BENCHS takes the health of its animals and people very seriously. If you are feeling ill, please do not come into the shelter.

BENCHS History

BENCHS History

The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS) is a local, independent, 501c3 non-profit organizations in Mankato, MN. We were established in 1960 in a small house on Madison Ave. In 2010 BENCHS opened its doors at its current location on North River Drive. Each year BENCHS cares for thousands of homeless, injured, abandoned and abused animals. We are a limited admissions shelter, caring for and treating all healthy and treatable pets. BENCHS utilizes best practices and participates in lifesaving programs.

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.

In 2017, BENCHS began partnering with rescues in other states to transport dogs and cats to Minnesota from southern states. For example, in Texas a huge percentage of healthy dogs that end up in shelters are euthanized simply due to overcrowding. We’ve been able to help many of these including more heart-worm positive dogs, all with a death sentence. BENCHS has found homes for numerous dogs and cats who were homeless and destined for euthanasia. With the support of our donors, all are given a second change at life.

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