Animal Ark

Animal Ark Animal Ark is Minnesota's largest no-kill animal welfare organization. Minnesota Kennel License Number: MN140159
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Animal Ark is a Minnesota-based animal welfare organization. We embrace and follow a no-kill philosophy in our work to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home Minnesota’s lost and homeless companion animals. With staff providing basic medical care and keeping of our shelter animals, a dedicated group of volunteers provides the next level of care, making the rehabilitation of these wonderful animals possi

ble. Our volunteers provide needed socialization for the companion animals living at the shelter, focusing on the needs of the individual animal based on his or her personality. We at Animal Ark are honored to have the opportunity to serve these amazing animals, their new adoptive families and the many communities across Minnesota.The passion and dedication of our staff and volunteers is focused on our main mission and goal: to find responsible, loving forever homes for each animal we have the privilege of welcoming through our doors!

FOSTER HOME NEEDED:Ferris is a 5‑year‑old, incredibly friendly and very vocal cat who has captured every heart at Animal...
06/20/2026

FOSTER HOME NEEDED:

Ferris is a 5‑year‑old, incredibly friendly and very vocal cat who has captured every heart at Animal Ark. Before coming to us, Ferris lived as a stray, but he wasn’t entirely on his own — a compassionate woman in the neighborhood made sure he had food and kindness throughout the years. Thanks to her care, he learned to trust people and developed the affectionate, talkative personality we see today.

Ferris has tested positive for both FIV and FeLV, so he needs a foster home that can offer him a calm, stable environment. Cats like Ferris can live happy, comfortable lives, but they do best when their surroundings are predictable and low‑stress. Because of his health status, Ferris must remain indoors only — no exceptions — to protect his immune system and keep him safe.

We are specifically looking for a long‑term foster placement for Ferris. Stability is incredibly important for his well‑being, and a longer stay allows him to settle in, relax, and feel secure without the stress of frequent transitions.

Ferris will need a home with no dogs, and if there are other cats in the home, they must also be FeLV/FIV‑positive. A home without children would be ideal, as a quieter environment will help him stay comfortable and healthy. He’ll thrive in a peaceful household where someone can keep an eye on his appetite and energy and share updates with us.

Fostering Ferris means giving a cat with limited placement options a safe, loving place to land. He gives so much back in return — affectionate head bumps, nonstop chatter, and a gentle presence that makes every day brighter. If you have room in your home and heart for a sweet, talkative companion who truly needs a soft place to land, Ferris would love to meet you.

If you’re interested in fostering Ferris long‑term. Please fill out a foster application.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjwYaaIi3IDkE2uZhD62MDnMnDwr8QR0Y_38qmZ_dxPDA-4w/viewform

Thor: A Journey HomeThere comes a moment in every life when the path we expected quietly disappears beneath our feet.My ...
06/11/2026

Thor: A Journey Home

There comes a moment in every life when the path we expected quietly disappears beneath our feet.
My name is Thor, and though I am only a puppy, I have already learned this lesson.
Not long ago, I belonged to someone. I had a place in the world, a familiar routine, and a person to follow. Then life changed. My owner had to move and could not take me along, and so my journey led me to Animal Ark.
At first, I did not understand.
But perhaps every soul, whether human or dog, must wander a little before finding where it truly belongs.
I am a Chinese Shar-Pei, wrapped in soft brown wrinkles that seem to tell stories older than my age. Though still a puppy, I carry the quiet nature of my breed. We are observers. Thinkers. Loyal companions who do not give our trust carelessly, but once given, offer it completely.
Each day I learn something new. The scent of a flower. The sound of a friendly voice. The comfort of a gentle touch. The world is vast, and I am discovering it one step, one sniff, one experience at a time.
The people who know me say I have a sweet heart. I hope that is true. I only know that I long for connection, for the simple joy of belonging to someone and being loved in return.
Perhaps you are searching too.
Perhaps you are looking not merely for a dog, but for a companion who will walk beside you through ordinary days and extraordinary ones alike. A friend who will greet your return, share your quiet moments, and remind you that life's deepest truths are often found in the simplest relationships.
If that is so, then perhaps our paths have crossed for a reason.
I am Thor. Still young. Still learning. Still growing
And somewhere beyond these shelter walls, I believe there is a home where my journey truly begins.
Meet Thor at Animal Ark Hastings MN or fill out my adoption application at animalarkmn.org. Sometime the companion we are searching for is also searching for us.

DQ: A Blizzard, A Mother, A PrayerThe snow fell like a curtain across the Minnesota sky.The wind sang its mournful aria....
06/11/2026

