals.

“All of a sudden, the stars started to align,” Johnson remembers.

“Someone suggested to us that Steve Gesche might be willing to sell the former Papa D’s building,” Johnson says. “He showed us the building, and two weeks later, he said he would sell it to us.” 

FCHS currently has a verbal agreement with Gesche, but hopes to have the paperwork completed by the end of this year.

FCHS is keen to dig in to their new center and complete the necessary remodels which will transform it into the center of their dreams.

“We have an idea of how we want the inside to go,” Johnson explains. Remodels will include fencing along the outside of the building, cement work, installing a new drain and dog doors.

FCHS also plans to divide the building’s cavernous main room into several separated areas by installing a few walls.

“It will cost at least $50,000 for remodeling,” Johnson estimates.

Meyer adds, “Once we have a better idea of the remodeling cost, we can share it with the community, and start fundraising.” 

As Johnson shows off the new space, however, FCHS’s future looks bright.

“It is large enough to meet our needs and allow for future growth,” Johnson notes.

She adds, “Some of the workers from surrounding industries may be willing to help FCHS on their lunch break, or after work.” 

FCHS has been a thriving hub of volunteer opportunities for many years.

“We have a really great group of volunteers,” Johnson says.

“We provide a lot of volunteer opportunities for families and kids,” Meyer adds. “We’ve had church groups come out, and small groups from the school. A bigger facility would allow for more volunteer opportunities.” 

FCHS hopes to welcome many additional volunteers from the community in the future.

“We can always use volunteers, even just to come in and play with the animals,” Johnson says.

FCHS will also welcome donations as they prepare for this huge transition.

“This is the time to make our dream come true,” Johnson shares. “We are hoping that people will support us with their year-end giving.” 

“I believe if people knew what the conditions are, they would support us,” she adds.

“We are making a difference,” Johnson concludes. “A lot of people are interested in saving animals, but don’t know where to go.”

“We provide a really good service to the community,” Meyer agrees.