The Humane Society of Henderson County  is a private, nonprofit animal welfare organization, caring for more than 2,800 animals each year. 

Our Mission: To end companion animal homelessness, to provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.

Humane Society of Henderson County...

  • Rescues and cares for more than 2,800  animals each year
  • Is a  private, non-profit  organization serving the animals and people of Henderson County and beyond since 1965
  • Receives  no government funding  for the Humane Society  and is not a United Way agency.  We do receive City and County contract funding for the Animal Control services we provide
  • Receives  no funding from, and is not affiliated with, any national  humane organizations
  • Depends on  the generosity  of individual and corporate supporters to fund  our programs and services. 



The  Humane Society of Henderson County needs your support because we...
  • Provide  care  for more than 2,800 animals each year in Henderson County
  • Find responsible, loving  homes  for approximately 1,500 animals each year
  • Reunite  more than 250 lost animals with their guardians each year
  • Provide  Animal Control services 365 days a year  for animals in our service area

Founded in 1965, the HSHC has served the Henderson County community as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by providing an opportunity for homeless animals to get a second chance at a good life.

The HSHC is also under contract by both the City and County to provide Animal Control services. This includes responding to calls and complaints about troublesome, stray, lost, or abused animals. In the case of animal neglect and abuse, Animal Control officers work with local law enforcement to obtain arrest warrants and testify in court to punish the offenders. The Animal Control division receives annual funding from the City and County, but the actual shelter is funded entirely by donations and adoption fees. 

The official business and operation decisions of the HSHC, on a day to day basis, are the responsibility of the Shelter Manager, but overseen by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors main purpose is to establish and adopt such policies, rules, procedures, and regulations as deemed necessary in carrying out the work and services of the HSHC, but in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, as well as establishing long-term strategic planning. 

The shelter accepts animals for a wide variety of reasons including economic crisis, divorce, relocation, death of an owner, abandonment, and abuse. No animals are turned away. Due to the large number of animals taken in each month, there is typically not a large enough local demand for these good adoptable animals, many of which are well-behaved house pets that have fallen on hard times due to the reasons previously listed. The shelter will keep an adoptable animal as long as resources allow, while also working with several rescue organizations from many surrounding states. 

The shelter actively solicits these rescues to accept the animals because they can provide care and homes for animals without the resource restrictions of the shelter. Weekly transports are organized by shelter staff to deliver the animals accepted to rescues each week. Most transports require a staff member or volunteer to deliver each animal to their selected rescue organization. Board members and volunteers also work to hold adoption events as much as possible.