The Bond Between

The Bond Between A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds, supports, and reinforces The Bond Between animals and people! We were founded in 2009 as Secondhand Hounds.
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The Bond Between is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that focuses on building the bond between humans and animals. Since then, we have rescued over 35,000+ dogs and cats with the help of thousands of fosters, volunteers, and supporters in our community. Our organization has grown from a rescue to a first-in-its-class animal well-being organization! We continue to provide safe shelter, proper vete

rinary care, and daily necessities for animals while working hard to help them build a bond with humans. We also focus on supporting the bonds that already exist between people and pets with our pet food shelf, respite foster care program, and focus on social services. We wake up every morning saying YES to connecting people and animals, caring for them, and helping them fill each other’s hearts.

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The Bond Between is a 100% Foster based animal well-being organization, but we have kennels for temporary shelter. The Kennels are licensed and inspected by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. License Number: MN417867

Our hearts didn't just ache when we found out what happened to her... they completely shattered. When Meowzarella arrive...
06/19/2026

Our hearts didn't just ache when we found out what happened to her... they completely shattered.

When Meowzarella arrived to us as a stray, we knew she needed immediate help. She came to us with a limp, signs of an upper respiratory infection, and a belly full of kittens that were expected any day.

Upon further evaluation, we discovered that she had been shot. Bullets through her shoulder and chest.

We don't know what happened. We don't know if it was intentional or if Meowzarella was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. But what we do know is this:

Meowzarella is just a baby herself... 12 months old and pregnant with five kittens. The bullet is still in her body. Just under the skin. Causing discomfort. Causing pain. A constant reminder of the trauma she's already been through.

And still? She fights. Her tiny body is working overtime to heal and grow five kittens. Once her kittens are old enough, she will receive the surgery needed to remove the bullet and give her the pain-free life she deserves.

We wish we could tell you that stories like hers are rare and that we always get the funding needed. But the truth is… it's not and we don't.

But, we still try. We still try to say yes to every single soul that needs us. Because cats like Meowzarella deserve more than the life they’ve been given so far. They deserve comfort. They deserve a future where they are never hurt again.

We are trying to raise $3,000 to cover her care, which includes her surgery, her recovery, and the support her kittens will need when they arrive before they are adopted out to their families.

Every single dollar matters. Every share matters. Every bit of support gets her closer to the life she should have always known.

Will you please help us care for Meowzarella and her five kittens?! 🙏❤

You can donate directly on this post or here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/HlYGZzBJoEC0wVlth5bWqA 🫶

“Why do you bring dogs up from the south when there are dogs in Minnesota in that need help?”This is a question that we ...
06/18/2026

“Why do you bring dogs up from the south when there are dogs in Minnesota in that need help?”

This is a question that we get a lot. And we understand why... so let's talk about it!

The short answer is a phrase that we say often, “We don’t believe you can draw a line around where you stop caring.”

The long answer is that the reality of animal welfare looks very different depending on where you live in the country. Here in Minnesota? We’re incredibly fortunate.

It is rare for shelters in Minnesota to euthanize healthy and behaviorally sound dogs simply due to space. The reason? We have an entire ecosystem of organizations willing to step in and help. Shelters, fosters, and organizations work together to create space, provide care, and give animals a second chance 🤍

In many southern states, the reality is drastically different.

In warmer climates, the breeding season doesn't ever really stop. Access to spay/neuter and veterinary care can be limited, especially in rural areas. Shelters are often overcrowded, under-resourced, and beyond capacity.

And when space runs out, lives are lost.

Not because they are aggressive. Not because they are unhealthy. Not because they are unadoptable. Not because they are old... even puppies get euthanized for space.

We refuse to choose one over the other. That's why we do our best to balance both. That's why approximately half of the animals entering our rescue, over 1,500 annually, come from our local community.

To us, animal welfare is not about choosing local animals or southern animals. It is about understanding where suffering exists, where intervention is most needed, and where our organization can create the greatest positive impact.

Sometimes that means helping a local family keep their beloved pet through temporary hardship. Sometimes that means pulling a Minnesota dog from animal control. Sometimes it means driving hundreds of miles to a rural shelter where dozens of healthy dogs are facing euthanasia simply because they were born in the wrong zip code.

We believe all of those animals matter... because compassion doesn't stop at state lines 💛

06/17/2026

From an emergency vet visit to a family in just 4 weeks… that’s how fast life can change for rescue animals 🥹

Sushi joined our rescue back in March with a positive heartworm test and a bladder infection. We weren’t worried about either of those things. Treatment would help her and she’d be in her way…

Unfortunately, her heartworm caused respiratory distress and Sushi had a visit to the emergency room to be treated for shallow, rapid breathing and vomiting.

