Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of Minnesota

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How can I Help?

Matching Gifts
Foster a dog, puppy, kitten or cat temporarily!
Sponsor a cat or a dog
Wish List
Use GoodSearch to search the internet!
Purchase Pet Supplies from Jefferspet.com
Purchase Hand Drawn and Custom Stationary From Doodlebug Press
Purchase Items from iGive.com
Recipes
Fund Raisers
Volunteer
Spread the Word

Homeward Bound is a non-profit, 501(c) 3-tax exempt, dog rescue and placement organization based in Minnesota (see http://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78). We receive no government support and depend solely on adoption fees and donations to operate. Because we are a nonprofit organization, your gift may be tax deductible! For details, please check with your tax advisor or see http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/index.html.

Here at Homeward Bound, we have a space in our hearts for everyone of every breed/mix, size, age, health, etc. Because of this, we have extremely high vet bills, particularly for the special needs dogs. Please - any monetary donations that you can contribute to Homeward Bound will be greatly appreciated and will help us to continue to rescue animals in need. Please send donations to Homeward Bound at: PO Box 1056, Monticello, MN 55362. Donated money will help pay for vet bills for all of the animals we rescue, including spaying and neutering costs, vaccinations, dentals (if needed), surgeries (if needed), and Heartworm treatment (if needed). Please help us to continue to rescue dogs and cats in need! If you would like to make a donation to help these dogs in need, please donate via our printable online form or in person at one of our pet adoptions. Thanks!

MATCHING GIFTS -- Your gift could be matched dollar for dollar! Many Minnesota companies and foundations are currently matching their employees' gifts to non-profit organizations such as Homeward Bound Rescue. Through corporate matching gift programs, cash gifts from a company's eligible employees are matched with company or corporate foundation funds. It all adds up to a great way to increase your contributions and receive more benefits at no additional cost to you! If you have questions about your company's matching gift program, please contact your human resources department. Once you have determined that your company matches donations made to Homeward Bound; please obtain the appropriate form from your human resources office, complete the entire donor portion of the form, and send it with a copy of your gift receipt (if available) to the address below:

Homeward Bound Rescue Gift Match
c/o S. Besaw
5725 47th Ave N
Crystal, MN 55422

If you have any questions, please email Sherri at sweeperjunkies@comcast.net.

FOSTER A DOG, PUPPY, KITTEN, OR CAT TEMPORARILY!
We are forced to turn away homeless and abandoned dogs and cats because we do not have enough people willing to foster animals in their houses. Fostering is an involved process... you have to commit to keeping the dog indoors as part of the family, bringing the dog to all Saturday pet adoptions by 11, returning it to us if it needs vet care (they have all been vetted already, but in case of emergency), leaving a "security deposit" check, filling out a foster home agreement, and giving the scared dogs time, love, and attention. This can be anywhere from 1 week to several weeks. However, you are repaid by the knowledge that you have prepared a dog to be adopted into a loving home. It is helping save an animal, and the sense of accomplishment you feel is rewarding. We are ALWAYS in need of puppy foster homes. We have a whole page devoted to foster care information which will answer the questions we are most often asked about being a foster parent.

SPONSORING A HOMEWARD BOUND DOG OR CAT!

$4-15 will provide a fun toy or toys.
$10+ will provide a bag of tasty rawhide bones.
$15-75 will provide a trip to the groomers (price depends on the size of the dog and the how extreme the cases are). We can't afford to bring dogs to the groomers except in the most extreme cases, such as dogs rescued from puppy mills or some pounds, and boy do those dogs look happy and proud after their filthy, matted coats are shaved down!
$18 will provide a heartworm/lymes disease test
$35-45 will provide vaccinations for dogs over the age of 6 months (Rabies, Distemper Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, ParvoVirus, & CoronaVirus)
$45 will feed roughly one dog for 1-2 weeks, depending on the size of the dog as well as how thin s/he is (malnourished dogs must eat a lot of food to gain that much needed weight)
$150+ (weight of dog enters into the cost) will cover the basic neutering costs & $165+ will help pay for one spay.
$100-$150 will pay for one large wire kennel.
$350+ will pay for one heartworm treatment.