DQ: A Blizzard, A Mother, A Prayer
The snow fell like a curtain across the Minnesota sky.
The wind sang its mournful aria.
And in the middle of that frozen storm, a young mother prepared to give birth alone.
That mother was me.
My name is DQ.
While others slept safely indoors, I searched for shelter from a blizzard that showed no mercy. The cold crept into my bones. The snow piled higher. And as labor began, I faced the terrifying possibility that neither I nor my babies would survive the night.
But fate, as it sometimes does, intervened.
A kind caretaker saw my plight and rushed me to Animal Ark. There, beneath warm lights instead of falling snow, my kittens entered the world. Tiny lives born from a storm. Fittingly, they were named after Dairy Queen Blizzards,the very thing that nearly became our tragedy.
Their story is only beginning.
Mine is still waiting for its second act.
I am barely a year old. A child who became a mother too soon. While other young cats were learning to trust, to play, to dream, I was learning how to survive winter, hunger, and uncertainty.
Yet my heart remains open.
Like Mimì standing in the moonlight, daring to hope despite all she has endured, I still believe love will find me.
I dream of simple things.
A sunny window.
A soft bed.
The gentle voice of someone who calls me their own.
I dream of never again feeling the cold fear of being forgotten.
Each evening at the shelter, as the lights dim and the building grows quiet, I listen for footsteps. I watch visitors pass my kennel. I wonder if one of them will pause and see me, not as a former stray, not as a mother whose kittens have moved on, but as a soul longing for a home.
In La Bohème, love arrives unexpectedly, changes everything, and leaves a mark on the heart forever.
Perhaps my own great love story is still waiting to begin.
Perhaps it is waiting with you.
Come meet me at Animal Ark in Hastings or go to animalarkmn.org to fill out my adoption application .
The storm that nearly ended my story has passed.
Now all I need is someone willing to help me write the beautiful final act.

Where the Road Ended, Benji's Story BeganOut here, life teaches you a few things.You learn that not every trail is easy....
06/10/2026

Where the Road Ended, Benji's Story Began
Out here, life teaches you a few things.
You learn that not every trail is easy. Not every storm gives you warning. And sometimes, the ones who deserve a second chance are the ones who've had to face the world alone.
My name's Benji.
I was found wandering a lonely stretch of countryside, a young black puppy with nowhere to go and no one waiting for me at the end of the day. No familiar voice calling my name. No porch light shining in the distance. Just open road and uncertainty.
Then everything changed.
A kind woman stopped, saw that I needed help, and brought me to Animal Ark. Nobody ever came looking for me, but that's okay. Because the folks here promised me something better than my past: a future.
What they discovered is that I'm exactly what every family hopes for in a puppy.
I'm playful, affectionate, full of life, and always ready for the next adventure. I love toys, games, and exploring the world around me. When the fun is over, I'm just as happy curling up beside my favorite people for some well-earned cuddles. The staff thinks I may have some Labrador Retriever in my family tree, and if that's true, it would explain my love of people and my enthusiasm for just about everything.
I'm still young, which means I've got plenty to learn, but I've already mastered the important stuff: loving people, making friends, and living every day with a happy heart.
What I'm looking for now is simple.
A family to call my own.
A place where I don't have to wonder where I'll sleep at night. A place where I'm safe, loved, and included in all of life's adventures. A place where my story can finally become the happy ending it was always meant to be.
The road that brought me here may have ended.
But my real journey is just beginning.
Could it begin with you?Benji is waiting to meet his forever family at Animal Ark in Hastings MNComplete an adoption application at animalarkmn.org today and schedule a meet-and-greet. Your new best friend might be waiting for you.

🚨 Wet Food Emergency! 🚨Our dogs have officially reached the bottom of the canned‑food shelf, and we’re down to our last ...
06/08/2026

🚨 Wet Food Emergency! 🚨

Our dogs have officially reached the bottom of the canned‑food shelf, and we’re down to our last few meals. These sweet faces LIVE for their wet food, and trust us, they give us the saddest puppy dog eyes when the cans run low.

If you can spare a can or two, or send some through the link https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ZRPKQH0K3E44?ref_=wl_share, it would mean the world to us (and to the pups who are convinced they’re starving).

Photos of our “we’re totally starving, we promise” pups coming right up. Thank you for helping keep their bowls full.

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️One ...
06/07/2026

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures for this event.

I hope these pictures make you smile and warm your hearts ☺️

This is one of 3 posts with pictures from the Walk.

Post #3 with pics of the Walk.

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️One ...
06/07/2026

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures for this event.

I hope these pictures make you smile and warm your hearts ☺️

This is one of 3 posts with pictures from the Walk.

Post pics #2 from the Walk.

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️One ...
06/07/2026

The Walk was FANTASTIC!! Thank you all for showing up to enjoy the beautiful day and support our amazing animals ❤️

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures for this event.

I hope these pictures make you smile and warm your hearts ☺️

This is one of 3 posts with pictures from the Walk.

A heartfelt thank you to JonnyPops for helping make Animal Ark's Annual Fundraiser Walk such a wonderful day!We are incr...
06/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to JonnyPops for helping make Animal Ark's Annual Fundraiser Walk such a wonderful day!
We are incredibly grateful for your generosity in treating our walkers and their lovable furry companions to delicious frozen treats. Your support added an extra layer of fun and refreshment to the event, and both the two-legged and four-legged attendees loved every minute of it.
Community partners like you help make events like this possible and directly support the animals who rely on Animal Ark. Thank you for being part of our mission and for helping create special memories for everyone who joined us.
We truly appreciate your kindness, support, and dedication to our community!
With gratitude,
The Staff, Volunteers, and Animals of Animal Ark

06/06/2026

It was a fabulously successful day for our annual Walk!! Volunteers Kristin and Mark lead the way with Candy and Benji ❤️

Thanks to staff, vendors, volunteers and participants, both human and furry, for making this such a fun and successful event! More pics to come soon!

Address

2600 Industrial Court
Hastings, MN
55033

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+16517728983

Website

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