By Jay Lutz

Mower County Humane Society

Spring at the Mower County Humane Society means our spay and neuter efforts are in full swing. We are currently sponsoring our feline spay/neuter clinic held in cooperation with the Austin Vet Clinic.

Cat owners of Mower County can obtain reduced cost spays and neuters by contacting the clinic at 507-433-5225. Spays are just $50 and Neuters are only $40. Since 2007, this annual MCHS program has fixed more than 1200 cats.

Also we are sponsoring reduced cost dog and cat spays and neuters via visits to our shelter by the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) mobile surgical unit. The date was just completed on March 20, and their next visit is approaching fast as they will be here Thursday, May 14. Register online at mnsnap.org or call 612-720-8236.

Families share success stories

At MCHS, we love getting mail and hearing how our former residents are doing in their new forever homes.

Dear Humane Society, I adopted Gizmo a little over one year ago. She has been such an amazing cat and I wanted to give you an update on her.  The first couple of days, she was looking for any small spot to climb into to hide … before slowly becoming my best friend.  Gizmo and I play hide and seek.  I laugh so much when we play this as she takes it very seriously, it is hilarious!  She loves to bask in the sunshine and sit on her window perches and look at the world outside.  She even sleeps with me now at night!  She has found her forever home.  I am grateful that you tended to her for three years before I came to rescue her.  She is a special kitty to me. -Thank you! — Amanda

Memphis is a German Shepherd found roaming in the country who was very thin and had been sleeping outside at the finder’s home for a few days in the wintry cold.  He was a very nice boy and was ready to be a great companion. In December he was adopted to his new forever home where a cute little girl found out she was getting a dog. It was love at first sight … for both of them.

Dear MCHS, Last winter we drove through a snow storm from Fargo, North Dakota to adopt our cat “Maxim Jackson.” Maxim is a cuddler, a comic, and can melt you with his eyes. We just love him and are so happy to have him. Just wanted to say thank you.  — Larry and Carmen

Dear MCHS, I just wanted to send you a little life story of Romeo who we adopted from you. Little did I know that he would be the force that pulled me through the next year of my life and has been a constant source of joy ever since. My husband died and then I had a TBI that same year. Romeo had to survive different homes and spotty doggy training. He has been by all accounts the most loving, happy and gentle dog that my extended family has ever met.  When we took in another dog, Rudy, Romeo became a companion and father figure to him. Rudy had serious issues with fear of people. He also has learned to tolerate my son’s cat who lives with us now too. I love him so much that I fear how sad I’ll be when he goes. I just want to thank you and the folks at your shelter who take dogs in and try to find homes for them. You are fighting a good fight. — Anna

What we do at MCHS matters. If you’d like to join us in making a difference in the community, come see us during an open house 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays or 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays, or call the shelter at 507-437-9262.