Homeward Bound is starting a sponsorship program! Are you looking to help out a dog in our program, but don't think you can open your home or don't have the time to give to a dog? Well, sponsoring a dog just might be what you are looking for. Knowing that your funds are going to a certain dog to help with a spay/neuter, heartworm treatment, shots, surgery, or daily upkeep is especially rewarding and is very much appreciated. To sponsor a dog, just send in your donation, make note of which dog(s) you are interested in sponsoring, if there is anyone you'd like the sponsor in honor of, if you want your name to appear on our web site, or if you wish to remain anonymous. It's as simple as that! If you have any questions, feel free to email Tasha at tashabing19@hotmail.com. Donations can be sent to the following address: Homeward Bound Rescue, c/o T. Bing, 197 Appleblossom Ln. W., Shakopee MN 55379.

WISH LIST!

We are always in need of dog and cat supplies! Our current WISH LIST is listed below. The best place to drop donations off is at one of our pet adoptions. Garage sales are always great places to get most of them items from so if you if see dog/cat stuff at a garage sale please keep us in mind!

For our DOGS, we need:

Blankets (heavy duty), comforters, sleeping bags, heavy bedspreads, towels, & baby blankets!!! The crates are uncomfortable and lonesome without blankets to line them, not only at their foster homes, but also for the crates in the vans we use to transport the dogs, and at pet adoptions.
Bones / Rawhides!!
Brushes, shampoos, and other grooming supplies
Collars (without plastic buckles since those often break), all sizes
Dog Beds
Dog Crates (wire). The Midwest brand is our favorite since those are durable. We also use Petmate and Precision kennels, although we are happy with any brand so long as it is collapsible and folds flat.
Dog Food - IAMS^® (preferably containing chicken) or any brand recommended on our What cat or dog food do you recommend? page
Dog Leashes, preferably 6 ft. or longer (leather or nylon) with bolt snaps as opposed to spring snaps (which often open while the dog is on the leash). Our absolute favorite bolt snap leashes can be found at www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=6316. We always, always, always need dog leashes!
Dog Sweaters!, All sizes!
Dog Toys! The dogs particularly LOVE playing with Kongs, tennis balls, & other non-destructible toys!
Gas Cards! - we have to drive long distances to the pet adoptions...on average is costs about $300 a week to fill up 3 vans!
Gentle Leaders / Halti Headcollars
Gift Cards to Petco or other pet supply stores
Greenie Dog Treats
Harnesses
Hooves (dogs like to chew on these, as gross as it sounds!)
Igloo Dog Houses!! - Homeward Bound does house all the dogs indoors, but during the day some of the dogs like to hang out in the yard during playtime. We are asking for large and medium sized Igloo doghouses for a variety of reasons.... 1) we donate them to people who need housing for their pets and come to us for help. 2) we use them ourselves so new dogs who are shyer have a "hide away" at their foster homes during outside times. 3) the dogs enjoy having them in their play areas to climb on and go into. Please keep your eyes open for slightly used houses at garage sales or from friends, we can always use dog house donations! In stores Igloo houses tend to cost $65 for the tiny ones and $150+ for large ones. We can only take plastic dog houses - the wooden ones tend to harbor fleas and other parasites.
Kuranda Dog Beds - We LOVE these beds because they are chew proof, durable, comfy, and easy to clean! The aluminum or Poly resin beds (medium and large sizes) are especially needed. You can read about Kuranda beds at: www.kuranda.com
Laundry detergent (I know this seems strange but we go through so much laundry detergent! Just imagine just many dog blankets we have to wash each week!)
Printer Ink We go through 2-3 ink cartridges a week! We specifically need the Canon black ink tank print cartridge 5.
Tie Outs/Cables with vinyl coating.

