The Chequamegon Humane Association was founded in 1980 as the Chequamegon Animal League (CAL) as it was then known. A brainchild of volunteers who saw a need in our area, CAL operated out of volunteer homes until a parcel of land was obtained from the city of Ashland on Old Airport Road. In 1994 CHA received a generous bequeath, which allowed us to implement a minimum standard of care so that only spayed or neutered animals, up-to-date on vaccinations were released for adoption. This significant step was the first toward curbing the continuous flow of unwanted cats and dogs in our area. CHA has come a long way since its humble beginnings thanks to our wonderful community. In 2016 thanks to a generous donation and a successful Capital Campaign we broke ground on a new facility where CHA resides today. This new facility allows us to help more animals and run programs that benefit the community. Programs we simply couldn’t run before because our prior facility would not allow it. In 2017, we moved into our new facility at 923 Rail Drive. Making the move allows us to run programs that serve our community like the low-cost Spay/Neuter Program for low-income pet owners, a Pet Food Pantry, Low Cost Adoptions for Senior Citizens, and more. Our animals now receive a standard of care which includes vaccines, spay/neuter, microchipping, sociaization and medical care when needed (e.g. dental care, treatment for illnesses, etc.) The Chequamegon Humane Association has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for homeless pets. The staff and board of directors sincerely hope you will join us in continuously making our community a better place for all pets and their people.
Before deciding on a furry companion, consider your lifestyle. Does your job keep you away from home for extended periods of time? Some animals get lonely while others seem to adjust fine. Do you like to travel? Who will care for your animal while you're away? Do you own your own home? Do you have sufficient yard space for your animal? Do you rent? If yes, have you checked with your landlord to see if pets are allowed, and if they are, does the landlord have any restrictions as to the type and size of pet they will allow in the apartment? Animals can be expensive. Are you prepared for this commitment? Adoption Fees, Routine veterinary care, vaccinations, emergency care, training, grooming, a healthful diet. Is the timing right for you and your family? When you come to the shelter to select a pet, keep an open mind. Put old biases aside and use your head and your heart. Your pet will be a part of your family for years, so base your decision on your objective observation. Talk to our staff members. They are very familiar with each animal and can give you good insight into which pet is right for you. You might want to prepare a list of questions to ask the shelter staff. How would you describe his personality and behavior? Does he like children? How is he with cats? Ask any and all questions that are pertinent to your needs. Spend time with the pet(s) you are considering. Ask a staff member to take them out of their cage and hold them. If it’s a dog, take them for a walk or play with them in the play yard. Talk to the staff about your needs and expectations. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find a match on your first visit. Be patient and visit often or check our site or Facebook page often. The shelter receives new animals quite regularly. Because we are trying to create long lasting matches between families and their pets, we do not operate on a first-come-first-served basis but rather a best match possible to ensure a successful pairing between an animal and their adoptive family. After you’ve selected a dog that you’re interested in adopting and have completed an adoption application so you can meet him or her, you must bring all members of your household as well as any current dogs to our facilities to meet the potential new addition with one of our Adoptions Counselors. It’s okay if your family can’t come or your dog isn’t with you when you pick out a new friend. You can return for the Meet & Greet with them. Here’s what you should expect for the meeting: Dress your dog in a sturdy collar or harness, but no correction collars or retractable leashes, please – they can affect the meeting! Remember that your dog is likely to be excited meeting new friends in a new location, and expect him or her to act that way. We’re okay with that! We’ll start with parallel walking and we may let one dog lead so the other can sniff and vice versa. This lets them adjust to the other dog and get used to their scent and behavior without being confrontational. If things feel right, next we’ll move into our play yard where the dogs will get to spend some time together off-leash. You’ll have plenty of time to talk with our staff and explain how you’re feeling about the meeting. Please, if you’re having any reservations, now is a good time to voice any concerns or ask any questions. After completing all the above steps, completing the adoption application and paying the adoption fee (we accept cash, check, paypal or a major credit card), you are able to take your new companion home! Please bring a collar and leash for dogs and a carrier for cats.
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