The Animal Humane Society has served Minnesota since 1878 and is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country. It runs three Twin Cities adoption centers, public veterinary clinics, and a free pet helpline, and helps more than 50,000 animals a year. Here is how adoption, surrender, low-cost vet care, and the helpline work.
The Animal Humane Society describes itself as open-admission, and says its open-admission philosophy guarantees safe refuge to every animal that comes to it for help. More than 94 percent of the animals in its care are placed, reunited with owners, or transferred to other groups, and it states that it has not euthanized a healthy animal since 2011.
It operates four metro campuses: adoption centers in Golden Valley, Coon Rapids, and Woodbury, plus a St. Paul location that is a veterinary clinic only, not an adoption center.
Adoption fees are variable rather than a flat price. The organization explains that higher-demand animals carry higher fees, which helps fund the care of special-needs animals, so each pet's fee is listed on its profile. Adoptions include spay or neuter if needed, a microchip registered to the adopter, 30 days of pet insurance, a free follow-up vet exam, any needed medications for 30 days, and a collar with an ID tag, plus a 60-day return window.
Adoption is walk-in with no appointment needed at the three adoption centers; plan for up to two hours. The centers are closed Mondays, open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. A 24-hour hold costs $30 for dogs and cats.
The organization runs public AHS Pet Clinics in Golden Valley and St. Paul that offer low-cost medical care, spay and neuter, dental work, and specialty surgery, with additional discounts based on income. In the fiscal year ending June 2025 the clinics provided 18,502 services, including 8,455 spay and neuter surgeries. Low-cost spay and neuter is also available through the affiliated Kindest Cut program.
The free Pet Helpline at 952-435-7738 offers behavior advice and connects owners to vet care, pet-friendly housing, and assistance programs. It is also the path to surrender a pet, which is handled by scheduled appointment rather than walk-in.
For end-of-life needs, the organization provides reduced-cost humane euthanasia for pet owners and mails a sympathy card with the animal's paw print afterward, scheduled through the Pet Helpline.
Volunteers can start at age 16 for general roles, with a separate track for younger youth. Fostering requires being 18 or older and living within 60 miles of Golden Valley, Coon Rapids, or Woodbury, plus a training video, an application, and a short virtual interview.
Donated supplies go through the organization's Amazon and Chewy wish lists, which ship to the Golden Valley shelter, and gently used items can be dropped at the adoption entrances. The Animal Humane Society holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 90 percent score, and its EIN is 41-0693842.
Walk-in adoption of dogs, cats, and small animals at three Twin Cities centers.
Public low-cost vet care, spay/neuter, dental, and surgery, with income discounts.
Free behavior advice and referrals at 952-435-7738; the path to surrender.
An affiliated low-cost and mobile spay and neuter program.
Reduced-cost humane euthanasia for pet owners, by appointment.
Homes within 60 miles of a metro campus, supported by the organization.
Sources: Animal Humane Society (animalhumanesociety.org) adoption, clinic, pet-helpline, surrender, and 2025 annual report pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 41-0693842). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Animal Humane Society and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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