Published Amery Free Press, Osceola Sun 8-11-2025

Our Pet of the Week is Lilo, a five-year-old spayed female with a short brown mitted tabby coat and a snow-white underside. Lilo came to us back in May after being discovered lounging in the greenhouse at Unity High School. While we’ve loved having her around, she’s been with us far too long—over 75 days—and is ready to begin her next chapter.

Lilo’s current feline roommates are not exactly “cat-friendly,” so we haven’t been able to see how she truly feels about living with other cats. However, she approaches them with calm curiosity, so we’re hopeful she might do well with a slow, proper introduction. The same goes for dogs—her gentle personality suggests she could adjust with patience and care. Lilo is a quiet, sweet soul, and we would be thrilled to see her in the forever home she deserves.

A big thank-you goes out to DN Campground and everyone who joined us on Saturday for our meat raffle! Together, you helped raise $1,555 for the pets at Arnell. We had such a great time and hope you did too—events like this keep tails wagging and purrs rumbling.

Mark your calendars—our 25-Year Anniversary Open House is coming up on Friday, August 22nd from 5–7 p.m. right here at the shelter. The Hog Wild BBQ food truck will be on site, so you can skip cooking and come hungry. We’re excited to thank those who have supported us over the past quarter century and to welcome those who may be just getting to know us. Take a tour, meet our staff, say hello to our adoptable pets, and see what Arnell offers the community.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dr. Mark Nelson, DVM. Dr. Nelson was an integral part of Arnell Memorial Humane Society since its very beginning, serving on our board of directors and offering his veterinary expertise and compassion to countless animals. Beyond Arnell, he was a cherished figure in the community. In 1975, he built Interstate Veterinary Clinic in Centuria, where so many came to know him for his kindness and dedication to both pets and people. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Joy Lutheran Church in Centuria.

Arnell Memorial Humane Society is located at 185 Griffin Street East in Amery. We’re open Monday through Friday from 12p–5p and Saturday from 12p–4p. Our phone, (715)268-7387, is answered during business hours, and you can learn more about our adoptable pets, programs, and events atwww.arnellhumane.org

Published Amery Free Press, Osceola Sun 8-4-2025

This week’s Pet of the Week is Trixie, a one-year-old Husky mix who is as beautiful as she is full of personality. With a stunning all-white coat and mesmerizing heterochromia—one icy blue and one warm brown—Trixie turns heads wherever she goes. But somehow, this gorgeous girl has been with us for nearly two months, and we’re scratching our heads as to why.

Weighing just under 40 pounds, Trixie is the perfect “not-too-big, not-too-small” size. She adores people, is a hit with children, and plays wonderfully with other dogs. With a proper introduction, we believe she could even share her home with a cat or two.

Trixie is more than just a pretty face—she’s our reigning speed champion in the play yard and, arguably, our sassiest talker. When she’s not in the mood to do something, she’ll let out the cutest little under-the-breath mutters. She’s got spunk, charm, and all the makings of a fantastic companion.

While we love celebrating the wonderful animals here at the shelter, we also have a responsibility to help keep our community informed about important animal health issues. One such issue is rabies—a disease that’s still very real and dangerous, even today.

At the end of June 2025, a domestic cat on a farm in Mower County, Minnesota tested positive for rabies after displaying strange behavior, attacking the family’s dog, and biting two children. Thankfully, the family sought immediate medical care. While rare, cases like this are a sobering reminder that rabies isn’t just something wild animals carry—it can affect pets, too.

In Wisconsin, rabies is most commonly found in wild animals like bats, skunks, and raccoons. To protect both people and pets, the state has strict laws in place. Wisconsin State Statute 95.21(2) requires all dogs five months and older to be vaccinated against rabies.

Additionally, Statute 173.23(1)(c) says that if rabies vaccination is required by law (as it is here), animals being reclaimed from a shelter must either be current on their rabies vaccine or their owner must prepay for one before taking them home.

Our next Meat Raffle is happening this Saturday, August 9th at the DN Campground in Balsam Lake. The fun starts at 2pm—join us for meat prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and great company!

And don’t miss our 25th Anniversary Open House on Thursday, August 22nd, from 5–7pm at the shelter. Come celebrate 25 years of saving lives, supporting our community, and creating forever families.

Published Amery Free Press, Osceola Sun 7-14-2025

We’re bursting at the seams—literally. Arnell is currently at or over capacity for both dogs and cats. We are also currently short staffed and have not had an opportunity to post all of our adoptable pets on Petfinder so we are recommending people call or stop in. Six foster homes are caring for litters of kittens who are almost ready for surgery and adoption, our kennels are full, and we’ve had to temporarily close our surrender waitlist due to its length. We continue to get multiple calls daily from people needing to rehome dogs, cats, and entire litters of kittens that we are unable to help.

While our ultimate goal is to find every animal a loving, permanent home, there are still plenty of ways you can help—even if you're not ready to adopt.

Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to support our shelter. We’re urgently seeking foster homes for Tripp, a resilient little Cairn Terrier mix recovering from a rear leg amputation, and Remi, a sweet 7-year-old Silver Lab. If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now’s the time. We also offer a foster-to-adopt option if you're unsure whether a pet is the right fit for your home.

Not able to foster? Volunteer! Getting our dogs out of their kennels several times a day helps tremendously. It reduces stress, improves behavior, and makes them more appealing to adopters. Volunteers also provide invaluable insight into each animal’s personality. We also need volunteers to socialize cats and kittens. Whether it's walking a dog or cuddling a shy kitten, your time makes a big difference.

We’re incredibly grateful to our community for the outpouring of support that helped cover the cost of Tripp’s surgery—and then some. Donations beyond what was needed for Tripp have been added to our Veterinary Medical Needs Fund, which helps cover the costs of urgent medical care for other animals in need.

We’ve also seen a noticeable increase in unclaimed strays. If you’ve lost a pet, don’t panic—but act quickly. Start by leaving scent items outside (like unwashed clothing or bedding). For dogs, consider adding a small amount of liquid smoke to the area to help them scent home. Create a flyer with your pet’s photo and post it on PetFBI.org. Call your local animal control contact—this is usually your town chair or Dedicated Animal Control Services (DACS)—and notify the non-emergency number for local law enforcement. Post in area Facebook groups and always contact us directly.

Important tip: Please do not go out yelling or chasing your pet. This often drives them farther away. Also, we strongly advise against placing your cat’s litter box outside—unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and filled with fresh litter. A dirty box may attract predators and endanger your pet.

You can find us at 185 Griffin Street East in Amery. We’re open Monday through Friday from 12p to 5p; Saturday 12p to 4p; and closed on Sundays. Give us a call at (715) 268-7387 or visit our Facebook page (@arnellhumane).