Published Amery Free Press, Osceloa Sun Set 29, 2025

Our pet of the week is Aviva, a petite 2-year-old brown tabby with captivating eyes and the softest, gentlest nature. Aviva is currently our longest feline resident, and we think it’s because her personality allows her to quietly blend into the background. She isn’t a fan of the other cats, but at her kennel door she silently pleads for human affection—just waiting for someone to notice her. She’s the kind of companion who won’t demand the spotlight but will reward you with endless love once she finds her person.

Like many shelters and rescues in the area, we are over capacity right now. Every day we receive calls from people hoping to surrender cats and dogs, and it breaks our hearts to have to turn them away because we simply have no room. If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry friend to your family, now is the perfect time. Adoption fees have been lowered on all dogs, adult cats (1 year and older), and a few lucky pets even have their fees fully sponsored.

Not in a position to adopt? There are still so many ways to help. Fostering or volunteering your time makes a huge difference, as does sponsoring adoption fees and donating supplies we rely on daily. Right now, our most-needed items include laundry soap of any kind, floor cleaner (Mr. Clean, Fabuloso, Lysol), 33-gallon trash bags, and soft dog treats. Even sharing our posts on social media helps spread the word and connect our animals with their future families.

Another fun way to support the shelter is by joining us at Balsam Lake Lodge & Restaurant’s Charity Meat Raffle on Sunday, October 19th starting at 12 p.m. Come watch some football, enjoy great food and drinks, and maybe even win some meat—all while benefiting the animals at Arnell.

To meet Aviva or our other adoptable pets, stop in anytime we’re open! Our shelter is located at 185 Griffin St. E in Amery. We’re open weekdays from 12–5p and Saturdays from 12–4p. Give us a call during those hours at (715) 268-7387 or visit us online at arnellhumane.org.

Published Amery Free Press, Osceloa Sun Set 22, 2025

Happy First Week of Fall! FALL in love with a shelter pet! The temperatures are dropping, the trees are starting to show their beautiful colors, and hiking season is upon us!

Speaking of hiking, our Pet of the Week is Bronx. He sports a sleek, shiny, Black and Tan coat. His tan eyebrows are so expressive. This handsome fella is an 89-pound, 5-year-old Doberman mix, a true hunk of love.  Bronx knows many commands; Sit, down, shake, fetch, and I swear he knows to crawl on command. He loves to please people and will try by doing anything he can think of to make you smile. He walks quite nicely on a harness, making him an excellent hiking partner. Bronx is great with other dogs. We’ve tested him with many shelter dogs and he does great. Bronx does well with children too, but due to his size, he may accidentally knock little ones over.  His previous owners had to surrender him when the other dog in their home did not like him. They were truly saddened to have to find him a new home, but they knew it was in Bronx’s best interest. This big fella has so much potential and deserves a second chance. Don’t pass this boy up!

If a canine isn’t what you’re looking for, we have an array of cats and kittens. Breeze, Raindrop, Summer, and Sasha have Brown Tabby coats and range in age from four to six months. In the adult category, we have Willow, a sweet, nurturing girl that has cared for her own kittens and those of other moms. She’s a chatter box at times, but she likes to give you her opinion on things. Snickers and Toby are the most handsome felines in the shelter. These boys sport medium length, brown tabby coats with beautiful colors and patterns. Aviva and Lemon Meringue would love to be Queen in their new castles. Both are talkative, playful and LOVE snuggles. Our sweet Gloria, an 8-year-old, declawed, spayed female with a short, white colored haircoat was born with a deformed front foot. Don’t worry, she has learned to adapt and would love a quiet home where she is the Empress. Brownie and Lucy are a 6-month-old bonded pair. Their owner recently passed away due to cancer and requested that they go to their new home together. Tali and Princess are adult cats wearing gorgeous, blue grey coats. Garris, Tipsy, Jessie Beth, Onyx, Poe, and Binx wear glossy black coats and range in age from kitten to adult. Last but not least, is Bram, a 10-week-old neutered male with a long haired, blue grey coat.

On September 24, Wisconsin Federated Humane Society is hosting the Badger State Conference in Appleton, WI. This year, our Shelter Manager and Lead Animal Caregiver will be attending. This gives our staff a chance to learn how to improve the lives of shelter animals. We are excited for them to bring new updates and implement their learnings to AMHS.

You can visit our adoptable pets online at arnellhumane.org and in person at 185 Griffin St E – Amery WI or call us at (715) 268-PETS

Published Amery Free Press, Osceloa Sun Set 15, 2025

Meanwhile, back at the shelter…we are on what feels like our third (maybe fourth?) wave of kitten season—honestly, we’ve lost track! The bottom line is, we are over capacity for both cats and dogs. If you’ve been considering adoption, now is the perfect time. Maybe your house feels a little too quiet with the kids back in school, or maybe they need a furry “study buddy” in the evenings. Not ready to commit? Fostering is a huge help too, giving pets a safe place to land while opening space here at the shelter.

With fall right around the corner, we also start receiving more calls and visits from people worried about outdoor cats as temperatures drop. First, we want to be clear: if you see an animal that appears injured, sick, or truly in danger, please call us! However, we do not accept walk-in cat surrenders or strays due to limited space.

