The Bond Between

The Bond Between A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds, supports, and reinforces The Bond Between animals and people! We were founded in 2009 as Secondhand Hounds.
(1569)

The Bond Between is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that focuses on building the bond between humans and animals. Since then, we have rescued over 35,000+ dogs and cats with the help of thousands of fosters, volunteers, and supporters in our community. Our organization has grown from a rescue to a first-in-its-class animal well-being organization! We continue to provide safe shelter, proper vete

rinary care, and daily necessities for animals while working hard to help them build a bond with humans. We also focus on supporting the bonds that already exist between people and pets with our pet food shelf, respite foster care program, and focus on social services. We wake up every morning saying YES to connecting people and animals, caring for them, and helping them fill each other’s hearts.

---
The Bond Between is a 100% Foster based animal well-being organization, but we have kennels for temporary shelter. The Kennels are licensed and inspected by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. License Number: MN417867

One week. 7 days. That’s all that’s left until our Fast & The Furriest 5K 🤩🏃‍♂️This year, we made a BIG goal. A goal to ...
09/05/2026

One week. 7 days. That’s all that’s left until our Fast & The Furriest 5K 🤩🏃‍♂️

This year, we made a BIG goal. A goal to collectively raise $100,000 for pets and the people who love them. $100,000 is a lot. But here’s the cool thing about grassroots fundraising… if every single one of our followers donated just $1 we’d beat that goal 🤯

When we say every single dollar counts, we mean it. Because we know the power of what happens when members of our community all show up in small ways… it creates a ripple. And that ripple? It creates a wave.

This is one of our favorite days of the entire year because it’s all about celebrating this community. Our fosters, adopters, volunteers, donors, supporters, partners, families… and all of the animals who somehow brought us together in the first place. It’s about taking time to be together.

And just a reminder… this is much more celebration than it is a “super athletic event.” By all means, you can come run and get your PB. Or you can walk it. You can push a stroller through it. You can bring your dog and let them drag you through it. But you can also skip the running part entirely and just come hang out with us... spoiler alert: that’s what a lot of our staff does 😜

Every dollar raised means that we can continue saying yes. Yes to more animals who need rescue. Yes to more families who need veterinary care. Yes to more families that need pet food. Yes to more families that may need temporary foster care during a crisis. Yes to our community.

If you raised $5 or $500. It doesn’t matter. We want you to come celebrate with us because your dollar is one part of the reason we’re still here. Your dollar contributed to saving over 36,000 lives. So, bring your kids, your dog, and your friends. Run, walk, or don’t do the 5K at all. We just want you there… with us ❤️

And if you haven’t bought your ticket yet… we aren’t above bribing you with puppy photos 😉 These little pups will be attending our 5K as the stars of our puppy party. They will be 5 weeks old on race day and ready to give you ALL the puppy kisses 🥰

09/05/2026

This is Eagle after four months in rescue. He used to be scared of touch. He used to be shy. He used to not know what love was.

But four months later? He comes to you for pets. He is silly as can be. He knows what love is AND how to love 🥹🥰

This is what rescue does.

And this is why our upcoming 5K is so important. Because it’s more than just a 5K. It’s more than just a fundraiser. It’s the beginning of a second chance for the future animals that come through our rescue.

None of that is possible without you. None of it is possible without donors or sponsors. This is a special thank you to Chuck & Don's for being our partner.

Eagle it’s just one example of what your partnership does 🤍

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day. But, we want to take a moment to step back. A moment to show you what you’...
09/04/2026

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day. But, we want to take a moment to step back. A moment to show you what you’ve made happen.

In August alone, we welcomed 379 animals into rescue. That's 379 dogs and cats who needed somewhere safe to land. The cherry on top?! 259 headed to their homes within the SAME month 🥹

Over the last few years, adoption numbers have become just one part of our story.

While our Rescue Team was welcoming hundreds of animals, our Community Team was working just as hard to make sure other animals never needed rescue in the first place.

So far this year, we've invested more than $150,000 into spay and neuter surgeries for pets in our community. That means fewer accidental litters. That means fewer puppies and kittens who might need rescue down the road. That means families received access to care they might not have been able to.

One day last month, our Pet Food Shelf served 95 families in just two and a half hours… that was one of our busiest weekday shifts ever! That's 95 families who walked through our doors looking for a little help feeding the animals they love. That’s a whole lot of impact on just one day. Our Pet Food Shelf is open 4 days a week… now imagine that impact 🤯

Our Respite Foster Program has celebrated 14 reunions since July 1. Fourteen pets temporarily lived with foster families while their people navigated hospitalization, treatment, housing instability or another crisis. And when the crisis passed? They went home. Fourteen families stayed whole.

