About MAR
Who is Mitchell Animal Rescue?
The Mitchell Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501c3 organization located in Mitchell, South Dakota. The rescue is operated by a small group of unpaid volunteers dedicated to helping strays and pets find their way home or into a loving new home. Our organization is funded entirely through donations, grants and fundraising. A Board of Directors makes decisions for MAR. The rescue is not affiliated with the City of Mitchell or Lakeview Veterinary Clinic.
How Does MAR Operate?
Cats and dogs are brought into the Mitchell City Pound by local animal control officers who pick up lost, missing or stray animals within the Mitchell city limits. This pound is located behind Lakeview Veterinary Clinic at 2022 West Havens. The pound is not affiliated with the vet clinic.
When animals in the pound are not adopted or claimed by owners, the Mitchell Animal Rescue adopts them and places them in foster homes in an effort to find them forever homes. The MAR does not have a facility and relies on the generosity of foster families to help prevent these animals from being euthanized. This is the main purpose of MAR and the reason the organization was established in 2008.
How is the Pound Different from the Rescue?
Mitchell’s city-owned pound is located behind the vet clinic at 2020 West Havens. It was built with a generous donation from the Osterhaus family, the city of Mitchell and private donations. The pound can currently house approximately 8 dogs and 10-12 cats at a time.
The pound is owned and financed by the City of Mitchell. It is located on privately owned land and is managed by Lakeview Veterinary Clinic to ensure the animals are provided with daily food and water, necessary medical care and a safe, clean environment. The city relies heavily on donated food to feed the animals.
Any animals picked up by Mitchell Animal Control are taken to Mitchell’s City Pound. Handling of the animals is conducted according to city policy.
The current City policy allows three business days for an owner to reclaim a pet. Two to three days later, the animal can be euthanized. This is where the Mitchell Animal Rescue comes in. When an animal has been in the shelter too long and their “time is up”, MAR adopts them from the pound and places them in foster care until we can find them a new home or another rescue to take them in. Our primary goal is to do everything we can to ensure all of the animals at the pound are adopted.
Because of the limited size and resources of the Mitchell Animal Rescue, we do not accept owner surrenders. If you need emergency re-homing, please see the Re-Homing section of this website.
If you are interested in adopting, fostering, donating or volunteering with MAR please fill out an application form that indicates your interest. We will respond to the applications as soon as possible, but please be patient. We operate through volunteers and are not always immediately available. Thank you!
MAR Board of Directors
Carey Grosdidier
Linda Christenson
Rocky Von Eye
Chris Blindert
Robyn Jones