Frequently Asked Questions about Cedar Bend Humane Society

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Bend Humane Society

How long has Cedar Bend Humane Society been in existence?

The original care of animals in the Cedar Valley started in the early 1900s. The shelter started in the early 1960s and now operates four facilities at 1166 W. Airline Hwy, Waterloo, IA.

How much is needed annually to operate Cedar Bend Humane Society?

We depend solely on contributions from individuals, businesses, city/county contracts, and organizations and revenue from our boarding center to fund $1,086,069 that covers health, medical, and adoption services for pets, buildings and grounds, and pays wages for our 30 staff members. We do not receive federal funding or donations from national animal organizations.

Does CBHS euthanize animals, and why do animals get euthanized?

Cedar Bend Humane Society is an “open admissions” shelter. This means we accept every animal regardless of age, temperament, or health. Every animal is evaluated to determine adoptability based on their health and temperament. We provide medical care for as many animals as possible treating a wide range of illnesses such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. As funding allows, we provide surgeries and treatment for other expensive conditions such as heartworm disease, broken bones, lacerations, and amputations. We partner with rescue groups, foster homes, and other humane societies to provide alternative options for animals when we are full to capacity or when an animal needs behavior modification outside of what the shelter staff can provide. Unfortunately, we recognize the inevitable necessity for euthanasia in certain circumstances. We do humanely euthanize unhealthy, untreatable animals as well as animals who pose a safety risk to members of our staff and the public. We believe it is important to provide healthy, nonaggressive animals to individuals and families who adopt from our shelter.

Are there time limits for animals that do not get adopted?

There are no time limits for animals at our adoption center. Animals remain available for adoption as long as they remain physically and mentally healthy. We have had some animals at the adoption center for as long as 18 months prior to finding a suitable home. CBHS staff and volunteers provide daily enrichment and outdoor exercise time for all adoption animals waiting for their forever home.

How many animals does CBHS euthanize?

CBHS takes in hundreds of animals every month. Part of our mission is to place as many animals as possible into lifelong, loving homes! In 2018, we impacted many lives by securing homes or rescue opportunities for 2,683 animals, reunited 371 lost pets with their owners and released 293 altered feral cats into barn homes and TNR colonies. These saved lives represent 82% of the animals. The remaining were euthanized due to disease, illness, or aggressive behaviors making them unsafe to re-enter the community.

What happens if an animal is not adopted?

CBHS partners with a network of humane societies and animal rescue organizations nationwide. We are very lucky to live in a community that has many volunteers willing to socialize and foster animals in need. If an animal is taking longer than normal to find a family or if an animal is becoming stressed due to shelter confinement, we solicit the assistance from one of many partners to take in or foster the animal in need. Networking is invaluable in the animal industry as it provides options and resources meeting a variety of needs for the hundreds of animals requiring assistance.

Does CBHS have paid staff?

Yes, staff manage many different animal and humane situations every day. There are no days off, weekends or holidays, when caring for pets. It is a huge commitment, and pets rely on the staff for all their needs. Every staff member, no matter his/her position, is dedicated to P.E.T.S. (to Place, to Educate, to Teach, and to Shelter). We have 34 caring individuals to fill the following job positions in three separate buildings on campus: co-directors, adoption counselors, kennel attendants, medical technicians, animal control officers, intake receptionists, media coordinator, volunteer and outreach coordinator, and a fundraising coordinator.

Does CBHS receive funding from the government or agencies?

No. CBHS is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All funding is received through donations or provided services. CBHS does not receive funding from national animal organizations. CBHS partners with these organizations by taking in animals to be put up for adoption, pursuing grant opportunities, and receiving educational material provided through national sheltering agencies. However, we do not receive or send funding to/from other animal organizations, and all donations given to the CBHS are used to support local community animals here in the Cedar Valley.

Can anyone volunteer at CBHS?

Yes! CBHS relies on volunteers to assist the organization in a variety of ways: socializing animals, grounds and maintenance, events, transporting rescue animals, and assisting with adoption events. We welcome all who wish to volunteer, and we have a coordinator on staff who is dedicated to assist, train, and coordinate all volunteer efforts.

What steps does CBHS take to find a stray animal’s owner?

