One critter's brainfood can be another creature's comfort.

At the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, kittens doze on blankets and unfolded newspapers. Puppies circle on beds of shredded broadsheets.

But the group's store of newspapers is almost exhausted. The organization is requesting newspaper donations to all three of its adoption centers, including Coon Rapids and Woodbury, to offset a slump in donations.

"We definitely have been using a lot of newspaper," public relations strategist Brittany Baumann said. "But the amount and the volume at which it's actually coming to us onsite has just significantly decreased."

Lining kennel floors with newspaper allows volunteers and staff to clean kennels quickly, said Naomi Main, operations supervisor at the organization's Golden Valley adoption center, and puppies can dig and play in shredded newsprint.

"It's very funny when you take them out and put them back in after cleaning," Main said. "They'll just jump around in the shred the whole time."

Kittens get attention at the Animal Humane Society adoption site in Golden Valley on Tuesday.
Steph Quinn
Kittens get attention at the Animal Humane Society adoption site in Golden Valley on Tuesday.

Main estimated that the Golden Valley site alone uses 50 to 100 pounds of newspaper a day.

In the facility's newspaper room on Tuesday, volunteer Tariq Stewart, 23, of New Brighton, separated double sheets to line kennels and single sheets to go through a shredder. On the shelves were a couple of paper bags that had held donations, and the corner usually reserved for shred bags was empty.

"We are completely out," Main said.

Baumann said donors can leave newspapers outside adoption sites' doors before or after business hours or drop them off in the adoption centers. The group accepts some shredded newspaper, but prefers to process paper onsite to a width that doesn't get stuck in animals' paws.

Declining print subscriptions amid the news industry's digital transformation is the group's "working theory" behind dwindling donations, Baumann said.

In the meantime, the Animal Humane Society is calling on the public to meet the unforeseen consequence.

Newspapers can be dropped off at the group's adoption centers:

  • Golden Valley, 845 Meadow Lane N.
  • Coon Rapids, 1411 Main St. NW.
  • Woodbury, 9785 Hudson Road