Failed adoptions are traumatic for the animals and for the humans who wanted them in their lives. That is why one of our goals for this year is to create a $10,000 Adoption Success Training Fund that will help more adoptions succeed.

The focus of our Adoption Success Training will be adult dogs who are so awesome that they have already been adopted, but who were ultimately returned to us for behavior issues, many of which might have been forgiven if they were puppies.

Adoption Success Training, is a two-phase program to address the specific issues that have caused each dog's adoption to fail, resulting in the animal being returned to us.

PHASE ONE happens at Animal Ark. Behaviors are observed, issues identified, and an individualized success training regimen is created. The idea is to ensure that the verbal and non-verbal communication and specific training techniques used by all Staff and Volunteers will be consistent. Prospective Adoptive Parents will learn all the same communication and training techniques for seamless continuity.

PHASE TWO happens with a Trainer collaborating with the Adoptive Parents in the home. This phase will reinforce all of the training that happened at Animal Ark. The dog will be monitored for old issues that persist and new issues that may arise in the new setting, and an individualized remediation program will be developed as needed. The idea is to stand with the Adoptive Parents long enough to ensure the success of the adoption.

Adoption Success Training is a new program so exact costs are unknown and likely to vary - perhaps widely - from dog to dog. Current guesstimates are $500 to $1,500 per dog depending on the depth and complexity of the issues.

If our Adoption Success Training Fund had $10,000 in it today, and if all of the wonderful dogs in our care whose past adoptions have failed were to be adopted tomorrow, the entire $10,000 could be spoken for in less than 90 days. But it would be money well spent. 

The intent of every adoption is to give an animal a loving Forever Home. The intent of our Adoption Success Training Fund is to ensure that we have the resources to help every Forever Home really be... Forever.

Please do what you can to help. Thank you!

Please consider becoming a foster parent for Bruno.
Bruno is a sweet, energetic dog who is not doing well  in a kennel environment. It is stressing him out. Please  consider becoming Bruno's foster parent. As a foster  parent, you offer temporary companionship, a safe, stable,  and loving environment and a chance for Bruno to grow, 
trust, and flourish in a new life. We provide everything else.
Please contact Lorraine@animalarkmn.org for more information. 

Are you ready to run and have fun? Join us on August 18th in downtown Hastings, MN for a 5k Run courtesy of Paws for a Cause and Tito's Handmade Vodka! The run is a family friendly event for all ages. You can run with a dog, no dog, or with a group of people! We just want you to run in support of our shelter. 

Even if you can't make it race day, we have a virtual option which allows you to run at your pace (no pun intended). 

Register now to support a great cause and to enjoy summer by the river! 

We have been at our shelter since the 1990's and there area many improvements needed to make sure we can continue to operate and be successful. One of the latest concerns are the skylights at the shelter. They are old and leaking and in need of repair. We've received a quote to fix them for the amount of $6000. https://animal-ark.snwbll.com/shelter-improvement-operation-new-skylight


Any funds raised above the $6000 will go towards general shelter use and support of our animals and their care.

​Position Summary: Here at Animal Ark you will meet all kinds of dogs and cats who might not have survived at traditional shelters, and help them overcome their behavior challenges, whether they're painfully shy, having trouble getting along with others, or just inexperienced at being house pets. You will assist in changing the lives of these animals – and animals all around the country – by doing a stellar job of training dogs through working in partnership with our staff and volunteers.  

Essential Duties/Responsibilities include:

• Facilitate the complete adoption process and foster care process in accordance with all policies and procedures of Animal Ark.
• Deliver quality customer service, including assisting all clients with finding appropriate pets by facilitating introductions to suitable animals and disseminating appropriate information. This also includes but is not limited to:  pet to pet meets, counseling, medical records, follow-ups, emails, and phone calls.
• Providing high quality customer service to people who visit or call Animal Ark as well as resolving problems and addressing any client dissatisfaction
• Utilize database and enter information and update files as required.
• Interact with caregivers, trainers and management on a regular basis to learn the specific details about each animal to make the right match for a new home.
• Keeping animal records current with information which will help place them into homes, foster homes or to rescue including entering medical examinations and behavior notes Maintain a daily animal inventory.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Skills and Experience

• Experience handling behavior challenged dogs.
• Strong interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. The ideal person for this job would be a team player, positive, personable, upbeat, and energetic, takes initiative, and uses tact and diplomacy
• Resourceful, roll up the sleeves attitude. The successful candidate must have the initiative to resolve problems and seek answers independently and enthusiastically demonstrate flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.

• Knowledgeable of breeds, care giving, and characteristics of animals.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Ability to professionally advocate Animal Ark’s  mission and position on issues.
• Valid driver's license with access to transportation to travel on organization business.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel, and the ability to learn google calendar, docs, PetPoint and email
• Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.

Physical Requirements:

• Work at a computer for extended periods of time to include repetitive typing, arm and hand motion.
• Perform strenuous physical labor including bending, stooping, reaching, lifting, etc...
• Ability to lift 50 + lbs.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule: includes weekends and holiday work
• Spend an extended period outdoors in all weather, including extreme heat and cold.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Animal Ark. Animal Ark is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, domestic partner status.
 
To apply for this opportunity, please send your resume and a cover letter to lorraine@animalarkmn.org.
 

We're received a wonderful update from the new family of sweet Corrina. She was adopted about 3 months ago and was renamed Xena. They learned that she likes to play and has a lot of energy. As you can see from the lower picture, she loves using her cardboard scratching post!

​She has been such a welcome addition to their family!

It's contest time! We want you to help us design the 2018 Animal Ark 3K Walk tee shirt! Please submit your designs to us at volutneer@animalarkmn.org for a chance to win! What do you get for the winning design? Social media recognition, 2 tickets to the walk, and your very own blog post on our website! Entries must be submitted to the Ark by March 18, 2018 to be considered. 

• All designs must be submitted in .jpg or png format.
• Once the design is submitted, Animal Ark has the right to use the design for our 3K walk or anything related to the walk.
• We will post the winning design on social media and our website(s) to showcase. 
• Please do not send anything that is not G rated!
• Winner will be chosen by the Animal Ark 3K Walk Committee on by March 20, 2018. 

Good luck!

The Animal Ark in Hastings is looking for a part-time cat care specialist. The position is 20-30 hours per week (Fri-Tues).

• Hours are 6am-11am on weekends and 6am-12pm on weekdays. Hours may vary from day to day.
• Because we house live animals who need to be cared for every day, applicant must be reliable and able to work holidays.
• Duties include, but are not limited to: feeding cats, cleaning cat condos and cages, washing dishes and litter boxes, sweeping, vacuuming and mopping.  To be successful in this position you need to love cats of all temperaments as well as cleaning.
• Applicant must be at least 18 years old and able to lift 40 lbs. consistently and frequently. You should be physically fit as this position requires a lot of walking, bending, kneeling, and going up and down stairs many times during the shift.
• -Must have a passion for animals and be committed to our mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals.
• Pay starts at $9.50 per hour.

Please stop in to the shelter to pick up an application or email us your resume at shelter@animalarkmn.org
Come and be a part of a great organization saving the lives of animals!

We are excited to be partnering with a two agents from Liberty Mutual Insurance- Travis Solhman and Kermit Graber. For every home or auto quote you request, they will donate $10 to the Ark! How great is that! There's no obligation to you if the quote isn't what you need, but we highly recommend giving them a shot if you are shopping around. 

In addition to home and car insurance, they also offer pet insurance!

All you have to do is email Travis for a quote by clicking below!
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