Scruffy Tails Humane Society recently contacted KROX to help get the word out that they are still there. The organization has been open to the Crookston Police Department and Marshall County for impound services and is working towards a soft reopening on Sunday, June 22. “Right now, we are open to taking impound animals from the Crookston Police Department and Marshall County,” says board member Emily Ricard. “We’ve also taken in a couple of surrenders and two animals from Detroit Lakes. We currently have six dogs and three cats up for adoption.” Ricard says there are also two batches of kittens that are in foster care right now, as well as one dog, due to have seven puppies, very soon.
How can you learn about the animals up for adoption from Scruffy Tails Humane Society? “You can go onto our Facebook Page and message us, it is checked quite frequently. You can call the shelter and leave a voicemail, and we will get back to you,” says Ricard. “You can also go in and fill out an adoption form online, and it gets sent straight to us in our ShelterLove.” Ricard says once they review the adoption form, and if accepted, Scruffy Tails would reach out to set up an appointment to visit the animals at the shelter.
Scruffy Tails has struggled in the first half of the year to fill their board, keep staff, and find a new Vet on Record. Now that some of these items are falling into place, the one thing they need most is monetary donations and food and supplies for the animals. On the Scruffy Tails Facebook Page, you can find their Wishlist Wednesday program. You can read the lists and pick things up and drop them off, or go to the Amazon site where things are already picked out, usually based on what the shelter uses frequently. How else can people help? “A lot of what we need is the monetary stuff. Donations coming in to take care of those animals,” says Marcia Haglund, board Treasurer. “All of the animals are spayed or neutered before they go out, and that costs money. The staff, to have them here so we can be open for more regular, consistent hours versus like our soft opening coming up, or open on just weekends. It takes a community to run a shelter. There are a lot of people who volunteer, and that is a huge thing also.”
Heglund talked about having a difficult time finding grants to help the shelter. “We’d love to apply for grants. They are very hard to find for small shelters like ours,” says Haglund. “If a grant writer is out there, maybe they know of something and would lend some wisdom or guidance.”
Scruffy Tails had some fundraisers in the works until recently, as there was a shift in board members, and the work being put into the fundraisers was lost with the resignation of a board member. As mentioned in the past, most board members also have full-time jobs and do what they can to help out at the shelter when they can. Heglund says if anyone wants to volunteer to help put together a fundraiser, that would be greatly appreciated.
To keep with State Regulations, a shelter must have a Vet on Record. Part of the reason Scruffy Tails had to close its doors was due to their vet resigning. How are things going with securing a vet? “We have now gotten two vets on record,” says Haglund. “We have Dr. Piller out of Bemidji, and then we have Dr. Emily out of Moorhead. They work with us to see the animals when needed and help us with the spays and neuters.” The problematic part, Heglund says, at this time is paying for the service and the travel expense.
Scruffy Tails needs some part-time help. What does a part-time position at Scruffy Tails entail? “They come in in the morning, they let all the animals out, they clean the kennels and give them fresh food and water, and let them run in the runs outside,” says Haglund. “If we have more animals than we do runs, it’s a rotation. Right now, we have a dog in here that needs medications, so we need to have staff that can administer the medication.” Volunteers are always welcome to come up and help with this as well, Heglund says. The work, she says, can be very rewarding.
The Scruffy Tails board has had some issues that seem to be resolving. There are nine seats on the board, five of which are currently filled. If you are interested in getting involved with Scruffy Tails, this might be a good place to start. “If there is anyone out there who wants to make a difference, please come and apply to be on the board,” says Ricard. “I have a passion for animals, and my husband will tell me that I have to leave them all at the shelter, unfortunately.”
What does being part of the board mean to Haglund? “Being a board member is an enjoyment in your community. It’s helping a place survive and helping those animals that don’t have a say for themselves.”
If you want to help Scruffy Tails Humane Society in any way, whether it is by volunteering, part-time work, being on the board, or by donating, they would be appreciative. There are also Scruffy Tails Donation Boxes at different locations in town, so keep an eye out for those. Check out Scruffy Tails’ Facebook Page or their website to see biographies on the pets they have up for adoption. Also, remember that they will have a soft opening on Sunday, June 22, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., so folks can come up and check out the facility, visit with board members, staff, and most importantly, the animals.