All of this is to say that there isn't one single way to save an animal.

Sometimes it's a foster home. Sometimes it's surgery. Sometimes it's a bag of dog food. Sometimes it's a safe place to stay for a few weeks while someone's life falls apart. And sometimes it's simply making sure that a person who loves their animal doesn't have to lose them because they need help.

You make all of this possible. Thank you for making this possible ❤️

Meet Carol. At nearly 14.5 years young, she has been around the block a few times.We’ll be honest… we don’t know what he...
09/04/2026

Meet Carol. At nearly 14.5 years young, she has been around the block a few times.

We’ll be honest… we don’t know what her beginning years of life were like. What we do know is this: Carol was abandoned in a home… with 20 other dogs.

All of the dogs, including Carol, were rescued and went to various shelters or rescues to find their new beginnings 🤍

When Carol arrived to our rescue she came with a checklist of concerns: severe dental disease, an obstructed eye, joint pain and arthritis. She hadn’t been spayed yet. She had an ear infection. The list went on.

But honestly? We weren’t too worried because for a senior gal, Carol got around just fine. She active for her age and moved around just fine… when she wasn’t snuggled up on your lap 🥹

So, we had a game plan: we would remove her six remaining teeth, enucleate her right eye, spay her, treat that ear infection, and get her on a plan to manage the pain in her joints.

But then her bloodwork results came back and changed everything…

Carol has liver disease 💔

It is estimated that she has roughly six months left to live. We made the choice to focus on comfort and care instead of moving forward with procedures. Carol is officially part of our Hospice Program.

Carol might not have six more years… or even six more months. But she has today.

And today? She is doing incredibly well 🥰

She loves a walk with her Chihuahua pack, a warm blanket, a good treat, and being wherever her people are. She’s a velcro dog through and through. Her eye and ear infections have improved with treatment. She gets pain medication when she needs it.

So for now, she’s happy. She is comfortable. She is loved… exactly what we want for her.

A huge part of the reason that Carol gets to live out her golden years in comfort is because of the 15/10 Foundation ❤️ They covered her medical her. We don’t know exactly how much time she has left. But we do know that her remaining time will be filled with soft blankets, warm hugs, and lots of love.

Thank you, 15/10 Foundation for helping our girl have her golden year 💛

We are just N I N E day away from our Fast & Furriest 5K 🥳🏃‍♂️Yep… we’re officially in the single digits until race day!...
09/03/2026

We are just N I N E day away from our Fast & Furriest 5K 🥳🏃‍♂️

Yep… we’re officially in the single digits until race day! Don’t let the phrase “race day” scare you because “race day” is a pretty loose term around here. You don’t have to run. You can walk. You can go on a slow sniffari with your dog. You can hang out with the puppy and kitty parties. You can cheer on the runners. Or you can simply come spend the day surrounded by animals and an epic community that loves animals just as much as you.

We’re also not above bribing, so if the puppies and kitties didn’t do it for you maybe this will… we will have Kabomelette Food Truck and Hot Scoops hanging out too 🍳🍩 Yummy breakfast foods like fluffy omelettes, roasted potatoes, coffee, and donuts. But these aren’t just any donuts… they are hot-pressed donuts with ice cream in the middle 🤯

Your day of community, animals, and helping save lives just got a whole lot tastier. Whether you’re running, walking, cheering, eating, petting all the animals or all of the above… there’s a place for you at the Fast & Furriest 5K. Come one, come all. Bring your family. Grab your friends.

We’re only 9 DAYS away so if you haven’t registered now is your time 🥰 https://raceroster.com/events/2026/130603/the-bond-between-fast-and-the-furriest-5k

09/03/2026

Cupcake is just one year old… and she’s already a mama 🥺

She recently gave birth to six adorable tiny pups. Don’t get us wrong, we love the puppies. Their little squeals. Their little toe beans. Their baby bellies. We could stare at them all day (and sometimes we do 🙈)

But as much as we love the babies… we have an extra special place in our heart for the mamas.

Cupcake is just 13 months old. She’s still a baby herself. But once her babies her born? She immediately knew what to do.

She’s exhausted. The pups are constantly eating. She’s constantly checking on them. She’s making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. She’s making sure they make it through the night.

