“Our goal and hope as an organization is to ensure that all homeless animals find furrever homes, to empover our community through education to act as advocates for animals, and to take a stand against animal cruelty with the hope of eliminating it.”    —Katy  Hudson, HCHS board president

Huntington County Humane Society (HCHS) started 2022 with 77 animals in their care.

Since then, they’ve taken in an additional 320 animals, some of whom were cats and kittens abandoned by an animal hoarder.

“While we were taking animals out of the home, we came across several deceased cats who didn’t receive help in time,” said Katy Hudson, HCHS board president.

“It was heartbreaking, but we’re glad we were able to rescue the 22 cats still in the home.”

HCHS is a no-kill shelter with a positive outcome/save rate of 96 percent for cats and 93 percent for dogs.

HCHS cares for approximately 1,000 animals each year. The average length of stay is 19 days for dogs and 23 days for cats.

“We do everything we can to save as many lives as possible,” said Hudson.

“We have a commitment to never euthanize animals due to space considerations, or based on color, age, or breed. We believe it’s the right thing to do for the animals and our community.”

However, kennel space can be limited in the small shelter. The facility has 16 permanent dog kennels, 36 cat kennels and one free-roaming cat room.

“Just this month, we took in a dog who was hit by a car along I-69,” Hudson said.

“She had been dumped and was covered in ticks. She was emaciated, severely dehydrated, had worms and parasites, then suffered a broken leg in the car accident.

“She also had heartworms. Her immediate medical expenses were $4,000. Once she’s healed, she’ll require heartworm treatment that will cost additional $1,000,” said Hudson.

So far this year, the group has spend more than $33,000 on medical expenses for animals in its care.

Based on 2021 intake data, HCHS anticipates that now through August will be their busiest months.

“Our shelter is small, but our hearts are big,” said Ashley Cox, HCHS’s registered veterinary technician.

“The staff, board and volunteers are some of the best people I’ve ever worked with. Everyone wants the absolute best for the animals and is willing to go above and beyond to make it happen,” she said.

HCHS is a private shelter. It does not receive government funding. HCHS relies on donations.

“When you’re here seeing the animals and hearing their stories, that’s all you need to know that this is an organization that makes a meaningful difference,” said  HCHS volunteer  and foster pet parent Angie Kahlenbeck.

HCHS provides assistance to pet owners in need in the form of free pet food and low-cost pet care services.

Low-cost vaccinations and de-wormer microchips and nail trims are available for cats and dogs. On average, the cost per service is $10.

“Our goal is to reduce barriers for pet parents to get the car they need for their pets in a convenient, affordable way,” Hudson said.

HCHS’s adoption fee is $75 for cats and kittens and $125 for dogs. The fee helps cover the cost of spay/neutering, vaccinations, de-wormer and one month’s flea, tick and heartworm prevention.

Adoptable animals can be seen at the shelter, which is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, noon – 6 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

In addition to cash donations, HCHS needs cat litter, cat and dog food, pill pockets, Dawn dish soap, 55-gallon trash bags, laundry detergent, towels and blankets.

For more information, call 356-0355, or visit huntingtonhumane.org.