Founding Angel Appreciation Event

Last month we held an appreciation event to honor and update our Founding Angel Donors. These donors saw the value of MNSNAP, believed in our mission and made contributions before we were even up and running.

Event photos are featured in Mpls/St.Paul Magazine and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Because of their commitment to ending pet overpopulation in our state we were able to order our mobile surgical suite, equipment and supplies. The generous donations made by these animal advocates have made it possible for MNSNAP to start providing low-cost spay and neuter for the over 4000 pets that have registered with us for sterilization surgery.

We honored Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota and Second Chance Animal Rescue with our first Angel Awards. These rescues both went above and beyond to support spay and neuter in Minnesota and provided financial contributions to help us with our mission.

Special thanks to the Gage Family who hosted the event at the Curtis L. Carlson Family Home on Lake Minnetonka. It was a wonderful event and their hospitality was, as usual, spectacular!

Evolution of a Rescue: Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota

Most animal lovers in Minnesota have heard of one the oldest and most well respected animal rescues around; Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota. Did you know that Pet Haven has been saving animals since 1952? 

Much has changed in animal welfare over the years. As things have changed, Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota has evolved. Pet Haven has realized that spaying and neutering, beyond spaying and neutering the animals in the care of their rescue, is essential to ending the pet overpopulation problem in Minnesota.

According to Pet Haven's former President, Marilou Chanrasmi, "In recent years we have chosen to expand our reach. We have switched to wide-angle lenses, and put into place a strategy that considers many angles and a larger landscape. We continue to focus our efforts on rescuing and re-homing. In addition, we are committed to expanding our spay/neuter initiatives, education/outreach efforts and advocating on behalf of companion animals."

Part of Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota's evolution has included adding the Pet Haven, Inc.’s Spay/Neuter Initiative (SNI) to its programs.

From Pet Haven's Website:

Pet Haven received a very generous donation earmarked to be used to help reduce the overpopulation of companion animals and to help families keep their pets by providing low-cost spay and neuter services. The donor's hope was that the funds be used to reach animals not already being served by Pet Haven's adoption program. Pet Haven used this donation as the "seed money" to start its own low-cost spay/neuter outreach and to offer grants to humane and rescue groups to assist with their spay/neuter efforts.

Since May 2010, Pet Haven, Inc.’s Spay Neuter Initiative (SNI) has sponsored 7 spay/neuter days through MNSNAP at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, Northwoods Humane Society, Pennington County Humane Society, Beltrami Humane Society, and BENCHS (Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society), resulting in the spay or neuter of over 175 cats and dogs. They will be sponsoring five additional projects. One future event includes the spay/neuter of over 100 cats at a trailer park in Rice County.

Read more and view photos from the event earlier this year.

Spay Neuter Initiative (SNI) received funding from Chuck and Don’s Pawprints campaign by providing grants to MN humane societies, shelters and rescue groups for community outreach for spay and neuter through MNSNAP. Pet Haven’s SNI program, in partnership with MNSNAP, has already sponsored $10,000 in spay and neuter surgeries during projects that were completed earlier this year and will be sponsoring another $10,000 worth of surgeries during future scheduled projects.

Such dedication deserves to be recognized. MNSNAP not only the appreciates the contributions that they have made to support our mission but the outstanding efforts they are making to strengthen the Minnesota animal welfare community as a whole. Kudos to Pet Haven for the many years of compassionate care they have provided to the critters in their program and their commitment to a brighter future for all companion animals in Minnesota.

Pins for Pets - Bowling for the Fix

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet team and their partners are gearing up for the Third Annual Pins for Pets event! The fun starts next Sunday, August 15, 2010 at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl in Arden Hills.

Since the inception of this fundraiser, over $50,000 has gone directly to the sterilization of dogs and cats in Minnesota.

Everyone at MNSNAP would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dana Andresen and the dedicated, hardworking and compassionate people at Chuck and Don's who have pulled together this amazing event. We also would like to thank the event donors and sponsors who have championed our worthy cause. You can view the complete list of Pins for Pets Sponsors online. 

Chuck and Don's has already surpassed their fundraising goal!

