Fargo Pound

01/09/2026

01/07/2026

12/23/2025

When the weather outside is frightful, our community's feral and stray cats rely on a little extra help to stay safe and warm! We'd like to give you some ideas on how to build a simple winter cat shelter so our feline friends can have a warm place to retreat to in the middle of a blizzard.

Styrofoam Cooler Shelter
• Grab a thick Styrofoam cooler (often free from grocery store seafood departments).
• Cut a 5–6" entrance low on one side.
• Add straw (not blankets—they absorb moisture!) for insulation.
• Tape the lid securely and weigh the cooler down with a heavy object or place it in a sheltered spot.

Plastic Storage Tote Shelter
• Use a large plastic tote and cut an entrance in the side.
• Place a smaller tote or insulated box inside to create a double-wall effect.
• Offset the entrances to help keep the frigid winter air from gusting into their shelter.
• Fill the gap between the walls with straw for warmth.
• Add a removable lid for easy cleaning.

Wooden Shelter (for the handy builders!)
• Build a small wooden box elevated slightly off the ground.
• Include a single, small doorway to reduce heat loss.
• Line the interior with straw.
• Make sure the roof is waterproof and slightly slanted to shed snow

🔗 https://www.alleycat.org/.../how-to-build-an-outdoor.../
🔗 https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/winter-shelter

If you build a shelter—or already have one in use—we’d LOVE to see it! Drop a photo in the comments. 🐱❄️

12/11/2025

Hi everyone,
I'm the coordinator here at the Fargo Pound, and today I wanted to share a closer look at what we do each day, why things sometimes work the way they do, and how you can best reach out when you need help. I'm also including our new "Lost & Found Pets - Who Do I Contact?" guide, along with a few photos to show you what it is we do.

Every single day, we receive calls about lost pets, found animals, injured wildlife, animal welfare concerns, pet surrenders, adoption requests, and folks asking how they can help. We get it! The system can be confusing, and like many organizations, resources are limited. In addition, each surrounding city has their own way of operating. So we can only speak from our viewpoint and knowledge we have here at the Fargo Pound.

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🐶🐱
Behind the Scenes at Fargo Pound
During lobby hours, we have one staff person on duty that's responsible for:
• Processing animal intakes
• Attempting to locate owners
• Coordinating with rescues when pets are unclaimed after the mandatory stray hold (three business days)
• Caring for all animals in the facility
• Managing pet surrenders
• Assessing animal behaviors
• Responding to animal emergencies

After hours, we're fortunate to have kennel staff who come in to care for the animals, and we have access to veterinary support when needed.

We frequently receive offers from people wanting to help in person, through volunteering or employment, and we are truly grateful for that support. At this time, we are fully staffed for the positions we are funded to operate. Like many municipal shelters, our budget limits the number of staff we can bring on.

I'm sharing a few photos of our holding areas so you can see where animals stay while they're with us. For safety reasons, including unknown behavior and unknown vaccination history of the animals in our care, we cannot allow the public into the animal wards. However, these pictures will give you a glimpse into our world.

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Understanding Jurisdictions
Another source of confusion is which cities we can accept animals from. Fargo Pound can only accept animals from Fargo city limits and rural Cass County.

Even though we work closely with them, our neighboring pounds operate differently, and the local city pound is going to be one of the first places a family looks for their missing pet.

Here's a quick breakdown of how our neighbors operate:
• West Fargo Pound and Moorhead/Clay County Pound are also located inside veterinary hospitals
• They do not have a dedicated pound staff member, so veterinary staff handle intakes and care
• They do not allow stray drop-offs. Residents must call their local police department, who will dispatch an officer to transport the animal.
• Their systems aren't wrong, they're simply structered differently. And we all work together to support the animals in our region as best we can.

🚨 If you've found a stray animal in one of our neighboring cities, here is who you should contact to have the animal brought to the pound:
• Within Moorhead city limits: Moorhead police at 218-299-5120
• Within West Fargo city limits: West Fargo police at 701-515-5500
• Rural Clay County: County Sheriff office at 218-299-5151

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🐾 Remember, We're All On The Same Team 🐾
To address a common concern of pet parents: If your lost pet comes through our doors, we will make every effort to reach you right away. Once we have your information, you can trust that we will contact you. With our limited capacity, we kindly ask that you allow us time to reach out.

There are also days when we are hit with dozens of stray animals in a single shift, and it can take time to carefully process each intake. Even on our busiest days, we take special care with every animal, documenting all the information we can, scanning for microchips, checking for tags or identifiers, and doing everything possible to reconnect lost pets with their families. We want the same outcome you do, and we are not ignoring you.

Lastly, we want you to know that every call, every report, and every animal matters to us. We hope you will share this knowledge with others, whether it's with a friend whose dog snuck out under the fence, a neighbor who has been feeding a stray cat and wants to make sure it's cared for, or a family member who for unforeseen reasons has to make the difficult choice to surrender their animal. Sharing accurate information helps us focus our limited resources on the animals who need us most.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for calling. And thank you for being part of a community that looks out for its animals.

