BENCHS History
The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Mankato, MN, founded in 1974 and incorporated in 1977. Initially funded by donations, fundraisers, and bequests, with no government aid, BENCHS was volunteer-run and took in 400 animals in the first year.
BENCHS opened a small shelter on Madison Avenue in 1986. A building fund was launched in 1998 to expand services. In 2004, land was purchased on North River Drive, and by February 2010, BENCHS moved into the current, modern facility.
BENCHS cares for hundreds of homeless, injured, abandoned, and abused cats and dogs. As a limited-admission shelter, we are committed to providing care and treatment for all healthy and treatable pets. BENCHS follows best practices in animal welfare and actively participates in lifesaving programs. Prior to adoption, all animals are spayed/neutered to help control the pet population. On average, BENCHS now cares for about 1,000 animals annually, providing medical treatment, shelter, and finding them forever homes.
The first community service BENCHS provided to the public, The BENCHS Food Shelf, began in 2006. Donations of pet food are received from Purina, area businesses and community members. The Food Share Program is currently open from Noon to – 4 p.m. for daily distribution. We are strong advocates of microchipping pets.
Early on BENCHS began to collaborate and partner with many regional groups, businesses and community members. The list of partnerships is long, ranging from local and regional organizations and businesses to national groups.
BENCHS partners with out-of-state rescue organizations to transport dogs and cats from southern states to Minnesota when additional help is needed. During Hurricane Harvey, pets were brought to Mankato from the Gulf Coast to be rehomed. In states like Texas, a significant number of healthy shelter animals are euthanized simply due to overcrowding. Through partnerships with these shelters, we’ve been able to save many animals who would otherwise face euthanasia. BENCHS gives these homeless pets a second chance at life in a loving home.
Helping to control the pet population has long been a part of BENCHS vision. For many years we have required that our adopted cats and dogs be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. We have partnered with many other agencies to perform those surgeries for us.
In 2020, we remodeled the surgical suite at the shelter and hired a part-time veterinarian to perform surgeries in-house. Our aim is to be able to perform all of our own spay/neuter surgeries, with the exception of those needing specialized surgery at an outside veterinarian clinic. Our ultimate goal is to develop and expand those services to enable us to offer surgeries to other rescue organizations and to those in need as we are able to attract additional veterinarians.
BENCHS is not only about caring for animals, but also about humanity. The love and comfort of a pet sustains people through the most difficult of times, providing unconditional love and friendship. Properly caring for a pet instills a sense of responsibility and compassion in children that remains throughout their lives. The services of an animal shelter reach all segments of society, from the wealthy to the destitute, from preschoolers to seniors, and all who are shut in.
The shelter operates with limited paid staff and relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to maintain the organization and our ability to provide quality care for all the pets it accepts and places in homes. The only other funding or financial support that BENCHS receives is from national animal welfare or humane associations through limited grants applications for new programs. We rely heavily on the help from our community. With the generous donations from our supporters, we are able to provide shelter, food and love to animals awaiting a permanent home. Now is the time to get involved with BENCHS and make a lifesaving difference in the lives of others.
At BENCHS we…
- Show Compassion
- Encourage Teamwork
- Exhibit Honesty and Integrity
- Strive for Continuous Improvement