Cupcake & Co. are in a foster home resting and growing right now. Her foster family absolutely adores her and is making sure she gets plenty of love, attention, rest and care while she does the incredibly important job of being a mama.

Because yes… Cupcake is taking care of her babies. But, now? She gets to be babied too 🥹🤍

Did you know that you can be a foster… just for a few days?! Would you love to foster, but aren’t ready to have the long...
09/03/2026

Did you know that you can be a foster… just for a few days?! Would you love to foster, but aren’t ready to have the longer term commitment? Well… now is your time 🤩

Labor Day weekend is almost here. And for us? A holiday weekend for us typically means time off work, time with friends and family, and fun plans. But for them? It might mean another weekend in the office… without a home.

We still have some animals currently living in our office that would love nothing more than a home and some people to spend time with humans… this is where you come in!!

You can sign up to be their new foster (if they need it) or you can just be their temp foster. That’s it. Just a few days until their foster is back. A temp foster can mean:

🐾 A cozy bed instead of a kennel
🐾 A couch instead of an office
🐾 Walks and playtime instead of waiting for the next volunteer to come say hi
🐾 A little extra love and attention
🐾 The chance to experience what it feels like to be part of a family

And maybe the best part? You get to experience fostering without having to make a long commitment.

You can give an animal a safe place to land while their regular foster is gone or simply while our foster availability is lower over the holiday weekend. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to foster, but I just can’t commit right.” This is your chance 🥹

Become a temp foster. Open your home for a few days. Those few days might seem small, but they make a BIG difference for these animals.

Learn more about fostering and see who needs a home: https://www.thebondbetween.org/foster or email [email protected] if you’re willing to help out this weekend 🥰

This is what happens when we say yes.Do you remember mama Meowzarella? She arrived to us back in June with a limp, an up...
09/02/2026

This is what happens when we say yes.

Do you remember mama Meowzarella? She arrived to us back in June with a limp, an upper respiratory infection, a belly full of kittens, and a bullet in her chest.

She needed care. She needed surgery. She needed help. And you showed up.

Her belly full of babies turned out to be five kittens: Purrmesan Reggiano. Meowterey Jack. Purrata. Meowcarpone. Cheddapurr.

And now? They’re ready for their homes 🥹

Mama Meowzarella is currently in treatment, awaiting her surgery before she will be adoptable and searching for her own home.

Meowzarella had a rough start. At just one year old, she came in sick and surviving a gun shot wound with a belly full of babies. Her tiny body worked overtime… fighting off pain while growing her kittens.

But, because of you this entire family got the care they needed. You all came together to rally behind them. You donated in their honor. Because of you six lives were saved. Six lives got a second chance.

Thank you for helping us say yes. Thank you for saving them.

Tuesdays = the BEST day of the week 🤩If you’re new here, you might be wondering why we love Tuesdays so much. You might ...
09/01/2026

Tuesdays = the BEST day of the week 🤩

If you’re new here, you might be wondering why we love Tuesdays so much. You might be thinking why not Friday? Why not Saturday? Well… Tuesdays over here mean that our newly adoptable animals get listed on our website 😍

Tuesdays are the start of their new beginning. Tuesdays are when the search for their new family officially kicks off. Tuesdays is when the animals our fosters have been caring for are introduced to you. Tuesdays are the officially the first day of the rest of their lives.

Meet this week’s new faces. Take a scroll through their images and then head to our website to learn more about their personalities (and apply to adopt) 🥹

09/01/2026

Come bottle feed Layla with us 🥹🍼

Layla was found all alone at a loading dock at just two weeks old. Without a mama cat she wouldn’t survive on her own… she needed a bottle foster.

And now, this adorable scene happens every couple of hours at Layla’s foster home 🥹

While it’s absolutely precious, bottle feeding is A LOT of work.

It’s setting alarms every couple hours for new feedings. It’s tracking how much they eat and what they weigh. It’s helping them go to the bathroom until they’re old enough.

It’s monitoring their every little action… worried that something could go wrong at any second.

It can be exhausting and stressful. It can be hard… but it is always rewarding. Each bottle brings them one day closer to taking on the world by themselves.

And when that day comes? You get to take pride in knowing that you helped them get there 🥰

Address

5959 Baker Road, Suite 390
Minnetonka, MN
55345

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+19523227643

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Bond Between posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Bond Between:

Shortcuts

Share