She didn’t let the rocky start stop her though. As soon as she began to feel better during treatment, her personality began to shine… and she’s a husky so she has a lot of it 😉

She quickly became the Royal Highness of her foster home and found an adoptive family just one month after arriving in rescue 👑💖

And one thing about Sushi? She will let you know when she wants a pet and if you stop too soon 😂

Sushi’s rescue journey wouldn’t be possible without our friends at 15/10 for helping with her medical fees and treatment. Her unexpected emergency visit wasn’t cheap and wasn’t something we had planned for, but 15/10 stepped up… again 🤍

It’s not just Sushi’s life they changed… it’s all the other animals we now get to help with the money that would have been spent on Sushi’s treatment. And that is the ripple effect in action ❤️

Raising a family (furry or human) isn't as simple as it may seem. And one of the hardest parts of animal welfare is watc...
06/17/2026

Raising a family (furry or human) isn't as simple as it may seem. And one of the hardest parts of animal welfare is watching loving families get overwhelmed by accidental litters due to financial, transport, or vet care barriers.

We want to change that... and we need your help 🙏

A few days ago, we introduced our Pet Pregnancy Program, a judgment-free initiative designed to support community members with pregnant pets while safely breaking the breeding cycle long-term.

We know the thought of welcoming a pregnant mama or very young litter into your home can seem daunting. That's why we are hosting virtual Foster Open Houses focused specifically on caring for pregnant moms, litters, and neonatal animals!

These online, interactive webinars are the perfect place to come learn, ask questions, and understand how you can help bring new life safely into the world while stopping the cycle of pet overpopulation.

WHEN:
🐾 June 18th from 12:30pm-1:30pm
🐾 June 25th 7:30pm-8:30pm

WHERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080156403

If you have additional questions about the program, you can learn more here: https://www.thebondbetween.org/pet-pregnancy-program ❤

Every single Tuesday is the best day of the week... because it means new faces are beginning their next chapter. And thi...
06/16/2026

Every single Tuesday is the best day of the week... because it means new faces are beginning their next chapter. And this week 50 new faces are starting the search for their family. Starting the search for their new beginning. Starting their search for their home 🥹🤍

Our website will have the most up to date list of who is still available for adoption and accepting applications! Sometimes, these cute faces end up staying in their foster family (just one of the perks of being a foster... first dibs 😉)

Learn more about these cute faces by reading their bios on our site 🥰

Bucks for Babe is back at the end of June for the FIFTH anniversary 🥹🥰We talked with our friend and he shared the story...
06/15/2026

Bucks for Babe is back at the end of June for the FIFTH anniversary 🥹🥰

We talked with our friend and he shared the story of how he met Babe:

"The year was 2011, and it was early December. I had just gotten the job with Moon and Staci as their producer, and it was my first full-time job in radio.

All I wanted after getting my first job was to adopt a dog and have a best fur baby. I knew my parents—specifically my dad—would be against it. Not because he didn’t want me to have a dog, but because he thought I’d be way too busy.

Well, I knew my dad was an animal-loving softy, and that if I could find a way to connect me getting a dog to something in his life, he’d love the dog as much as I would!

So I went to Petfinder and started looking, and when I say Babe popped up as the second dog I found, it’s like it was fate. Her beautiful brown eyes popped up with this look of, "Please, somebody just love and adopt me, and it will be the greatest decision you’ve ever made." She had this look of sadness, but also a look of, "I’ll love you through anything. I just need a chance."

So I knew she had to be mine, and I had to be her chance at forever and unconditional love.

I met Babe at a pet store adoption event, and five seconds after seeing her, I knew we were meant for each other. Plus, the connection to my dad that would win him over was that Babe was his dad’s nickname, and I knew that would make him fall in love with her too.

So I walked Babe around the pet store, and we found a quiet corner. We just sat down, and instantly I knew this was over and done with—she was coming home with me that day.

Her story explains why she had that doubt. She had been adopted and returned three times. She was rejected by five or more families because she was a Black Lab and "not photogenic," along with a dozen other insane and silly reasons.

All I know is those reasons brought me my Babe. And little did she know that by adopting her, we found each other, and I found my soul pet.

After about a week, she realized she was in her forever home and that she would be treated like royalty forever.

That’s the story of how I met my sweet Babe."

❤

Sibling reunion stories are some of our favorites... and this one has a special surprise 🥹✨Earlier this year, we had a l...
06/15/2026

Sibling reunion stories are some of our favorites... and this one has a special surprise 🥹✨

Earlier this year, we had a litter of six puppies join our rescue. They were born around New Year's Eve... so of course they all had festive names to match! When they were ready, they found their homes and people... and we always hope that they'll be able to find each other again with the help of our Litter Reunion Coordinator.

Last week, three of the siblings had planned to get together and while the humans were chatting, they realized something...

