Humane Society of North Iowa

1520 North Federal Avenue
mason city, Iowa 50401
Phone: 641-423-6241
Email: hsni@netconx.net
Website: www.hsni.org/


The origins of today's Humane Society of North Iowa, which will also be referred to as the Pet Adoption Center, began as the Pet Assistance League, incorporated in 1965 in Mason City, Iowa. In the early 1960's, PAL as it was then known, moved its "animal" operations to the farm of Bill and Alice Blackmore. By the end of the 1960's PAL developed and changed its name to Humane Society of Cerro Gordo County and obtained a tax-exempt status.

The 1970's brought more changes to the Humane Society of Cerro Gordo County. The animals that were housed on the Blackmore farm were moved to a building location on South Taft Avenue in Mason City. During this period the Humane Society was also the sole contractor of the city and county animal control.

The 1980's were a mix of good and bad news for the Humane Society. the organization started the new decade off in a very negative way. It lost the city and county animal control contract and filed for bankruptcy. It lost its building on South Taft as well. Determined not to leave the animals as the victims of mistakes, a group of dedicated volunteers met in several different places such as the basement of the Mason City Police Department. The small group soon formed the nucleus of the Board of Directors, raised a small amount of money, and moved into its current location, and rented from Dr. Randy York, DVM. The Humane Society of North Iowa, as we currently know it, was taking shape. Janece Wing was also a part time employee for the new pet Adoption Center during the late 1980's. Animal lovers and philanthropists David and Phyllis Murphy bought the current pet Adoption Center building for the Humane Society. This era also began a legacy of fund raising for the shelter to include the first annual appeal letter mailed.

As HSNI moved into the 1990's more positive things made caring for and adopting animals easier. Like the beginnings of the 1980's the 1990's started with some bad omens. There was a serious volunteer crisis that almost closed the pet Adoption Center. Janece Wing left the Pet Adoption Center at the same time. The crisis was overcome, primarily through the help of the local media, which spread the word of the volunteer crisis. New volunteers for both the pet Adoption Center and new Board members were recruited to keep the Pet Adoption Center open. Then without warning a major ringworm outbreak happened affecting many of the animals housed in the Center.

The last half of the 1990's was a bit gentler to the HSNI. Pet Tales, the Pet Adoption Center's newsletter began. Fund raising progressed with the introduction of an annual pizza sale. HSNI received several large bequests that enhanced the organization's financial condition. The HSNI facility was improved with such things as new dog yards, dog runs, and fences being installed.

The Pet Adoption Center celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1996. Part time staff and a manager were hired to run the day-to-day operations of the Center. A new computer was purchased in 1997. Board members and other volunteers began informal pet visits to local Nursing Homes. 1999 saw the death of the Pet Adoption center's largest benefactor, David Murphy.

To see the adoptable pets for Humane Society of North Iowa click here



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