Honoring Our Early Patrons

Dick Davenport

Dick's legacy of love ...

Dick Davenport started to volunteer at an animal shelters Mason City, Iowa in 1990. After adopting his first shelter dog, he developed an interest in canine behavior. By volunteering, he felt like he could learn to understand his own dog better and improve the lives of shelter dogs by learning what makes them tick.

“For years, I worked every Sunday morning in the kennels and doing chores. I fed and walked the dogs, did repairs, and transported animals for them,” Dick shared.

In 2006, Dick moved to Decorah. The isolated, rural community did not have a facility for any of the five counties in the Northeast corner of the state. Dick learned about a local foster network called PAW, and soon made himself invaluable by picking up fostered animals and transporting them up to Minneapolis and down to Dubuque when shelters had room for them. “One time, we had a van load of 35 puppies to take north. That van was a breakdown-waiting-to-happen, but we were able to make many many trips over the years.”

Dick explains his lifelong passion for dogs

In addition to transporting animals, Dick personally fostered about 30 cats in those early days of Decorah’s humane community. “I had to stop fostering after I rehabilitated five stray cats that were never going to do well in adoption. They were all kind of damaged when I got them. I meant to stop at three, but I wound up with five.” Dick also rescued a Jack Russell/corgi mix. “He breaks up cat fights.

He hates confrontation.”By 2010, Dick helped other PAW volunteers realize their shared vision. The group worked together to incorporate and become the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa. In 2012, he organized a feasibility study for the creation of a facility that could house homeless animals, provide a place for law enforcement and citizens to bring stray animals, a safe haven for dogs/cat. Dick literally built HSNEI’s Love and Friendship Center, which grew to help animals in five counties in Northeast Iowa.

Dick described what it was like to create a humane society from whole cloth: “The first thing we did is bolt those benches together. One thing led to another … I and a few other guys put all those kennels together, which saved us about $20,000. The first year it was opened, I was out there every morning at 5:30 a.m. to get all the dogs and cats medicated and fed. That lasted about a year and a half. I gradually cut back as staff was hired."

Northeast Iowa has severe winter weather. One winter night in 2015, Dick was concerned about a pending ice storm, due to blow through in the early morning. He shared, “I took my dog and we spent the night at the shelter, just to be sure the animals had someone there for them in the morning. It’s kind of fun, like being on the moon. It’s so quiet and isolated.” Ever humble, Dick was quick to point out that other volunteers also spent nights at the shelter.

Once a staff was hired, Dick could return to his favorite volunteer task: working with the dogs. “Canine behavior is a fascinating subject, and I learn something every day. The domesticated dog is a complex, diverse animal. I have fun with them.” he said.

In September 2016, Dick suddenly felt tired. “I knew something was wrong. They found a rare tumor in my abdomen. I went on meds that shrunk it pretty good. I came back and took up Monday mornings at the shelter again, and about 17 months later, the meds quit working.”

Dick passed away on Valentine's day. In Winter of 2019, HSNEI renamed the pathway from the dog kennels to the outdoor play yard "Dick Davenport Lane," to honor Dick's support and the countless times he walked that trail with dog and human friends. It's only a few yards of concrete, but every step we take, we walk in the wake of his giant gentle spirit..

Frederic A. "Fritz" & Loma Carlson

The Humane Society of Northeast Iowa broke ground for the area's first-ever animal shelter. Rain and storms didn't deter over 40 supporters and volunteers from attending the ceremony.

The HSNEI Love & Friendship Adoption Center, located on Millennium Road in the Decorah Business Park, is a 4,700 square foot building that provides temporary shelter for cats and dogs.

The shelter is named after donors Loma and Fritz Carlson, who named the center the "HSNEI Love & Friendship Adoption Center." The "L & F" also stands for "Loma & Fritz" and for a place where "Lost" animals "Find" a home.

Decorah Mayor Don Arendt congratulated HSNEI on the groundbreaking, thanking the Carlsons for their role in the success of the capital campaign. Decorah Jobs Board Member Cindy Simpson shared her congratulations on the part of Decorah Jobs, which donated two acres of land to HSNEI.

Kim Powell, former HSNEI board president, launched the capital campaign, and thanks to a huge $300,000 donation from Fritz and Loma Carlson, HSNEI secured enough funds to start planning the building in a matter of months

Fritz was a humble and generous citizen of the Decorah Community. He served on various boards and was a member of numerous local organizations, including the United Methodist Church. During his career, he was active in the paving industry and also served as president of the Iowa Concrete Paving Association.

Fritz truly enjoyed life. He could often be found singing around the piano, playing cards, and enthusiastically buying and sharing drinks with his friends. He always had a joke or story to share, with a twinkle in his eye and a hearty laugh. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes and Cubs fan, even having attended the 1938 World Series to watch his Cubbies. He was in a bowling league and was one of the first to bowl a 300 game. Fritz was a member of Silvercrest and Oneota Golf and Country Clubs, and was thrilled with his hole in one on the old number 5 bullpen at Oneota. He loved to travel and enjoyed many trips and cruises abroad as well as excursions to the horse races and dog tracks with his wife and friends.

And true to his nature, he was generous and thoughtful, giving to the last moment, Fritz donated his body to science. He was devoted to the family business, his family, his community, and helping others. Fritz would be delighted if you would each do something generous and kind for others in your daily lives.

Loma still supports HSNEI with an annual donation.