Avery Humane Society is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. Our mission is to respond humanely to the needs of animals in Avery County. Income sources include adoption fees, Happy Paws Pet Boutique located in the shelter, Paws and Claws resale store, fundraising events, grants, and general donations. Avery Humane Society receives no direct funding from county, state or federal government, United Way, or any national group such as ASPCA or Humane Society of the US. We have been operating as a community non-profit organization since 1978 and moved into our current shelter facility in April 2012. Our shelter can house approximately 95 animals and had more than 800 adoptions in 2014. We also help reunite more than 100 lost pets with their owners each year. Visitors are always welcome at our shelter. In fact, we have approximately 1,500 visitors per year.
We want to help you find the perfect pet for you, your family, your lifestyle and your circumstances. Come by our office so we can get to know you better! The whole procedure is rather simple. Once you complete the adoption application and are approved we will do your adoption and you can take your pet home with you. We're open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. for adoptions only. We will take the last adoption application no later than 3:30. Our shelter hours may vary on major holidays or due to inclement weather. If you would like you can call and place a one time 24 hour hold on an animal. After that the animal will be put up for adoption again. One hold per family. Remember, our adoption fee covers our costs for your pet to be spayed or neutered, to bring its shots up-to-date, and to be implanted with the 24hr PetWatch Micro-chip. For the asking each adoption comes with a free collar, ID tag, veterinarian physical exam gift certificate, and some goodies from local pet food stores. For "New Leash on Life" dogs you will receive the trainers journal and the dog is AKC Registered through the Canine Partners Program.