Animal Ark Thrift and Pet Store

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Home page for Animal Ark, Minnesota's largest no kill animal welfare organization

Visit the new and updated Shelter Page to view the animals which are currently available for adoption. And check back often! New animals are added regularly. Also, please consider sponsoring one or more of these animals. Your sponsorships keep our shelter operating! To sponsor a pet, simply browse the animals available for adoption.

When you find a pet you would like to sponsor, click the link on their page to sponsor them. Better yet, if you would like to take one home, fill out an adoption application. Every adoption helps us save another life.

September 22, 2010 - Today, Animal Ark's Animal Wise Radio launched a new Internet and mobile radio station to deliver animal-friendly programming world-wide. In addition to streaming the syndicated Animal Wise Radio program live each sunday, the new station will feature other animal-related programs, like the Land Stewardship Project's Ear to the Ground show.

Between live shows, the new Animal Wise Radio Network will feature a broad range of rebroadcasts of their favorite animal programs.

"The expansion to a 24/7 station was a natural next step in the growth of Animal Wise Radio," said Mike Fry, executive producer and co-host of the Animal Wise Radio program.

In addition to expanding the amount of programming offered, this change also allows Animal Ark to reach a broader audience by reaching a growing list of mobile devices. The station is available via the Internet, on computer players, and on a growing list of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, Windows Mobile and other portable devices. A custom player for Android phones will be launched soon.

"In effect, this expansion means that anyone almost anywhere can now get the Animal Wise Radio show whenever they want," Fry said. Read the Rest.

Featured Blog: The Tale of Two Doggies - How Fostering Helps Enrich Our Lives While Helping the No Kill Movement
by Mike Fry

Because my home is generally at its capacity for non-humans, our experience with fostering has been relatively limited. We simply don't do it that often. For one thing, the animals we adopt tend to be those with "special needs" making accommodating foster animals into our home more challenging. There have been some notable exceptions: emergency cases, like the kitten found with a crushed paw that needed overnight care until the vets could see it. Even though our dogs thought the kitty looked more like a treat than a new family member, we could safely confine him to the upstairs bathroom, bottle feed him throughout the night and get him to a doctor in the morning.

Most of our foster experiences have been like that - short-term, emergency situations that had easily defined start and stop dates. However, we have also occasionally taken on longer-term, more ambitious fosters. Reflecting on my animal experiences, I realize these foster animals have all enriched our home in ways we did not really anticipate when we took them in. This is the story of two such foster children... Read the Rest.

We Are Still Celebrating! Minnesota and Wisconsin Get First No Kill Stars on the Map

Special Coffee Pays Tribute to Remarkable Canine
Beyond a doubt, most people who met him surely remember him. He had a spirit and presence that was both powerful and soft. He had explosive energy, but was generally sweet and loving.

Barney was originally rescued from a barn on a farm where he and a sibling were found chained about 2 weeks after the family that lived there had moved away. Fortunately, it was a very rainy year and the barn was in bad shape. Barney and his brother survived by drinking rain water that leaked into the old barn.

Though emaciated and dehydrated, Barney and his brother had their spirits fully intact when they were rescued by Animal Ark.

Barney made a speedy recovery and lived 9 fun-filled years with a family who adored him. He brought fun, happiness and energy into his home - his sense of humor was unforgettable.

This special dog is commemorated in a gourmet coffee, Barney's Blend, offered by Coffee and Tea, Ltd. Like Barney, the coffee is lively and rich. Sales of Barney's Blend Coffee benefit Animal Ark. Find out More.
New Product Helps Pets Overcome Pain
You Can Get a FREE Bottle
Aging can be painful on pets and people. Simply watching our pets get older can be painful for us. They slow down, may not want to climb stairs, or they may become reluctant to jump on furniture. All signs a pet is getting older, and likely suffering from pain or stiffness often associated with aging.

