Everybody loves that little puppy in the window, but what about the dog behind bars?

Dixi, an American Sheffield Terrier has been at the Humane Society of Freeborn County for four years

November celebrates Humane Society Anniversary Day (Nov. 22) and National Animal Shelter Appreciation week (Nov. 2-8).

The Humane Society of Freeborn County (HSFC) just had a new expansion finished two years ago. This expansion was able to make more room for strays and with the new vet room, save a little bit of money

“We are a non-profit shelter, so any donation helps,” said Ryan Rarbuckle, HSFC assistant director.

These donations are used to help pay the bills at the Humane Society, pay for food for the pets but also to fund spay/neuter clinics. HSFC stresses people spay and neuter their pets to help prevent overpopulation. When these clinics are held you can take your animal in to get spayed or neutered for a discounted price.

HSFC is a great resource for questions about your pet and provides Freeborn County’s strays a shelter. Not all of these animals are strays, though. Some people are moving and can’t take their pets, and some people just get sick of their pets and drop them off.

“Most people wouldn’t just drop their family members off like that,” said four-year volunteer Marissa Oakland, ALHS junior. “I just don’t know why they would drop their pets off. Your pets should be treated like family members.”

Oakland fosters many of the animals that go through the Humane Society, but unfortunately she can’t take them all.

“Basically to qualify to adopt we have people fill out an application and come in for an interview, and from there we pair the animal with the best suited person,” Rarbuckle said.

When you adopt an animal from the Humane Society you know they will be caught up on vaccines and be spayed or neutered by the time you take them home.

About once a month HSFC holds adoption fairs and lowers the adoption prices to help give these homeless pets, like Dixi, a place to call their own.

In the future, HSFC plans on getting into the schools and educating the students and public about not only their mission to find all these pets a home but also how to care for your pets of all ages.

The next time you’re looking at that puppy in the window, think about going to take a look at the dog behind the bars to whom you could be a hero.