10/17/2026
🚨Stop, please take the time to read this. 🚨
We here at HCHS (and shelters everywhere) need you to understand how important it is to be a RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER. This shelter is a volunteer run with 2 part time employees to take dogs and cats to vet appointments, restock, deep clean, and record data for our licensing.
All dogs and cats that come in are held for 7 days then become HCHS property if not claimed (unless they come in with a life threatening emergency, which we provide care service to that animal as well).
We ask that all lost or found pets start out on Facebook first to try and get them straight home. If they are on a busy hwy or causing traffic issues call it in the sheriff department. If they are passing through and you have been kind to the neighbors and they still do not confine the dog, call the sheriff/police department.
When we opened our small shelter it was based on what we were told at every council meeting in every town "we only have a few stray dogs a year, and several cats but the coyotes take care of overpopulation for the most part". So the volunteer shelter is set up for those numbers.
After 20 years we take in several hundred a year, assist with TNR work in the towns that show they need assistance (so far since spring this year around 130). But several thousand over the years. We paused the low income clinic to fix a few areas that were not quite benefiting the community correctly until we can make it work for the TRUE low income homes that can barely keep the lights on first, then get back into the assisting with more regular cats that came on the property and never left.
I know these are long, but they are to show transparency of what we go through, and ask that you respect us (and shelters everywhere) by taking care of your own back yard. And as a community we help those who absolutely can't help themselves such as the elderly with feral colonies, and going into nursing homes. A change in lifestyle such as a major car accident and cannot physically care for a pet. A death in the family, and you tried but your pets do not get along. This is what a shelter is for.
Our pound license is to provide law enforcement a place to drop off dogs that were with the owner when they went to jail (happens more often than you would think), the rescue department takes someone to the hospital in critical condition and they have no family at all and have a dog. A dog found on the hwy that the owner has been frantically trying to find but finally came to someone. A house fire at 2:00 am and the family is now homeless and most motels do not take dogs. These are why we started.
We get several calls a day for owner surrenders, which we can take if we have "adequate space". That means we can walk around 10 dogs after work before going home. Holidays weekends etc. But when strays don't go home, and have no vet care but have several health issues to heal before, that takes time and money. So we work hard for it, and take care of all of them. But we are often talked down to or told we should do more. It's quite frustrating day after day to know this is not what we agreed to, but stay because we love them and know this is a need. But at this point it's not only abuse to the animals that are not kept safe in the community, it is abuse to us to not be bullied into taking more than we can care for safely. We do our best to help as many as possible, but NEED owners to be held accountable so we can help those that are truly in need in the community as a team.
We are not referees between neighbors, we are not lazy for not taking more dogs to sit in the kennels for months that have the same behavior issues ours here do. That means they stay longer to fight for the same type of home. We should not be working harder for your pets than you are.
By lowa code ALL dogs should be wearing a collar with rabies tag. In city limits register with the city clerk. It would also be a lot easier for everyone else if you put your name and numb on the pet's collar so the finder can call you directly. Especially if it's a body, which happens a lot! Do you know how hard that phone call is to receive and to make to the owner? Well if we can find them anyway.
If you are reading this and rolling your eyes I'll send you information on volunteer training so you can help with chores. If you "don't have time" for that kinda stuff because you have a life, think about walking 10 or more after work, weekends, and holidays. Oh and paying for all of their vet care as well.
If you have a dog they should bare minimum have a collar and rabies tag. But for their safety id tag and chip. We also strongly prefer they are spay/neuter to prevent roaming and overpopulation.
Pet cats should have break away collars with tags (yes they break off to prevent strangulation, buy several at a time). They should ALWAYS be fixed! TNR cats are will have an ear notch and we invest alot of money into those to help with pest control for your town, let them be. Work hard with neighbors to help transport the incoming cats to and from vet services in-between a yearly TNR.
What is NOT a shelter's fault overpopulation, mange, distemper, parvo, flea infestations, dogs running at large, bites, attacks, deceased animals are found on the road with no id to contact owners, or a dying beloved family pet's end of life's decisions having to be made at a vet clinic with us holding them as they slip away. We hold a cat or dog with a broken back and no chance at a normal life in his last minute without his real name being said as we say goodbye. But we do it because it is NOT his fault, but he deserves dignity.
Thank you to our vet clinics that take in some of the worst of the worst and help us form care plans on new strangers that we all become attached to as we pray for new Responsible Pet Owners for them, you are appreciated.