However, a new product will help dogs cats and even horses suffering from a variety of pain and joint-related issues. The product is called FlexPet, a unique joint, pain and arthritis formula. It is a natural, over-the-counter product that addresses pain and stiffness in a variety of ways, including reduction of inflammation, joint lubrication, and repair of joint tissues.

Animal Ark has had multiple veterinarians evaluate the ingredients. All have agreed that it is perfectly safe for pets. More importantly, the animals we have given FlexPet to have shown improved mobility, energy and interest in exercise. Find out More.
Puppy Mill Busted in Minnesota, Owner Charged with Animal Torture
52-year-old Kathy Bauck, owner of the notorious "Pick of the Litter" puppy mill, that supplies puppies to pet stores, including Pet Land, has been charged with nine counts of felony animal cruelty, torture, and practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Bauck has been charged before, but continues operating due to many failures in the animal welfare community and the legal system.

Bauck operates what is widely regarded as the largest puppy mill in Minnesota, and one of the largest puppy mills in the nation. Reports put the number of breeding animals at her facilitiy between 900 and 1,300 breeding adults plus puppies. That could equal up to 2,000 animals on her property at any time. Many people in the animal welfare community believe the sheer volume of abuse at this puppy mill has prevented authorities from stopping it. Find Out More.

Reminder: Top 10 Reasons Donating to and Shopping at the Animal Ark Thrift Store are Good for You. Check them Out.

Animal Ark's Online Store is Open For Business
If you have ever wondered where to go to get cool, animal-oriented stuff, you need look no farther. Animal Ark's online store is open for business, with a wonderful selecton of shirts, dog shirts, bumper stickers, food dishes, CDs, caps, jackets, calendars and more! And, in the coming weeks, we will be expanding our design selections to include products designed around issues including:

And, the best part is, all of the proceeds from the sales of these products benefit Animal Ark, and help us rescue, rehabilitate and rehome homless animals. So, do your part, GO SHOPPING!

"Teach Compassion." It is perhaps the most important job we have as animal protectionists. In the mission statement of every animal welfare and animal rights group, every private and public shelter, and within the credo of every activist is a calling to raise awareness of animal suffering and to ultimately encourage more humane treatment. From the earliest days of our movement's founding, we have heeded the call to change the hearts and minds of the public, knowing that doing so is a precursor to changes in laws and practices that result in animal suffering. But we have our blind spots.

There is no breed of dog in America more abused, maligned, and misrepresented than the American Pit Bull Terrier. Read the Rest.

Add Animal Wise Radio to Your Web Site
After many requests from web masters wanting to add Animal Wise Radio to their web sites, we have recently made it much easier to do that.

By following the instructions below, a small control will be added to your web site that will allow visitors to your site to listen to the most recent Animal Wise Radio program, just by clicking on the "Play" button. Visitors to your site may also listen to the Animal Wise Radio highlights.

When your visitors choose to listen to the show, the play controls open in a small window that allows them to easily continue surfing your web site. Find Out More.

Other Items of Interest:
How does your pet food rate? Check out our interactive online database of pet food ratings by clicking here.
Sponsorship program is a great way to show you care about animals! Find out more.
Animal Ark helps you add pet resources to your web site. Find out more.

Below you will find some of Animal Ark's favorite links to other valuable resources on the internet.
Behavior - Dogs

Animal Ark needs volunteers to help in many areas of the organization. Without the help of volunteers, our organization would not exist. If you can help in any of these areas, call (651) 772-8983.

Truck Driver, to pick up larger donations for the Thrift Store
Web Developer, to help with web site and Ebay sales of Thrift Store items
Dog Walkers, Trainers, Groomers and Cat Brushers at the Shelter

The following items are things we can use. If you are able to provide any of these items and are willing to donate them to Animal Ark, please contact us!

Cardboard Scratchers for Cats
Cat Beds - low sided fleece beds are best, no hooded beds or Styrofoam beds with removable covers
Cash, Checks, and Gift Cards are always welcome!