Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society

BENCHS

Providing care they need, while showing them the love they deserve. 

In 2022 BENCHS continues to feel the effects of the pandemic. Our greatest challenge is a continually full shelter of animals waiting to find homes. A decline in adoptions plus triple the number of stray animals taken in each month has resulted in surrender waiting lists that continue to lengthen. And, sadly we have only taken in a couple of transfers from the south. Many of the impound animals are brought to us with injuries and illness. We find it impossible to say no to these animals who need our help! Finding staff members and volunteers has remained difficult. The number of foster homes for kitten season has declined. And we still do not have the volunteer manpower to fundraise as we have in the past. But, we persevere, no matter the challenges. We provide everything to give our animals a real chance at life ~ food, medical care, time and love.

The truth is, BENCHS relies on the generosity of donors. We count on the help of our community.  Give to the Max has been transformational for us throughout the years. In the eight years we have participated in Give to the Max, you have almost tripled the amount of money donated, from $28,000 to $70,000 last year!  To our matching donors, who have been so overwhelmingly supportive of our goals and dreams - thank you! Matching donations make a huge difference when it comes to fundraising. To our engagers, using your connections to share our mission to new communities and new people, promoting us through social media and by word of mouth - thank you! And especially to those who donate during Give to the Max - thank you!

This year, we are going to ask each of you to dig a little deeper and help us reach our goal of $75,000! All of our initiatives cost money. A lot of money. But we believe in animal rescue. We believe in the BENCHS mission - finding loving homes for the homeless, continuing to reduce the pet population with spay/neuter surgeries, and reuniting the lost pets with their owners. Now is the time to get involved and make a lifesaving difference. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a difference. You will allow us to provide the care our animals need, while showing them the love they deserve.

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BENCHS

Blue Earth - Nicollet County Humane Society

Who We Are: The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS) is a local, independent 501(c)(3) animal rescue nonprofit in Mankato, Minnesota. BENCHS was established in 1969 and opened its doors on North River Drive in 2010. Each year, BENCHS cares for thousands of cats and dogs with the goal of placing them in loving forever homes. 

Our Mission: BENCHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding loving forever homes for homeless cats and dogs, using spay/neuter programs to reduce the number of unwanted pets and reuniting lost animals with their owners.

Our initiatives:

• Each year, during kitten season, BENCHS takes in hundreds of cats and kitten litters each year. Most spend eight to ten weeks in foster homes and dozens of neonate kittens are saved. 
• BENCHS provides impound services for three area communities. At the beginning of 2022 we were taking in an average of 30 animals per month. Since July we've taken in over 100 stray cats and dogs every month!
• Our Food Share Program helps to feed the cats and dogs in the Greater Mankato Area whose owners are struggling to get food for their pets. 
• Another way we support the animal rescue world is through our BENCHS Outreach Clinic for Rescues. Four times a month, we host spay and neuter clinics for the animals in area rescue organizations. 
• We partner with national rescue groups to transport dogs and cats to Minnesota from the South. Many of these dogs had been living on the streets, some have heartworm which needs to be treated, and some are pregnant or have litters of puppies.