About the Nonprofit
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Since 2002, Heartland Animal Shelter (HAS) has saved the lives of nearly 15,000 dogs and cats through our adoption, foster and diversion programs. It all started with Dr. Herbert Preiser, DMV and founder of Heartland Animal Shelter. Dr. Preiser opened Heartland in October of 2002 with a vision to eliminate the euthanasia of adoptable animals. Dr. Preiser wanted to make a difference by saving the lives of unwanted cats and dogs who might not otherwise be given a chance to find a home. Today Heartland stays committed to Dr. Preiser’s vision through our mission to provide care, humane treatment, and adoption for dogs and cats in need through community outreach, progressive programs and partnership collaboration.
The goal of Heartland’s Adoption Program is to match dogs and cats in need of homes with adopters, ensuring a successful transition into loving, permanent households. Prospective adopters are required to complete an adoption application form. Trained staff and volunteers provide adoption guidance to help potential adopters find the right animal for their families. Adopters are encouraged to meet the dogs or cats available for adoption in person. Adopters are typically required to pay an adoption fee, which helps cover a portion of the costs associated with the animal's care. Heartland works with a variety of funders to offer free or reduced fee adoption events throughout the year, to create less barriers for potential adopters. Heartland’s adoption staff provides ongoing support to adopters with an enhanced resource library to consult on-demand, free and later discounted, on-demand behavior and training content for dog adopters, as well as some in-home training as needed to create a foundation for success.
Heartland’s Foster Program plays a crucial role in providing temporary care and support to dogs and cats in need until they can be placed in permanent homes. The shelter actively recruits individuals or families to open their homes to foster animals in need. This involves outreach through social media, community events, and partnerships with local organizations. Heartland’s foster volunteers are unpaid, but Heartland covers the cost of medical expenses and provides guidance and support for all our foster animals and foster families. Foster families receive an orientation on the shelter’s policies, procedures, and expectations for fostering. This includes information on providing basic care, handling medical needs, behavioral training, and communication with adoption/foster staff. Heartland matches dogs and cats with suitable foster homes based on factors, such as the animal’s personality, behavior, medical needs, and the foster family’s experience and preferences. Foster volunteers play an important role in promoting the animals in their care for adoption. They attend adoption events, share photos and stories on social media, and network within their community to find potential adopters. Once a suitable adopter is found, foster volunteers facilitate the transition of their foster animal to their new home, providing guidance and support to ensure a smooth adjustment.
Heartland Animal Shelter routinely provides vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick prevention, Heartworm prevention, SNAP tests, microchipping, and spay/neuter services for animals in our adoption and foster programs. In addition to routine medical care and procedures, Heartland Animal Shelter often faces a range of medical issues among the dogs and cats we care for, including illness, mobility issues, and emergencies. To address these issues we employ a combination of intake protocols, preventative care, routine medical screenings, and procedures, and when needed, emergency veterinary care.
Heartland is prepared to handle emergencies that arise, including injuries, accidents, or illness that might require immediate attention. We have a specific fund, Doctor Do More, endowed by donors specifically interested in supporting emergency medical services for our animals. We have a vet tech and two part-time vet assistants onsite who partners with on-call veterinarians and emergency clinics to provide prompt medical care when needed. Heartland has a medical suite, diagnostic lab equipment, an x-ray machine, ultrasound machine, and dental unit onsite, which allows us to use funds more efficiently in cases of serious illness or injury and reallocate those savings to other animals. The shelter also has isolation and quarantine space to prevent the spread of serious viruses, bacteria, or other microbes. Perhaps one of the great strengths about the emergency care we provide our animals is the dedication of highly trained staff and volunteers who will provide around the clock care for sick or injured animals deemed well enough to stay onsite.
Heartland has helped hundreds of community members, facing hard times, keep pets in their homes through our Diversion Program. Each year the shelter hosts six free vaccine and microchipping clinics in collaboration with local municipalities for low and fixed income pet owners. We partner with pet supply pantries to connect pet owners with free or discounted pet food. Heartland will temporarily take ownership of pets in need of medical care or surgical procedures, passing on free or reduced veterinary service rates shelters receive to owners,and offering affordable payment options for necessary care. In cases where an owner is not physically or financially able to care for their pet post-surgery the animal can remain at the shelter to fully recover before going back home to their owner. Heartland will also provide temporary housing for pets when owners face hardship, with the goal of reuniting them. Heartland offers pet owners our Lifetime Care Program to make provisions for their dog through a bequest. Heartland will take guardianship of the dog or cat and care for it until the shelter is able to adopt the animal into another loving home, giving owners the peace of mind that their pet will be well cared for in the event of the owner’s death.
