CVHS is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization with no state or federal funding. We are not affiliated the he Humane Society of the United States or the ASPCA. We are entirely supported by individual donors, local business, fundraising events, grants, and small fees for some services. We are governed by a (volunteer!) Board of Directors and professionally staffed with up to twelve full-time employees and a handful of part-time staff. CVHS has dozens of volunteers and interns who donate thousands of hours of service each year. Volunteer activities at CVHS include providing foster care for animals (particularly puppies and kittens), office work, events, landscaping and maintenance, and direct care for the animals. Central Vermont Humane Society shelters and adopts domestic dogs, cats, and small furry animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. We offer dog training classes, community clinics for low-cost rabies vaccinations and microchips, and education to animal guardians. CVHS also works to prevent and address animal cruelty and neglect, and supports legislative efforts to protect animals in Vermont. CVHS’s humane education programs for kids include Humane Heroes kids club as well as a popular summer camp. Our mission is to protect and advocate for animals in need, and to build a humane community that promotes compassion and seeks to strengthen the human-animal bond.We accomplish our mission by working collaboratively with other shelters, rescues and community partners. We shelter the lost and homeless, reuniting them with their families, and facilitating adoption into new homes. We strive to exemplify the core values of respect and compassion for life and to meet or exceed the best standards of practice for shelter care and operations. CVHS is proud of our open admission and adoption processes, strength in matching pets with new loving homes, and the exceptional and compassionate care given to each animal based on their individual needs. In cooperation with Maddie’s Fund and other humane organizations around the country, we are collecting statistics on the care we give animals. This information will help us, and other organizations, allocate resources and achieve their mission goals.
At CVHS, it’s all about making the right match between an animal and a potential adoptive person or family. For that reason, we ask that your entire family be present. When meeting potential dogs, we also ask that you bring your family dogs. We do not have applications to adopt our animals.We do collect some basic information about you and we ask you to participate in a survey. The adoption process at CVHS is warm, positive, and informative. Our goal is to help you find a pet whose personality is a good match for your lifestyle, and families for our animals whose lifestyles fit all of their needs. We use the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match program to help us learn more about you and our animals so you can meet your best match. If you would like us to keep your survey on file for three months, please email it to one of the addresses below WITH a completed Adopter Information Form. We will not “approve” or “deny” your information, simply keep it on file for when you decide the time is right to adopt. If your form has lots of information that helps us make a potential match, we may reach out to you about an animal currently at the shelter or in foster care, or one that comes in while your information is on file with us. An important part of making a match is meeting the animal! Come in during our public hours to meet animals listed on our website as available for adoption along with your family. We are unable to place holds on animals that you have not met. “Holds” are rare, must be in the best interest of the particular animal, and are at the discretion of CVHS management. A few more notes about adoptions at CVHS: When an animal is adopted, s/he is removed from our website automatically at the time of the adoption. When an animal is adopted, s/he must go home immediately. Making matches takes time! Adopters must have met an approved match at least one hour prior to the close of day to complete a same-day adoption. Adopting a cat? Please bring a carrier with you. Cardboard and plastic carriers are each available for purchase at the time of adoption. Adopting a dog? Please bring a leash and collar with you. Leashes, collars, and harnesses are available for purchase at the time of adoption. Remember, many of the animals available for adoption at CVHS come to us with little history. It can be difficult to determine the age and/or breed of an animal. Many of our animals are very mixed breed, or a veterinarian has estimated an age range for us. However, our animal listing system requires that we choose a date of birth as well as a breed. Please ask an Adoption Counselor for more information about the particular animal for which you have interest.
Montpelier VT 05602 | 6.7 miles away
We rescue dogs from high kill shelters in the south and take dogs that others are passing by. We do not support euthanasia (unless there is a medical condition which causes the dog pain and is in the best interest of the dog.) We believe that there is a home for every dog and that we will have properly assessed the dog prior to placement. It is our believe that training is critical for each and ev
Marshfield VT 05658 | 9.9 miles away
We were formed to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home American Curly horses in need. Through our work we have helped to re-locate horses that the owners needed to let go for many reasons, without the horse becoming a "rescue" at all. We work with other rescues as well. We educate the public about horse care, both in general and specifically geared toward Curly horses. Feel free to read some
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