For our CATS, we need:

Brushes
Cat Beds
Cat Carriers for small to medium sized cats
Cat Climbing Trees
Cat Food, dry or canned. Science Diet food or any brand recommended on our What cat or dog food do you recommend? page are greatly appreciated.
Cat Treats
Cat Litter
Cat Toys
Collars
Gift Cards to Petco or other pet supply stores
Litter Boxes with Lids
Window Beds!

= badly needed items

WHEN SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET...
What if Homeward Bound Rescue earned a penny every time you searched the internet? Well, now we can! Goodsearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. Just go to http://goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Homeward Bound Rescue (located in Monticello) as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to spread the word!!

Everyone at Homeward Bound would like to thank you for using Goodsearch! Through this search engine, we were able to raise an extra $86.31. The funds we raised will help provide food, shots, and other countless items we need on a daily basis. To learn more about Goodsearch, please check out our "How Can I Help?" page. Again, thanks to everyone who used this search engine and let's see if we can double...no triple the funds for this year!

PURCHASE PET SUPPLIES FROM JEFFERSPET.COM!
Want to find something for your special fur-kid? Shop at Jeffers Pet for great deals and support Homeward Bound Rescue at the same time! Jeffers Pet offers a variety of pet supplies: toys, treats, clothing, and supplies at excellent prices and is perfect for any animal owner who wants to spoil their fur-kids this time of year. Just log onto www.jefferspet.com and search for all sorts of things for your pet. Jeffers Pet has everything for dogs, cats, birds, and ferrets! When you are checking out at Jeffers Pet, be sure to type in "HB Rescue" as the promotion code! Jefferspet.com will donate 3% of your order total to Homeward Bound (5% on the first order of new customers)!

PURCHASE HAND DRAWN AND CUSTOM STATIONARY FROM DOODLEBUG PRESS!
Want to send out an announcement about your new family member? Order cards from Doodlebug press and support Homeward Bound Rescue at the same time! Doodlebug Press was started in 2003 by Sharon Bittner in Shakopee, Minnesota and offers an assortment of creative, original, and affordable announcements and invitations. Just log onto www.doodlebugpress.com and find just the card you are looking for. Sharon does custom work too! When you are checking out at Doodlebug Press, be sure to use the promo code: HB_PROMO. With the promo code Doodlebug press will give you a 5% discount off of your total purchase and donate another 5% to Homeward Bound!

PURCHASE ITEMS FROM IGIVE.COM!
If you could give up to 26% or more of your everyday purchases to Homeward Bound Rescue at no cost to you, would you? That's what will happen when you join www.iGive.com/html/refer .cfm?memberid=461440&causeid=37054 and shop at over 600 stores in the Mall at iGive.com. When you buy items like books, CDs, clothing, office supplies, even toothpaste from one of their popular online stores like eBay, Eddie Bauer, Lands' End, Drugstore.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and PETsMART, they will make sure that Homeward Bound Rescue receives up to 26% of each purchase at no extra cost to you! And that's just the beginning. iGive.com is probably one of the most thoughtful and member-friendly Web sites out there. Membership is free ... just like your automatic donation to Homeward Bound Rescue. Your privacy is so zealously guarded, it's virtually spam-free. Your contributions may even be tax-free! At iGive.com there are never any secrets. You can look up the amount you and other iGive.com supporters of Homeward Bound Rescue have raised, any time you wish -- you can even view the checks online. Join the online community by visiting www.iGive.com /html/refer.cfm?memberid=4 61440&causeid =37054.

RECIPES?
Homeward Bound is putting a cookbook together! We are looking for some favorite recipes and we are hoping you will submit some to us! If you have adopted a dog/cat from us in the past, please name the dog(s)/cat(s) you've adopted from us. If you haven't adopted a dog/cat from us in the past, that's fine, too. The more recipes, the better!! If you have any questions or want to submit a recipe, please email Tasha at tashabing19@hotmail.com.