Riley (formerly known as Bubbly) regularly plays with a neighbor dog. As more detailed came to light, the humans realized something magical. That neighbor dog? Well her previous name was Sparkle... she was another sister from the same litter 🤩

They had been playing together for MONTHS… without anyone realizing they were siblings. No coordinated meet-up. No planning. Just sisters finding each other after they left rescue at different times.

Luckily, the reunion was at Riley's house and their neighbors were home so their fourth sister got to join the reunion 🥹

And if you can't tell by these photos... they played wonderfully together 🥰

When our Founder was a kid, she constantly felt like she was “too much.” Too emotional. Too energetic. Too distracted. T...
06/14/2026

When our Founder was a kid, she constantly felt like she was “too much.” Too emotional. Too energetic. Too distracted. Too sensitive.

Rachel grew up in a time when the language around ADHD and anxiety wasn't as common as it is today. She spent a lot of time feeling misunderstood. School could feel overwhelming. Her brain moved fast. Her emotions moved even faster.

But there was always one place where she never felt judged for any of it... around animals 🥹

Animals have a way of making us feel calmer. They have a way of making us feel whole. They don't care if we're "too" loud or "too" emotional. They love consistently. Fully. Without asking us to explain ourselves first. They make us feel seen.

And those feelings? They are carried with us in our day to day lives. They are a reminder that we aren't "too" much.

The research continues to show the mental health benefits of animals... especially for children and teens. Animals can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve emotional regulation, increase feelings of safety and connection, and provide companionship during some of the hardest developmental years of a person’s life.

Animals are helping in more ways than just emotional well-being though. They help teach kids (and adults) how to care for another being. How to read their energy. They teach us accountability and responsibility. They teach us how to love unconditionally... and what it feels like to be loved unconditionally.

They help us recognize our own value in the process. They help us recognize that living beings depend on us... and how cool is that?!

We might think we're just helping the animal... but the truth? They are always helping us in more ways than we could ever know 🥹🥰

Read more about Rachel's story here: https://www.thebondbetween.org/post/how-animals-support-children-s-mental-health

06/14/2026

Meet Leytine… she has been living in our office for TEN days 😭💔

She’s only been in our rescue for ten days. Ever since she arrived, no one has stepped up to foster her. She spends her days going on field trips with our volunteers or staff members, but she would much rather spend her days in a cozy foster (or adoptive) home 🥰

This sweet girl has the most loving personality and gets along well with other dogs! Will you help us spread the word and find Leytine a foster?! 🙏❤️

Introducing The Bond Between's Pet Pregnancy Program 😍Four years ago, our Founder wrote a post that started with these w...
06/13/2026

Introducing The Bond Between's Pet Pregnancy Program 😍

Four years ago, our Founder wrote a post that started with these words: "Rescue can be messy."

At the time, we had just received a call about a dog named Leila. She had given birth in January in her owner's car. He was facing housing instability and didn't have a safe place to raise a litter of puppies.

But he didn't want to surrender his dog. He loved his dog. His dog loved him.

Rescue organizations are often asked to take the puppies, but the reality is that many loving families with accidental litters are forced to make impossible choices. Surrender mom. Surrender the puppies. Figure it out somehow.

So we asked a different question: What if we could help both?!

Leila came into foster care with her newborn puppies. Her owner texted our Founder with weekly updates. He named the puppies. He worried about his baby. He missed her.

Once the puppies were old enough, Leila was spayed and returned home. Today, four years later, Leila is still with her dad.

He secured stable housing. He got engaged. Leila lives with her family and three other dogs in a home filled with love, safety, and stability 🥰

The puppies found wonderful homes. They didn't contribute to the cycle of overpopulation. The family stayed together. It was the best outcome for everyone involved... and that experience stuck with us.

We realized there were probably hundreds of families facing similar situations. People who love their animals deeply but need temporary support... not judgment.

And that's why we're launching The Bond Between's Pet Pregnancy Program ❤

Through this program, pregnant dogs and cats (or moms with very young litters) can enter foster care while they safely raise their babies. The puppies and kittens will eventually be adopted into loving homes after receiving veterinary care and spay/neuter surgery. Mom will be spayed and returned to her family. Where we can, we will do our best to with dad, too.

The outcome?

Families stay together. Animals receive the care they need. Accidental litters don't become generational litters. The cycle stops with compassion instead of punishment.

In order for this program to succeed, we need something very special... we need fosters willing to help raise litters. People willing to welcome a pregnant mom, a nursing dog, or a mama cat and her babies into their homes for a short season of their lives 🙏

Leila taught us that sometimes the most beautiful outcomes come from saying yes to a family when everyone else sees a problem.

Are you interested in becoming a whelping or queening foster? Email us at [email protected] and maybe you'll be part of the next story 🤍

Address

5959 Baker Road, Suite 390
Minnetonka, MN
55345

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+19523227643

Website

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