About
Our Mission
Our Mission Statement: We believe in the human-animal bond
and exist to support the animals and people of Central Minnesota by practicing and promoting quality animal care, offering compassionate customer service, and providing humane education.
Our Vision Statement: With the help of our community and exceptional team, we envision a time when every animal receives the care they need, and all people receive the support they seek.
Tri-County Humane Society (TCHS) has been operating an independent nonprofit animal shelter in St. Cloud, Minnesota, since 1974. TCHS does not receive any government funding, and we rely on our generous community of donors, adopters, volunteers,
and fosters to provide quality services to the pets and people of
Central Minnesota and beyond.
Some of those services include care for homeless animals, pet adoption, pet lost and found, and humane education. We also provide knowledgeable answers to questions regarding pet care, behavior, and many other animal-related issues.
Tri-County Humane Society's MBAH Kennel License Number is MN140200.
History and Growth of TCHS
The Beginning
Before 1974, several concerned residents took unwanted pets into their homes, but they could not keep up with the need.
1974 - Incorporation!
TCHS incorporates on Dec. 11, 1974, as a nonprofit organization to care for homeless pets and to promote the humane care and treatment of animals.
1976 - Our First Shelter
Community members and businesses rally to provide donated materials and labor to remodel a vacant gas station and turn it into an animal shelter.
Against All Odds
That first shelter has 10 old-fashioned dog kennels, 12 puppy cages, and 12 cat cages. And on occasion, it floods.
It was soon time for an upgrade!
1989 - New Building
On May 15, 1989, TCHS moves into a new custom-designed animal shelter at its current address (735 8th St. NE, St. Cloud).
1999 - Adding On
After years of planning and saving, TCHS builds an addition that provides more storage space, office space, a laundry room, expanded small animal and stray housing, separate dog and cat isolation rooms, and an examination/surgery suite.
2008 - Training Building
In September 2008, TCHS builds a new training facility behind the shelter for dog obedience, problem-solving, and tricks classes.
2010 - Training Building becomes Surgery Building
In October 2010, the decision was made to stop dog training classes and turn the training facility into a
surgery suite for spaying and neutering shelter animals.
With the “No Pet Left Undone” initiative in full swing by August 2011, TCHS becomes 100 percent compliant with spaying and neutering all dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, and rabbits before adopting them out. That had been a goal since inception.
2010 - More New Initiatives Implemented
* TCHS lowers euthanasia rates by 52%.
* The TCHS Working Cat (or barn cat) Program begins.
* TCHS receives a grant to track the rise of cats and kittens surrendered by using GIS mapping to identify target areas. TCHS then mails those targeted addresses information about
low-cost spay/neuter mobile clinics.
* We start offering "kitten-stress breaks."
2012
* TCHS adds cat portals to cages in cat room,
thanks to a grant from the ASPCA.
* TCHS receives a grant from the ASPCA to increase surgery equipment and switch disinfecting protocol to the new shelter- and veterinary-recommended Accel disinfectant.
* TCHS starts its Return to Field program.
* We receive the first dogs transferred from
Pasadena, California, to TCHS.
* We finish 2012 with a 79.94% percent adoption rate.
Our Great Work
Means More Lives Saved!
The outstanding work of the shelter team continues to result in an incredible number of animals finding homes.
Number of animals placed:
2020: 3,731
2021: 4,499 (This was our first full year in our new shelter.)
2022: 5,207
2023: 4,764
2024: 4,489
2019 - Kitty Korner
Kitty Korner opens in June 2019, featuring cats and kittens ready for same-day adoptions. Kitty Korner is located along Division Street. It stays open for a little more than a year, and more than 500 cats and kittens were adopted from there.
Fall 2019 - We begin work
on new shelter
TCHS breaks ground on our new shelter in November 2019.
2020 - The New Era of TCHS Begins
Tri-County Humane Society opens its new facility on Sept. 10, 2020, after two days of moving. The new animal shelter features twice as much square footage and includes greatly improved housing/socialization areas for our animals.
July 2022 - TCHS Hosts 1st Free Microchip Clinic
Staff microchips 28 animals during our
Gettin' Chippy Wit' It event. Since then, we've chipped
hundreds of animals for the public!
August 2022 - TCHS gets a Doggie Play Yard
Thanks to Girl Scout Troop 636 of Sauk Rapids, TCHS opens a doggie play area for its shelter dogs.
July 2022 -TCHS Board of Directors Names New Executive Director
Marit Ortega is picked to succeed Vicki Davis as the leader of Tri-County Humane Society.
November 2023: Marit Ortega Starts As TCHS Executive Director
February 2024: Vicki Davis Retires After 39 Years
April 11, 2024: TCHS Takes in 94 Cats From Crosby Residence
Our organization works with the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies to house cats and kittens removed from a home in Crosby. It is the largest single intake in TCHS' history.
April 13, 2024: TCHS Hosts 1st Offsite Microchip Clinic
TCHS staff chips 88 animals at
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School.
Dec. 11, 2024: TCHS Officially Marks its 50th Birthday!
