What began for Cheryl Adams as a love of dogs has evolved into an agency that has placed thousands of animals that might have been destroyed in a dog pound into the arms of new owners.

On Saturday, Dec. 22, local residents will have the opportunity to give one of these pets a new home.

"There is a great need for help of these animals that have been abandoned, thrown away... with no other alternative but rescue or death," Adams said.

Minnesota Homeward Bound is a small, non-profit organization that Adams and her family started about 10 years ago on her hobby farm in Monticello, Minn.

After working at the Edina Pet Hospital for seven years and helping found the Wright County Humane Society, Adams became interested in breed-specific dog rescue. She traveled to the Detroit Lakes area, where she assisted in shutting down a puppy mill.

When Adams returned home from the puppy mill, she was accompanied by 39 rescued dogs.

"That's when I kind of jumped in with both feet," Adams said.

Adams and her core group of eight to 10 volunteers at Homeward Bound rescue animals - mostly dogs - from animal shelters and puppy mills, then vaccinate and spay or neuter them and care for them in foster homes until they are adopted.

"These pets are so adoptable because they are so loved [through Homeward Bound]," said Cheri Friedman, a volunteer for Homeward Bound. "People come in and they can't believe these dogs. They say, 'Why are they here? I don't get it.'"

Every Saturday, the volunteers at Homeward Bound travel to Petco stores in the Twin Cities area to hold orphan animal adoption days.

The volunteers, who have gotten to know the animals well while providing foster homes for them, try to find a good match between pets and owners.

"If we feel that they're not going to be a proper dog owner, [we'll turn them down]," Adams said. "Our idea of rescuing an animal is not just finding it any home but finding it a good home."

Adams' pets also come with a lifetime warranty.

"She tells people that she'll take the animals back at any time if their new owners can't care for them," Friedman said.

All of the animals remain under the care of Homeward Bound volunteers until they find a home, Friedman noted, and none of the animals are euthanized.

"She'll put them up for adoption until they get a home," Friedman said.

On average, it takes two to four weeks for a puppy or dog to be adopted from the agency, Adams said, though one dog has been in foster care with them for about a year.

Over the years, Adams estimates that the organization has placed more than 7,000 animals that might have otherwise been destroyed.

Homeward Bound will conduct a special orphan animal adoption day from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Mega Star Theater at Southdale Center in Edina.

Adoption days are also held on Saturdays at Petco stores from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first Saturday of the month, the adoptions are held in Maple Grove, the second Saturdays are held in Fridley, the third Saturdays are in Eagan and the fourth Saturdays are in Eden Prairie.

Homeward Bound is funded through animal adoption fees and donations.

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