Homeward Bound, Addison County’s Humane Society, is a private and independent 501(c)(3) open admission shelter dedicated to protecting the well being of homeless, abandoned and abused/neglected animals. We serve over 1,200 animals per year, including those who enter the shelter and those who receive services through PetCORE and other community programs. Our community services are designed to combat pet overpopulation, provide support to low-income pet owners, and enhance the human-animal bond through education and outreach. We are proud participants in the Shelter Animals Count project. Shelter Animals Count is a national campaign designed to increase accountability and transparency among animal sheltering organizations. Our annual budget to operate the animal shelter and provide these programs is approximately $500,000. We receive no funding from federal, state or local government and no unrestricted funding from national humane organizations. With a staff of 13, we rely heavily on volunteers to enhance the lives of the animals while they are here and to help us have wide-spread impact in the community; on average we have 80 active volunteers annually. We are extremely proud of the services that we offer and are very grateful to all of the staff, volunteers and donors who help to support Homeward Bound and allow us to make a difference in the lives of so many animals!
Adopting an animal is an exciting and important step for you and your family! Here is a brief outline of what to expect. Please note that the shelter is not open for visiting. Meeting adoptable animals and adopting animals will be done by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled between 9-4 Tuesday-Saturday. Please call or email us with your questions; calls received on Sundays and Mondays may not be returned until Tuesday when the Adoption Center opens. Meeting specific cats prior to adoption can be a virtual process or can take place in the shelter by appointment. Meeting specific dogs will take place outside if weather permits or by appointment. Please come to the front door and ring the doorbell when you arrive for your appointment, Please note that filling out an adoption application does guarantee animal placement; think of it as the first step in telling us about what you are looking for/expecting in a new animal companion. All dogs adopted from Homeward Bound will be provided with a complimentary leash and collar when they leave the shelter thanks to our partnership with IPJ Real Estate. IPJ is providing this “going home” gear to set your dog up for success and safety! We recommend you use an E-Z Walker harness and these are available for purchase at the shelter. All cats and small animals adopted from Homeward Bound will be provided with a complimentary cardboard carrier when they leave the shelter thanks to our partnership with IPJ Real Estate. IPJ is providing this "going home" gear to set your cat up for success and safety!