If you do not want a cat to stay on your property, the best first step is not to feed it. Cats are experts at acting like they’re starving, but feeding encourages them to stick around. Many outdoor cats are “community cats” or free-roaming pets that already have homes. Research shows that most outdoor cats are healthier than we think—they have established food sources, shelter, and are skilled survivors. Indoor/outdoor cats are also far more likely to make it back home if they remain in the area they were found, rather than being relocated to a shelter. Friendly cats with collars almost always belong to someone nearby. By leaving them be, you give them the best chance to get back home safely.

We also want to send a big thank you to our community! The Dresser Lions and Ward’s Bar in Dresser hosted a meat raffle last Friday, raising $585 for the shelter. And on Saturday afternoon over in Osceola, Jack Pot’s Bar-N-Grill raised $840 for the pets in our care. We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support us—you make what we do possible.

Arnell Memorial Humane Society is located at 185 Griffin St E, Amery. We’re open weekdays from 12–5 PM and Saturdays 12–4 PM. You can reach us during those hours at (715) 268-PETS (7387). Visit us online at arnellhumane.org and check out our Amazon wish list at bit.ly/amhspets

Publish Amery Free Press , Osceola Sun 9-8-2025

“Hi there, I’m George, the Pet of the Week here at Arnell! I’m 3 years old, and if I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say I’m the best boy, I’d be able to buy all the toys in the shelter. The staff and volunteers tell me I’m smart, sweet, and ready to make someone very happy. I think they’re right!

I’m a 60lb neutered male cattle dog/pit mix, and while I’ve got plenty of energy, what I really want is a home where I can learn how to ‘dog’ from another pup. I get along great with most of my doggie roommates and I’m not sure what these “cat” things are I keep hearing about, but they would probably like me too. I absolutely love going on walks and I’m all about stopping to smell the flowers…literally. I love people, including kids, if they respect my boundaries. Last week, a group of 20 high school students came to volunteer, and I wasted no time grabbing toys and bringing them over for fetch. I loved all the attention and made friends instantly. Anyway, I have to go, but if you want to meet me or any of my pals here, stop by anytime!”

The Polk County Health Department recently released important information about a second bat testing positive in our county. While rabies cases are rare, they do occur—most often in wild animals like bats, skunks, and raccoons. Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, which makes prevention through vaccination absolutely critical.

Wisconsin law requires that all dogs be vaccinated for rabies by five months of age and kept up to date for life. Cats and ferrets are also strongly recommended to be vaccinated. Keeping your pets protected not only safeguards their health, but also protects your family and community. You can read more in the full public health release on Polk County’s website or our Facebook page.

Looking for a fun night out while helping support shelter pets like George? The Dresser Lions Club is hosting a meat raffle for Arnell Memorial Humane Society this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Ward’s Bar in Dresser. Then on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., head over to Jack Pot’s Bar-N-Grill in Osceola for another chance to win and support the animals. Both events promise great prizes and even better company  - all while making a difference for our four-legged friends.

Arnell Memorial Humane Society is located at 185 Griffin Street East, Amery, WI. We’re open Monday–Friday from 12–5 p.m. and Saturdays from 12–4 p.m. To learn more about George, other adoptable pets, or upcoming events, give us a call at (715) 268-7387 or visit arnellhumane.org.

Published Amery Free Press, Osceola Sun 8-17-2025

It’s hard to believe, but Arnell Memorial Humane Society is turning 25! For a quarter of a century, we’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of pets find safety, care, and love, and we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you.

To mark this special occasion, please join us at the shelter on Friday, August 22, from 5:00–7:00 PM for our 25th Anniversary Open House. It will be an evening filled with gratitude, celebration, and community. If you’d rather not cook that night, Hog Wild BBQ’s food truck will be on site serving up delicious meals.

This celebration is about so much more than a number. It’s about the dogs and cats who were reunited with their families or found new homes. It’s also about the people who welcomed them into their families and the dedicated community that has supported our mission year after year. We are honored to recognize our incredible volunteers and fosters—our rock stars behind the scenes—whose compassion and dedication have carried us through the years. We also want to celebrate all of you, our supporters, donors, and adopters, who have helped shape Arnell into what it is today.

If you’ve never visited us before, this is the perfect opportunity to take a tour, meet our staff, and maybe sneak in some furry cuddles. If you’ve been a part of Arnell’s story in the past—whether as a board or staff member, adopter, volunteer, foster, or friend—we would love for you to join us, share your memories, and see what has changed (and what has stayed the same!) over the past 25 years.

Leashed alumni are absolutely welcome to attend. We can’t wait to see some familiar furry faces return to the shelter that helped them on their journey home.

As much as it is about celebrating the past, this anniversary is also about looking ahead. The need for compassionate animal care and responsible pet ownership is as important today as it was in 2000, and we’re excited to continue serving for many more years to come.

We hope you’ll join us on August 22! We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you and continue our mission together.

We are located at 185 Griffin Street E in Amery. Our normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 12:00–5:00 PM, and Saturday, 12:00–4:00 PM. You can reach us by phone during those hours at (715) 268-PETS (7387). Visit our website at arnellhumane.org to learn more and see our adoptable pets.