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FAQ

  • Where does Heartland Humane get its funding?
    • Our income comes from fees for services (such as adoptions, animal release, etc.), direct donations, special events, grants, and revenue generated by The Heartland Humane Thrift Shop. Contracts with the City of Corvallis and Benton County are for exchange of service and together account for less than 11% of our overall income.

      We receive no money from national humane organizations.

      We are a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and all donations to Heartland are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

  • Where does the money from my donation to Heartland go?
    • Your donations all stay within our county to help local animals and community members. We keep our administration costs to a minimum and the vast majority of every donation goes straight to our programs of sheltering homeless animals, humane education and our spay/neuter program.
  • How Many Animals do you help each year?
    • We care for approximately 2,000 pets each year. As an open-intake facility, we will accept any domesticated animal we can reasonably house, as long as it comes from our service area. Our shelter is small, so we are equipped to handle goats and smaller. Large life-stock will go with local Animal Control or rescues. Our most common animal species is cats, followed by dogs, and then small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. We have sheltered iguanas, tortoises, birds, fish, chinchillas, pigs, and many other species.
  • Are you a “no-kill” shelter
    • We are a location-based, open-intake facility, meaning we will never refuse any animal from our primary service area of Benton County and Corvallis. We meet the protocols for no-kill, with a save rate of over 90%. You can find us on Oregon’s No Kill Shelter Network.
  • So you never Kill any animal?
    • The only way to ensure no animal is ever euthanized by Heartland is to limit admissions to only healthy, young, adoptable animals. Heartland accepts all animals, regardless of health or behavior. We work with the local veterinary community and rescue groups to save as many of these animals as possible. However, we believe that responsible animal husbandry sometimes includes euthanasia to prevent suffering or protect public safety. It is always the last option.
  • How much time does an animal have before it is euthanized?
    • Adoptable animals are never euthanized for time or space. We utilize foster homes to increase the space we have available.
  • Does Heartland Humane pick up stray animals?
    • No. Benton County and the City of Corvallis have Animal Control Officers who do that important job.
  • Do you have animals other than cats and dogs?
    • Yes, we nearly always have rabbits. We often have guinea pigs, ferrets and other small companion animals.
  • Do you ever get Rottweilers/Labs/Doxies/Persians/etc…?
    • Yes, more than 25% of the dogs we receive are ‘purebreds’, though they will never be listed as purebred without AKC papers. Additionally we receive lots of Siamese, Persians and other popular cat breeds. It can take time to find the breed you desire in a shelter, so we always recommend checking websites like Petfinder and Petango if you have a specific breed in mind. These websites collect adoption profiles from rescues and shelters all over the country, and allow you to sort by location, breed, age, and sex.
  • Can I bring my animal to the shelter to have it euthanized?
    • We believe this service is best done by your regular veterinarian who has served your pet throughout his/her lifetime. However, in some cases Heartland may be able to assist with low-income euthanasia services. Please email [email protected] or call (541) 757-9000, then dial extension 0 [zero].
  • Can I bring the remains of my animal to your shelter for disposal?
  • Who do I call when I see animal abuse?
    • Animal abuse and neglect are crimes. Please call your local law enforcement division. In Corvallis, you can reach Animal Control at (541) 766-6924. In Benton County, Animal Control can be reached at (541) 766-6789. In an emergency, please call 911.
  • Can you recommend a veterinarian? Where can I find low-cost veterinary services?
    • Heartland Humane is the beneficiary of support from all the local veterinarians. Therefore, we will not recommend any specific clinic or person. Clinics’ prices do vary widely, but we suggest you look at more than just prices when choosing your pet’s vet. On occasion, we do hear about low-cost vaccination clinics that are being held in our community and are always willing to pass this information on.
  • Why do we have to have our adopted pet “fixed”?
    • Pet overpopulation is still a major problem in this country. For every person born, there are 15 dogs and 45 cats born. That means a family of four (humans) would need to house 60 dogs and 180 cats to ensure that every pet has a home! Spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership are the only answers to the tragic problem of pet overpopulation.

      Moreover, these surgeries prevent many common causes of infections and cancers and reduce or eliminate many problem behaviors. The problem of overpopulation and the medical benefits of spaying/neutering extend beyond dogs and cats and are also true for rabbits.

  • How much does it cost to adopt?
    • Base adoption fees are determined by the species and age of the animal. We frequently run adoption specials and have a G.E.M program, where our super-star animals may be assessed higher adoption fees to help cover the care of animals who are in the shelter longer.
  • How much does it cost to release a pet to the shelter?
    • On average it costs us over $500 to care for each animal that we shelter.

      There is no charge for stray animals brought to the shelter. If the animal is being released by its owner, the fee is on a sliding scale of $35 – $100. The person releasing the animal decides where they fit on the scale. This money is simply used to off-set the costs of housing, vaccinating, medicating when necessary, etc.

  • What is the Heartland Endowment?
    • The Heartland Humane Endowment Fund is an investment account built and contributed to by our donors that provides yearly income to the shelter through its dividend. This fund provides a lasting legacy that assures that future generations of animals in our county will be supported.
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