Chuck and Don's Goal: $35,000

Chuck and Don's has raised: $39,865

WAY TO GO CHUCK AND DON'S!!!

 

Team MNSNAP is way behind in reaching its fundraising goal!

Team MNSNAP's Goal: $5,000

Team MNSNAP has raised: $655

CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR TEAM MNSNAP


WE NEED YOUR HELP TO REACH OUR GOAL!!!

Each day 10,000 humans are born in the United States and each day 70,000 kittens and puppies are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals.

As a result millions of healthy, loving kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs face early deaths as a form of animal control. Others are left to fend for themselves against automobiles, the weather, other animals, and cruel humans.

An unspayed female dog, her mate and all of their offspring, plus the offspring’s puppies, if none are neutered or spayed add up to:

1 year - 16
2 years - 128
3 years - 512
4 years - 2,048
5 years - 12,288
6 years - 67,000

 An unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing 2 litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens can total:

 1 year - 12
2 years - 67
3 years - 376
4 years - 2,107
5 years - 11,801
6 years - 66,088
7 years - 370,092
8 years - 2,072,514
9 years - 11,606,077

© 2009 SpayUSA is a program of North Shore Animal League America

2261 Broadbridge Avenue, Stratford, CT  06614-3898

What can you do to end the death and suffering of Minnesota's companion animals due to overpopulation?

SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS!

&

CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR TEAM MNSNAP

Photos from Sushi with Your Poochie!

Sushi with Your Poochie photos captured by the Twin Cities premiere "Puparazzi", Sarah Ernhart of Sarah Beth Photography, are now online for viewing and available if you'd like to download or purchase a print or two! Sarah has graciously offered to donate a portion of all file and print orders to MNSNAP. View the entire Sushi with Your Poochie Photo Gallery here.

If you missed the event, you're in luck! You can still get tickets to Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux—Continued: The Sushi Returns. This event will benefit our beyond worthy friends at The Pet Project.

Sarah's Sushi with Your Poochie Blog Post

Become a fan of Sarah Beth Photgraphy on facebook!

Thanks Sarah!

Pet Microchips Now Available!

We now offer pet microchips to our surgical patients. Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to its owner via the Lost Pet Recovery Service.

Animal microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and will be implanted by our vet just beneath the surface of the skin. The process is similar to receiving vaccination through a needle and is painless to most pets.

When found pets are brought into animal shelters, pounds or even found by some police departments, they are scanned with a wand. The owner of that pet is notified immediately if the pet has a microchip in it. Each microchip has a unique number in it that is associated with that pet and the owners contact information. This information is stored in a national database.

We use the 24PetWatch Microchip ID. 24PetWatch is dedicated to the safe return of pets all across the United States.

Be sure to update the contact information associated with the chip if you change phone numbers or if the pet is adopted by a new owner. Microchips only work if there is human to contact if the pet is found!

Microchip Fees:

• Microchip implantation and registration... $20
• If you change of emergency contact after one year... $14.95
• Optional fee for unlimited lifetime changes to emergency contact info... $35.99

Microchips are available only to MNSNAP's spay or neuter patients. You may register online for MNSNAP's low-cost services. 

Cause for Paws is Sponsoring a Cat Clinic

Cause for Paws has partnered with MNSNAP and is sponsoring a clinic for outdoor community cats. These cats are also referred to as stray or feral cats.

These are the cats and kittens one would find at many animal control facilities; discarded pets who had been doing their best to survive outside, hanging around neighborhoods and city parks. Just one female cat and her offspring can produce over 420,000 cats in only seven years!

Cause for Paws assists approximately 200 cats a year and its work is entirely funded by donations. If you would like to learn more about them you may click this link to visit their website: Cause for Paws

If you or your group would like to sponsor a clinic please email MNSNAP's Office Manager, Christie Daluge.

Second Chance Animal Rescue Raised the Bar for Animal Rescue Groups in Minnesota

We are grateful to all of the people and groups who have supported MNSNAP and our mission to save the lives of Minnesota's pets through spay and neuter. Some people and groups go above and beyond and we must tell everyone of the good deeds they have done, as they are truly extraordinary.

