Mesabi Humane Society halts new intake amid funding dispute

VIRGINIA, Minn. — The Mesabi Humane Society decided it will no longer be accepting new animals from the City of Virginia following the city of Virginia’s decision to end the temporary per-animal payment structure that had been in place during negotiations.

The 2025 contract called for $45,000, but MHS says it actually costs about $100,000 a year to care for the animals. M-H-S says it would consider a three-year deal of $75,000 in 2025, $80,000 in 2026, and $85,000 in 2027, or a $45,000 contract that limits the city to six animals per month, with extra animals billed at $600 each. Mayor Larry Cuffey Jr. says the city cannot meet the Humane Society’s new funding demands, but he hopes MHS will return to the table to negotiate further.

“The city of Virginia was paying us very minimal for years on this, and if we couldn’t get a more agreeable contract, we also were probably going to be out of business by the end of 2026,” said Nancy Andrews, chairperson for the Mesabi Humane Society.

Both the city and MHS agree that the animals are the only ones losing, and in the meantime, the city is coordinating volunteers, boarding options, and neighboring communities are being mobilized to care for them.