The Columbia County Humane Society was incorporated in 1925 in response to growing community need to care for unwanted and abandoned animals. It was recognized as a charitable tax-exempt corporation in 1975. In 1978, the first shelter was constructed. Twenty years later, a new shelter was built at Highway 16 West and Industrial Road. CCHS is organized to ensure the protection, sheltering and welfare of all animals in and around Columbia County through a cooperative effort with our citizens. Each year, the Humane Society provides care and shelter to approximately 1300 animals. A number of these animals are strays brought in by local officials, transfers from other shelter or rescues or animals who are surrendered to CCHS by their owners. Over the years, we have saved the lives of countless animals through immediate care and treatment, and ultimately adoption. Because of the Society, otherwise unwanted animals have found happy, loving homes. The new shelter opened in 1998 to accommodate the increasing number of animals needing care and to provide increased services to the community, allowing the Society to continue its humanitarian work well into the 21st century.
Browse CCHS’ website to see if there is a dog or cat that interests you. If so, please apply on our website using the dog or cat’s name. Staff will process applications and be in touch as soon as possible. Once approved, CCHS will contact you to set up an appointment. Adoptions are only done by appointments at this time. The shelter is not open for public walk-ins. We do like current dogs in the home to come to CCHS to meet the potential new dog in the home. We just like to see how they interact to make sure they are compatible with each other. If you have cats at home, CCHS can cat test the dog. Our cat test, for the cat’s safety, includes putting one of our shelter cats in a carrier in the training room. The dog is allowed to approach the carrier and we gauge it’s response to the cat. At no point does CCHS take the cat out of the carrier. If the interaction is ok, we tell you that however, we do not guarantee any dog we adopt out is cat or small animal safe. When you take your new dog home, exercise caution and keep it on leash until you are comfortable with the dog’s reaction to cats outside of the shelter.