Shelters & Rescues

Health

General

• Minnesota Board of Animal Health– information on reportable diseases and other rules and regulations surrounding animals in Minnesota.
• American Animal Hospital Association - Answers to frequently asked questions, newsletters, and more.
• AVMA - 5 Reasons to vaccinate your pet and other pet care resources. 
• Pet Poison Helpline – searchable database and instructions for emergencies.
• Humane Society of the United States– coping with the death of your pet.
• Socially Conscious Animal Community– a framework for everyone within a community to create the best outcomes for all animals that end up in a shelter or rescue.

Diseases

• CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People – educational materials about how to stay healthy around pets.
• Minnesota Department of Health, Zoonotic Diseases – statistics and educational materials about diseases spread from animals to people.
• Minnesota Department of Health, Canine Brucellosis – fact sheet for shelters and dog rescues about how to prevent and control canine brucellosis.   
• Center for Food Security and Public Health – a comprehensive list of resources by disease and animal species.
• Companion Animal Parasite Council – guidelines, maps, and other resources about parasites that affect animals.

Environmental Concerns

• Minnesota Department of Health, Tickborne Diseases – maps, statistics, and other resources about the risks associated with ticks in Minnesota.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Blue-Green Algae, and Harmful Algal Blooms –information about illness in people and animals.
• AVMA, Stop Smoking– information about smoking and vaping risks to animals.

Behavior

General

• Find a Board Certified Behaviorist – American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
  
• American Dog Trainers Network
• Animal Humane Society - Pet Behavior and Training
• Pet Helpline - Free Behavior Advice and Resources

Dangerous Dogs

• Dangerous Dogs Registration – Minnesota Department of Public Safety
• Dangerous Animal Declarations – Minneapolis Animal Care & Control

Dog Bite Prevention

• Dog Bite Prevention – American Veterinary Medical Association
• Preventing Dog Bites – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Humane Investigations

• American Humane Association   
• Animal Welfare and Violence Against Animals    
  
  

Subsidized Pet Care Options

The MVMA encourages you to check with your veterinarian for financial assistance programs. 

• Animal Care Foundation of Minnesota - Veterinary member clinics working together to serve people who are blind, disabled, or elderly and have limited financial resources.
• CareCredit– health care financing to assist with pet care expenses and other health care costs.
• Access Veterinary Care– a clinic in Minneapolis that provides veterinary care in an approachable, affordable, and accessible way.
• Kindest Cut - High quality, low-cost spay/neuter, and wellness services for pets of people in need in Minnesota.
• MN SNAP – Minnesota-based Spay Neuter Assistance Program.
• People and Pets Together  - a pet food shelf led by volunteers in Minnesota.
• Student Initiative for Reservation Veterinary Services– SIRVS is a group of veterinary students who have recognized a need for veterinary services in underserved Reservation communities in Minnesota.
• VeTouch – a non-profit veterinary student club at the University of Minnesota, dedicated to providing basic pet care to low or no-income Twin Cities families.

Disclaimer:
The above information and websites are organizations that have been provided the opportunity to describe their program and services to the MVMA's Small Animal Welfare Committee. They have indicated to the committee that their intention is to meet a need in the community that they believe is currently not being met as it pertains to animal care for indigent pet owners. However, the posting of this information does not indicate that the MVMA endorses any of the organizations and the MVMA reserves the right to remove this information from its website at any time.

Wildlife Information

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - state agency dedicated to protecting and managing land, water, fish, and wildlife in Minnesota. 
• The Raptor Center - University of Minnesota facility that trains veterinarians and educates people about raptor medicine and conservation.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota - organization providing quality medical care and rehabilitation for wildlife as well as educating the public. 

Emergency Preparedness

• American Red Cross – resources on pet disaster preparedness.
• BART (Basic Animal Rescue Training) - a non-profit organization operated by volunteers in the veterinary profession that offers classes to first responders.
• Lost & Found Pet Recovery – nationwide microchip look-up.
• MVMRC – Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corp.
• Pets Welcome – searchable database for pet-friendly hotels and other travel resources for pet owners

American Red Cross – resources on pet disaster preparedness

BART (Basic Animal Rescue Training) - a non-profit organization operated by volunteers in the veterinary profession that offers classes to first responders.

Lost & Found Pet Recovery – nationwide microchip look-up

MVMRC – Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corp.

Pets Welcome – searchable database for pet-friendly hotels and other travel resources for pet owners