FUND RAISERS DATES/ACTIVITIES: MALL OF AMERICA SUPER SAVINGS BOOK: Are you a fan of the Mall of America? Do you like to save money? If so, we've got just the thing for you! We are selling Super Savings Books for the Mall of America for only $7.00. These books have coupons in them for numerous stores, restaurants, and entertainment. All proceeds will go directly to Homeward Bound. If you have questions are/or would like to purchase a booklet, please call Cheri at 612-759-8982.

WARM WATER DOG WASH: - MAY 17th: Our warm water dog wash fundraisers are about to begin! The first of five dog washes will take place Saturday, May 17th, from 9am-2pm at Normandale Park and Rec in Edina off of Warren Avenue and 6501 Normandale Drive. Our friendly volunteers will bathe your puppy/dog and doggie and people treats will be provided. The event is free, although donations are much appreciated and will go directly to Homeward Bound. We are suggesting a $5 donation. Reservations are not required and we will have these events no matter what the weather is like outside. The event will take place from 9am-2pm at the Normandale Park and Rec in Edina off of Warren Avenue. If you have questions, please call Cheri at 612-759-8982. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS EVENT! Special thanks to the following generous donors: All Paws Veterinary Clinic, Ameripride, Baker's Ribs, Bark & Biscuit, Bil Jac, BlueCross BlueShield MN, Bone Adventure, Bruegger's Bagels, Buck Hill, Byerly's, Calhoun Beach Club, Cal Surf, Charlie Bears, D'Amico in Edina, Brian's Deli, Dog Day Getaway, Doggie Walk Bag Company, Einstein's Bagels, General Pet Supply, Hair Restoration MN, Iams, Jerry's Hardware, Lakeshore Grill - Macy's, Lunds in Edina, Mall of America, Natural Balance, Normandale Park, Nutro, Panera, Petco, Purina, Queen of Cakes, and Science Diet).

BECOME A VOLUNTEER:
Help us in the areas of your interest! We are always in need of people 18 years old or older who are willing to help walk or care for the dogs on Saturdays, especially in the summer. We also need volunteers to help our at our fund raising events (listed above). Due to insurance reasons, we cannot allow children under the age of 18 to volunteer at adoptions. Kids of foster parents are allowed to help out once their parents have been volunteering with us for quite some time, but only if the kids are ages 14 and up and are strong enough to handle large, bouncy dogs. All volunteers must sign a volunteer agreement and waiver (which basically says I understand that this is at my own risk and I hereby forever release, discharge and agree to hold harmless and indemnify Homeward Bound from all claims, demands, actions, causes of action or liability of any kind whatsoever arising as a result of doing volunteer work with Homeward Bound). When you first start volunteering with Homeward Bound, it is probably best to come to the adoption sometime after 12:30 or so since adoptions are always pretty chaotic once the adoptions begin at 11:30! Once you've been volunteering with us for awhile, please, please, please either help us carry in/set up all of the crates or take down the crates. We never have enough people to help with this and it is unfair to the dogs since they are have to sit outside in the vans until crates are set up/taken down. We also need people to help us clean up after adoption events (not very fun, we know, but needs to be done!). Most core volunteers are at adoptions from 10:15-5:30. If you can't stay that long we certainly understand and are happy for any and all help that comes our way. As we said adoptions tend to be chaotic (in a fun way though) and a bit overwhelming at first but once you get used to it they are fun, fun, fun! Feel free to ask adult volunteers if you ever have any questions or are wondering what you can do to help. We apologize in advance if we forget to thank you at the end of the day (it gets busy at the end of the day when we are trying to load the dogs, finish up paperwork, take down the crates and bring them to the vans, etc)! Know though that we very much do appreciate your help. The dogs do too! You may email Tasha at tashabing19@hotmail.com with questions about volunteering with Homeward Bound.

SPREAD THE WORD!
Let other people know about our organization, especially if they are wishing to adopt or foster a pet! Also, inform people about why it is crucial to spay/neuter all pets. There are thousands of cats and dogs in Minnesota alone that are euthanized each year because no one has room for them.