Pinkie, the dog, pictured at left, has needed a lot of medical attention since being at the pound.

The Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS) has had a very busy winter.

With a new facility in the works and lots of fundraising to do, the intrepid team of FCHS volunteers is working their tails off – so to speak – to make a difference in the county, one furry face at a time.

FCHS is eager to accept any help the community sends their way, whether it be donations of money, time, services, or items.

Given the expense of opening a new facility and caring for needy animals, now is a particularly good time to make a monetary donation to FCHS.

“The Humane Society is primarily supported by donations. No one is paid,” explains Debby Johnson, FCHS president. “All donations are spent on the animals: vet expenses, food, litter and the new building.” 

Ertman Truck Repair, in Blue Earth, has been a particularly generous donor of late.

Those who follow the FCHS Facebook page may have noticed Ertman Truck Repair is frequently mentioned in conjunction with new adoptions.

“Harvey is still available for adoption! Ertman Truck Repair in Blue Earth, MN is sponsoring her adoption fee,” one March 30 post reads.

On March 22, FCHS shared happy news about two recent adoptee kittens, posting, “Thanks to the generosity of Ertman Truck Repair’s sponsoring their adoption fee, Hope and Faith are living their best life together!”

Bonnie White, a FCHS volunteer, explains how the arrangement came about.

“It started with Matt and Lisa Ertman…wanting to help us,” White explains. “She (Lisa) and I talked about different ways to sponsor, and she liked the idea of sponsoring adoption fees.” 

Since then, Ertman Truck Repair has been headlining happy news about pets finding their forever homes.

The idea spread from there, and now other businesses are following Ertman Truck Repair’s lead.

“Lisa started getting the word out with her friends, and then we were contacted by Blue Earth Locker and Blue Earth Flying Service,” White shares. “Our newest sponsor is Patton Funeral Home. We’ve also had some individual sponsors as well.” 

White points out adoption sponsorship is just one of many ways Faribault County residents can donate funds to FCHS.

“We have many different ways to support FCHS, including monthly stipends for utilities, recurring supply donations, vet bill donations, adoption fee sponsorships,” White lists.

Vet fees represent another significant cost to FCHS, as exemplified by Pinkie’s story.

Pinkie, who Johnson guesses is an Australian Blue Heeler, has been undergoing a long and expensive recovery process over the last few weeks.

“Her ears and entire body are covered with fungal and bacterial infections, probably caused by an underlying allergy,” Johnson says. “When found, she was wearing a baby outfit – possibly to cover up her missing fur, or keep her warm.” 

The vet bills to treat Pinkie’s condition were high.

“We’ve never had a vet say this, but in her case they said, ‘Pinkie is a mess,'” Johnson says, grimacing.

Following her treatment, Pinkie will be placed in a foster home where she can receive the care she needs to fully recover for adoption.

Though Pinkie is doing much better, she will probably not be the last animal welcomed by FCHS who needs serious medical attention.

“It is occasional,” Johnson says, when asked how commonly FCHS is asked to house residents who are very sick.

She adds that now and then, the FCHS will post an update about an animal on their Facebook page, requesting financial assistance for their medical bills.

FCHS’s pending relocation to a new facility also represents a significant cost to the organization.

The Animal Control Joint Powers and FCHS both recognized the need for a new facility several years ago, and formed a building committee in 2019.

FCHS was finally able to purchase the long-awaited new facility on Feb. 28.

The building, which FCHS purchased from Steve and Jenny Geshe, is located along Leland Parkway in Blue Earth.

“We were fortunate to find a building and location that suited our needs,” Johnson notes.

However, there are many renovations which must be done to prepare the building for its four-legged guests. These include the installation of fencing, dog doors, and separate areas for cats and dogs.

“Our goal is to set aside the funds for the building, and then complete renovations as funds are available,” Johnson explains.  

FCHS is in need of monetary donations to fund their relocation, but is equally happy to accept donations of labor, as well as supplies and materials needed to renovate.

Johnson says supplies such as kennel panels, six-foot chain link fencing, poles and hardware, large wire kennels, heavy-duty shelving, doors with windows and an exterior screen door would be particularly useful in getting the building up to snuff.

“We might need to transition out there,” Johnson considers. “It might not be ideal, but this place is not ideal,” she adds, gesturing to the small, cramped facility which FCHS currently uses.

Finally, donations of time are always particularly valuable to FCHS.

“FCHS volunteers have taken care of the local pound for over 10 years,” Johnson says. “We go to the pound three times a day to take care of the animals.” 

“In addition, our volunteers do many other tasks, such as arranging adoptions, transporting animals to vet appointments and managing our Facebook page,” Johnson adds. “We can always use more volunteers.” 

The volunteers have a long road ahead of them. They have funds to raise, a building to renovate, and, as always, many animals to care for.

Nonetheless, they remain optimistic for the future.

“We can make it work,” Johnson says, with a smile.