Recently, Nancy Minion and Second Chance Animal Rescue made a substantial monetary donation to MNSNAP.

They are not only rescuing, caring for, and adopting out Minnesota's dogs and cats but, they are also dedicated to educating the public on respect for all animal life, including the importance of spaying and neutering in order to reduce the number of animals euthanized.

Nancy and Second Chance have raised the bar for animal welfare groups and are making difference through their rescue efforts and commitment to stopping the cycle of breeding and killing.

Spay and neuter alone won't solve all of the problems we face with pet overpopulation and homelessness in Minnesota. It is the best first step! They understand that we must all work together and animal rescue is only a band-aid without spay and neuter.

Thank you again Second Chance Animal Rescue. Together we can save the lives of Minnesota's companion animals!

Thanks for Making Sushi with Your Poochie a Success!

Last week MNSNAP spent two fun filled nights at Sushi with Your Poochie - Part Deux.  If you missed the event hosted by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2 you can read more about it in this post on the Sidewalk Dog Blog.

We want to thank the event sponsors who donated items to our raffle where we earned $605. These local businesses are great! They not only supply super cool pet related services and products but they also truly care about the welfare of animals in Minnesota. Let them know that you support their efforts!

You can use these links to visit their websites and show them some love: Sidewalk Dog, Tiger Sushi 2, Bark Busters Home Dog Training, Bone Adventure, Pampered Pooch Playground, Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, Sarah Beth Photography, ScoopyPoo and Stunt Puppy.

If you missed Sushi with Your Poochie last week... don't fret! Another event is planned for August! Our great friends at The Pet Project will be the beneficiaries. They are wonderful people and a very worthy cause! Check the Sidewalk Dog Blog for updates and tickets.


Thanks again to everyone who came out to have some fun and show their support of MNSNAP's mission to end the suffering and death of homeless animals due to pet overpopulation. Affordable and accessible spay and neuter is the best way to end this tragedy in Minnesota. We can do it with your help!

Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux

Join Us for Food and Fun to Benefit MNSNAP!

Attention Twin Cities Dog Lovers: Sidewalk Dog got such a good response from the inaugural Sushi With Your Poochie shindig that they threw last year at the incomparable Tiger Sushi 2 in Uptown that they're throwing another this month—and you're invited!

• The sushi artists at Tiger Sushi 2 have offered to hand roll special dog-friendly maki sushi for our four-legged friends!
• A very insightful "paw reader" will be on hand to inform you what lies ahead in your pet's future.
• You've got two chances to attend—the event will be held on both Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st. So if one night conflicts with your golf game, don't sweat it. Plus, each night will be less crowded and more fully staffed than last year.
• In addition to being able to order off Tiger Sushi's amazing happy hour menu, which the restaurant is offering for the entire event, you can purchase ready-to-eat boxed sushi from a table on TS2's beautiful patio.
• A small portion of ticket proceeds, paw readings and martini sales will go to our fabulous beneficiary, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP), which provides low-cost spay and neuter services in a mobile surgical unit. MNSNAP will also receive part of the proceeds from all paw readings and $1 from each of Tiger Sushi's fabulous martinis (Ninja Jinga or or Pomegranate Empress, anyone?) sold that night. On-site donations are also encouraged.

This is a dog friendly event. However, if your pet already has other plans, prefers dining at home or is just not that into it... bringing your poochie is optional! Some of us humans are going with other two legged creatures because our four legged friends tend to be party poopers.

You're already salivating for a spicy tuna roll, right? Here's what you need to know:

The Deets

What: Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux, an on-leash social event presented by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2

Date: Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st

Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Location: Tiger Sushi 2's gorgeous patio at 2841 Lyndale Ave. in Uptown Minneapolis. (Free parking is available after 4 p.m. in the Egg & I parking lot across the street.)

Cost: $15/person

Tickets: Available for either night—choose whichever date works best for you!

Sponsored by: Bark Busters Home Dog Training, Bone Adventure, Pampered Pooch Playground, Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, Sarah Beth Photography, ScoopyPoo and Stunt Puppy

Beneficiary: Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP)

Click the link below to get your tickets before they're gone!

Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux - Dog-friendly- Eventbrite

Pins for Pets - Bowl for the Fix

MNSNAP was chosen as the 2010 beneficiary of Pins for Pets - Bowl for the Fix! Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program is a MN 501(c)3 that relies entirely upon community support to provide low-cost, accessible, spay and neuter to animal rescues, shelters and the low income community. Join us and show your support!

Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet team and their partners are gearing up for the Third Annual Pins for Pets event on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl in Arden Hills. See a map and directions to Flaherty's Arden Bowl. Since the inception of this fundraiser, over $50,000 has gone directly to the sterilization of dogs and cats in Minnesota.

Put your team together now, sponsor a team or create a fundraising page!

Registration and creating a fundraising page are even easier this year!

• Register now for the 2010 Pins for Pets event.
• Teams must have 6 bowlers.
• There will be one session from 3pm - 6pm.
• Check in starts at 2:30pm.
• Your $20 registration fee covers two games of bowling, shoes, lunch, and chances for great prizes.
• You may also Download a 2010 Pledge Form.

Don't want to bowl? Sponsor Team MNSNAP! Click the box to the right and we'll make fools of ourselves so that you don't have to! MNSNAP's very own Dr. Kim, vet techs and board members are prepared to get their game on to save the lives of Minnesota's companion animals.

Visit PINSforPETS.org to learn more!

Click Here to Support Team MNSNAP

Donation and Supply Drive Update

Our friends at Bone Adventure have extended the donation and supply drive that they are holding for us through the month of June! They are also offering a 5% merchandise discount to anyone who makes a donation of $5 or more to MNSNAP. Give a little... get a little. Nice!

May Donation & Supply Drive

Stop in. Shop. Leave a donation for MNSNAP.

The wonderful people at Bone Adventure are holding donation and supply drives to benefit MNSNAP at all three of their fabulous stores during the month of May!

View Our Wish List

 
Visit Us at MNSNAP.ORG to Learn More and Get Involved!

We Need Sites to Host Spay and Neuter Clinics

Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP) is a non-profit 501(c)3 animal welfare group seeking businesses and organizations all over Minnesota that would be willing to host a spay/neuter clinic in their parking lot as a service to the community.

MNSNAP provides low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to all Minnesota 501(c)3 non-profit rescue groups, animal shelters and income qualified pet owners. We operate out of a 33 foot mobile surgical unit. We have contracted Blue Sky Veterinary Services, LLC to exclusively perform all veterinary duties offered by MNSNAP. Blue Sky and MNSNAP are fully insured and have all applicable licenses to provide these services.

Our mobile surgical unit travels to a pre-scheduled destination for the day. Our staff admits each animal, collects fees, and performs pre-operative physical exams. During the day, all the patients will be cared for by MN SNAP’s highly-qualified, licensed veterinarian and her team of experienced and caring veterinary technicians; patients will be anesthetized and surgically sterilized using the most current anesthesia medications, equipment and surgical techniques. All animals are discharged to their owners/caretakers or back to their rescues or shelters the same day.

The only requirements for hosting a spay/neuter clinic at your site are: 

• a place to park our 33 foot mobile unit

• the ability have pet owners or rescue fosters park and drop off their animals in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon

If your business or organization would be willing to host a clinic please contact our Office Manager, Christie Daluge, by email at office.mnsnap.org or call her at 612-720-8236.

Some host sites have opted to also hold a supply/donation drive for MNSNAP during the day of the event or in the days or weeks leading up to it. While this is an option, it is not required. We also have have several sponsorship programs available. If you are interested in getting involved at this level please contact our Marketing Director, Jennifer Allen, by email at jennifer@mnsnap.org or call her at 612-720-8593.

You may also visit the HOW YOU CAN HELP page at MNSNAP.ORG to learn more about sponsorship, branding and other marketing opportunities.

All of us at MNSNAP would love to work with you to help make Minnesota a better place for our companion animals and the people who love them. Please join us in our mission to end the suffering and death of homeless animals due to pet overpopulation. You can make a difference by helping us to provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible spay and neuter services to MN shelters, rescue organizations, and the low-income community.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

MNSNAP Dog Night Fund Raiser at Xcel

Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program is excited to be partnering with the Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse Team for the 1st Dog Night at the Xcel Energy Center! We are participating in a special dog event at the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday April 17th and we'll have a booth on the concourse for the night!

