Homeward Animal Shelter, founded in 1966 in Fargo and once known as the Humane Society of Fargo-Moorhead, is one of North Dakota's leading shelters. It is a limited-admission, non-euthanizing shelter that pulls at-risk animals from local pounds and places most of them through foster homes. Here is how adoption, surrender, and fostering work.
Homeward Animal Shelter, founded in 1966, rebranded from the Humane Society of Fargo-Moorhead in 2014 to make clear that it is fully independent and locally funded, with no tie to a national group. It serves Cass County in North Dakota and Clay County in Minnesota.
It is a limited-admission, non-euthanizing shelter that works from a small facility, with only about nine dog kennels, so it places most animals through foster homes rather than kennels. A core part of its mission is pulling animals from local pounds that face short euthanasia timelines, and it has placed more than 44,000 pets since 1966.
Adoption fees are tiered by species and age, and each adoption includes a veterinary exam, vaccines, and a microchip; animals six months and older are spayed or neutered before adoption, while younger pets carry a refundable deposit that is returned once the surgery is done.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Adult cat | $120 |
| Kitten | $150 |
| Dog | $225 |
| Puppy | $325 |
Adoption is by application with a walk-in open house or by appointment. Open house hours are Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m., with appointment times during the day. Senior and military discounts are available.
Because the facility is small and usually full, Homeward generally cannot take owner surrenders and instead refers owners to rehoming resources; its priority is animals on three to five day euthanasia timelines at local pounds. Up to 80 percent of its animals live in foster homes at any time.
Volunteers must be 17 or older and commit to a weekly two-hour shift for at least three months. Homeward holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 94 percent score, and its EIN is 45-0284164. It is running a capital campaign for a larger shelter.
Dogs, cats, and small animals, most placed through foster homes.
Rescues animals facing euthanasia at local pounds.
Up to 80 percent of animals live in foster homes at any time.
Microchipping events for the community.
Resources to reunite lost pets with owners.
Surgery for animals before adoption, with deposits for the young.
Sources: Homeward Animal Shelter (homewardonline.org) about, adoption, and surrender pages; local news on its record adoptions and rebrand; Charity Navigator (EIN 45-0284164). Adoption fees were drawn from current listings; confirm on the site. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Homeward Animal Shelter and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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