If you have questions, please reach out. We are here to help. 💙

- Fargo Pound Coordinator

11/26/2025

Heads up, Fargo friends! Our lobby will be closed on Thursday, November 27 in observance of Thanksgiving. We’ll reopen with normal hours on Friday.

As you gather with family and friends, here are a few pet safety DOs and DON’Ts to keep the celebration happy and healthy:

✅ DO
• Make sure your pet’s ID tags and microchip info are up-to-date—holiday guests and open doors can lead to accidental escapes!
• Keep pets on a regular feeding and potty schedule to reduce stress.
• Provide a quiet, comfy space if your pet gets overwhelmed by visitors.

❌ DON’T
• Don’t feed pets dangerous table scraps like turkey bones, onions, garlic, grapes/raisins, chocolate, or anything seasoned heavily.
• Don’t leave trash bags accessible—holiday leftovers can be tempting and harmful.
• Don’t force interactions with guests if your pet seems anxious.

Lastly, if you think your pet may have consumed a toxic food, the Pet Poison Hotline is available 24/7 via call or chat.
📞 800-213-6680
🔗 petpoisonhelpline.com

Wishing everyone a safe, gratitude-filled day! 🧡🐶🐱

11/25/2025

Drive safe out there, folks!

Oh jeez…winter's here. ❄️ First snowfall of the season and suddenly there's people drivin’ like they’ve never seen a flake before. Uff-da!

As part of our "Ope"-eration Safety campaign, here’s a few tips to keep ya outta the ditch and avoid crashes throughout the rest of winter!

Take ’er slow! Keep ’ur headlights on so folks can actually see ya. Don’t go slammin’ the brakes or gassin’ it too quick or you’ll end up slidin’. Leave plenty of extra room so you can stop without bumpin' the car in front of ya.

Stay safe out there, Fargo! Winter’s just gettin’ warmed up, don'tcha know.

11/21/2025

🐾 2026 City Licenses Available NOW! 🐾
Good news, Fargo pet parents! Pet licenses for 2026 are now on sale. Fargo city ordinances require that all cats and dogs be licensed, even those who remain indoors at all times. A license costs $5 per calendar year, if purchased at city hall, or may include a small processing fee if purchased through a local veterinary hospital.

Benefits of licensing your pet:
✅ Helps reunite lost pets with their homes more quickly - If your animal is wearing a current City license, community service officers will try to return your pet to you before taking it to the pound.
✅ Fewer fees when picking up your lost pet from the pound - such as a $25 penalty fee for failure to license your dog or cat.
✅ Shows you're a responsible pet owner!

Where to buy your pet license:
📍 At Fargo City Hall, Auditor’s Office (225 4th St N)
📍 At the Fargo City Pound (3210 Main Ave)
📍 At select veterinary hospitals: Animal Health Clinic (1441 University Dr S), Valley Veterinary Hospital (3210 Main Ave), Southgate Veterinary Hospital (1415 32nd Ave S)

Don’t forget! You’ll need to show proof of a current rabies vaccination. When you license your cat or dog, you will receive a licensing tag for your pet. Both the licensing tag and the rabies tag should be worn by your animal at all times.

11/13/2025

Before diving into your holiday parties and family gatherings, we want to remind you of your furry friend’s safety during the most wonderful time of the year.

1️⃣ Keep the Treats to People Only
Rich, spicy, or fatty foods (and bones!) can make pets sick. Stick to their normal food and skip the table scraps.

2️⃣ Watch Those Wires & Batteries
Chewing cords or batteries can cause burns or shocks. Keep décor pet-proof!

3️⃣ Plants Can Be Poison!
Mistletoe, holly, lilies & poinsettias can all make pets ill. Keep plants out of reach or try faux plants instead.

4️⃣ Tree Trouble
Secure your tree, cover the water, skip the tinsel, and keep food gifts out of reach.

5️⃣ Candle Caution
Never leave candles unattended—one tail wag could start a fire!

6️⃣ Noise Nerves
Loud music, fireworks, celebratory poppers or noisemakers can scare pets. Set up a quiet, cozy space for them to retreat to.

7️⃣ Trash Patrol
Keep garbage sealed—holiday leftovers and decorations can be dangerous if eaten.

8️⃣ Snow Globe Safety
If one breaks, clean it up fast! They contain toxic antifreeze.

9️⃣ Salt Smart
Use pet-safe ice melt and keep salt-dough ornaments away from curious mouths.

🔟 Mind the Meds
Store all medications—yours and guests’—out of paws’ reach.

Lastly, don't forget to update your pet's id tags and schedule that vet visit if your pet needs daily or as-needed medication to get through the festivities.

Wishing you and your furry friends a safe & happy holiday season!
📌 If your pet eats something harmful, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.