We examine each stray animal for a form of identification through tags on collars or tattoos. Each animal is scanned for a microchip. Our goal is to reunite lost pets with their owners. If there is no identification found, we check local “lost and found” social media sites and our in-house lost and found directory. If the pet does have a form of identification, we make every effort to contact the owner through phone and/or certified mail. Animals that have a form of identification are automatically held for seven days to allow the owner a chance to claim them. Anyone looking for his/her pet is encouraged to visit the CBHS intake center to see if we are holding the lost pet. We also offer an in-house lost and found directory where we hold information for people missing their pets.

Does the CBHS offer Animal Control services for the community?

Cedar Bend Humane Society provides Black Hawk County with animal control services. CBHS responds to calls and aids in rescuing abandoned, sick or injured, and stray animals for rural Black Hawk County. We respond to stray animal calls Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s department handles animal emergencies after 5:00 p.m. or on weekend days.

The cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls have their own animal control enforcement department. Animal Control officers are city employees and handle the animal complaint requests and pick up all stray pets within the community. CBHS partners with the cities to take in and hold all of the stray animals picked up by the city animal control. Each animal is held for a specified period of time set by each municipality.

How long are stray animals held and what happens if they are not claimed by their owner?

Each animal is held for a predetermined time to allow the owner time to claim his/her lost pet. Hold times vary and are set by each city. Black Hawk County and Cedar Falls strays are held for five days. Waterloo strays are held for three days. Unclaimed strays become the property of the CBHS. Each animal will undergo an examination and a temperament evaluation from the CBHS medical team to determine adoptability. Prior to going up for adoption, each animal is altered, vaccinated, dewormed, groomed, tested for specific viruses, and receives a microchip. After medical assessment, animals are moved to the Adoption Center and become available for adoption.

Does CBHS offer veterinary services to the public?

The humane society provides medical care and assistance to the community’s homeless animal population. CBHS spays and neuters community-owned barn cats at a reduced fee throughout the year by appointment. Low-cost, low-income vaccination clinics for community-owned dogs and cats are also offered throughout the year.

Does the CBHS have a veterinarian on staff?

Dr. Endres is a volunteer veterinarian who comes in on a weekly basis to administer rabies vaccinations. He also assists the CBHS medical team in the treatment of sick or injured animals. Dr. Melick is contracted to spay and neuter all of the shelter animals prior to being placed up for adoption. He performs these services for a reduced cost.

What medical care is provided to shelter animals?

Cedar Bend Humane Society’s medical team includes four technicians and two veterinarians. All shelter animals are provided with basic medical care, including but not limited to: vaccinations, parasite control, antibiotics when needed, and a microchip. All shelter animals are spayed or neutered prior to being placed up for adoption. If an animal enters the shelter with an illness or injury needing emergency attention, it is immediately taken to a local veterinarian for treatment.

Do you adopt cats to barn homes?

Yes! The CBHS will alter, vaccinate, and ear tip stray cats that are not good house cat candidates. Applicants must provide the barn cat with an outdoor shelter and daily food and water. We recommend owners capture and vaccinate their barn cats annually, if possible. Individuals interested in adopting a barn cat complete an on-line application. Once received, a CBHS representative will be in touch to discuss possible barn cat options. (Cats residing at the adoption center have been evaluated and are house cat candidates, not to be considered for the Barn-Cat program.)

Does the Humane Society participate in a feral cat TNR program?

Yes! Stray feral cats that are brought to the CBHS through the city animal control department are candidates for the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program. Feral cats that are deemed healthy are altered, vaccinated, ear tipped, and returned to the originating location (providing that the resident wishes to have them returned) to live out their lives.

If I send my animal for boarding, do I run a risk of it getting loose?

No. The Mutt Hutt boarding facility has 32 state-of-the-art, secure kennels. Each kennel has an attached, covered outdoor run. The outside kennel area is behind two security fences. The Mutt Hutt has a grassy area for outside exercise time which is enclosed/secured by a six foot vinyl privacy fence. All pets are supervised by the Mutt Hutt staff at all times during outside play time.

Are contributions to the organization tax deductible?

Yes, contributions are completely tax deductible. CBHS will provide a receipt and letter of substantiation for your contribution to share with your tax preparer for a deduction. Cedar Bend Humane Society is a local, independent, private, non-profit 501c3 organization that is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Are gifts of stock or land accepted as contributions?

Yes, gifts of stock or land are sold with the proceeds going to the organization to pay for needed animal supplies, services, and care.

1166 West Airline Highway, Waterloo, IA 50703 319-232-6887 www.CedarBendHumane.org

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