Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota (SDR) is an all-volunteer group committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of dogs 20 pounds and under.

It all started with a small dog named Sweetie Pie. My wife, Joanne, and I stopped at a farmhouse to look at antiques and left with our first dog, a three-pound Jack Russell puppy. From that moment on we entered the world of animal rescue. We became shelter volunteers, fundraisers and “personal trainers” for our own rescued pets.  During the next fifteen years we bought and sold six houses, each one filled with family and animals.

After settling back in our home state of Minnesota, we wanted to do something more for animals in need. We did two things: First, we created AmericaHelpsAnimals.com, a web site that showcases what animal lovers all over the country are doing. Organizations like Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota are listed on the site, along with our animal welfare cartoons, animal dates and facts and hundreds of simple ways to help animals. The second decision was that I would move from teaching to real estate and focus on helping people and their pets. I became The Animal Lover’s Real Estate Agent ™ and give $500 to a local shelter or rescue after every sale.

In a short time it became apparent that people with pets have special needs when it comes to buying, selling or relocating. Some of my most common requests are to find properties that are pet-friendly. That might include knowing about building or neighborhood association rules, restrictions on number and size of pets or even whether or not you can build a fence around your back yard. Sometimes buyers want to know where dog parks are located or the important state and county regulations regarding licensing, or acreage requirements, for larger animals such as horses. Sellers have questions about preparing their property for sale (e.g., odor issues) or how to show a property when pets are home alone.

If you have other real estate questions please contact me at jimhubal@edinarealty.com  Also check out my web site http://jimhubal.edinarealty.com to see additional pet-friendly information.

To see the SDR link on AmericaHelpsAnimal.com go to http://americahelpsanimals.com and click on “Helping State-by-State,” click on “Minnesota” and scroll to SDR description.

I am also pledging that after the next sale I will donate $500 to SDR for all the great work you are doing.  And in memory of the small dog that started it all, Sweetie Pie.

--Jim Hubal