Dogs are welcome at this game and the Xcel Center will be open an hour and a half prior to game time to allow plenty of time for dogs and people to explore the center and the dog-friendly exhibits that day. Support MNSNAP by treating you and your dog to a special treat: a dog-friendly game of professional indoor lacrosse!

The $25 Dog Night Package will include an Upper Level Ticket for both the dog owner and their dog. $5 of each Ticket Package will go back to MNSNAP and $5 will help support Can Do Canines. The owner will also receive a wristband which will allow them to participate in the Dog Walk on the Upper Level from 5:00-6:30pm!

MNSNAP purchased a block of tickets in advance to secure our booth; we really need sell them ASAP! We reserved the entire 1st row in section 219. We also have seats 1, 2 and 3 in the 2nd row of section 219. MNSNAP is selling the dog night package for only $25 and no waiting in line at will-call! Face value of the tickets is $42 each. It's an excellent way to spend quality time with your best friend and show your support of MNSNAP and Can-Do Canines (home of Hearing and Service Dogs). 

Please contact jennifer@mnsnap.org to purchase tickets. Please specify the number of tickets you'd like to purchase and note if you'd like to make an additional donation to MNSNAP with your order. We'll then send you a PayPal payment request for tickets ordered, process your request and mail them out the next day.

MN SNAP and Can-do Canines - Dog Night Fund Raiser

Time: 5:00PM Saturday, April 17th

Location: Xcel Energy Center

Contact: jennifer@mnsnap.org to reserve your tickets!

Donate Your Car to MN SNAP!

Have a great car you can’t sell because of mechanical problems?
Don’t trade it in for next to nothing! Donate it to MN SNAP.

It can be worth more to you than the dealer offers in trade in.
It’s easy, tax deductible and best of all, it will provide MN SNAP
with funds to help us accomplish our mission.

Call 877.999.8322 or click here to donate your vehicle today.

MN SNAP will be on the road in April!

We are very excited to announce that we are on schedule! Our 33 foot mobile spay/neuter surgical unit will be built by the end of March. MN SNAP will be on the road and fully operational in April. We will be spaying and neutering a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40 animals each day at any given site.

We are frantically setting up our schedule for April. We have hundreds of animals on a waiting list. We are going to concentrate on areas where we have a full days worth of animals that have been waiting for the first few weeks. We will be traveling all over the state in the following weeks. Anyone who has has already registered will be contacted shortly and put on our schedule.

Please let us know if you would like to host a spay/neuter day at your business, church, school, shelter or other safe, accessible place that can accommodate a 33 foot vehicle and parking for people when they drop off and pick up their pets. We really need to have locations all over the state that we call on when we have animals waiting in the area.

MN 501(c)3 rescues and shelters may click here to register. 

Income-qualified pet owners may click here to register.

Who Qualifies for MN SNAP's Low Cost Spay Neuter Program?

We are frequently asked about who qualifies for our program. MN SNAP’s services are available ONLY to animals belonging to: 

• Income-qualified families
• MN 501(c)3 animal shelters and rescue organizations

Income qualified pet owners must show a Minnesota-issued identification and one of the following:

1. Proof of participation in one of the following needs-based public assistance programs: 

• Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• Free Lunch Program (Public Schools)
• Social Security Disability (SSD)
• Minnesota Care (MNCare) or Medical Assistance (MA)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• HUD Section 8 Housing
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Major VA Disability
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - Formerly AFDC 

(OR)2. A client may bring his or her most recent income tax return showing income of less than $40,000 per household.

MN 501(c)3 rescues and shelters may click here to register.

Income-qualified families may click here to register.

Social Butterflies

MN SNAP has taken the social media plunge! We have joined Google's BUZZ and created a Facebook fan page. If you are a gmail user you can now follow MN SNAP on Google BUZZ. Facebook users should stop by MN SNAP's Facebook Fan Page and become a fan. Be sure to suggest our page to your friends. We look foward to your comments, sharing ideas with you and learning more about our pet loving friends!