Avery Humane Society

About Us

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, 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 600 adoptions in 2021. 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.

Only animals found or residing in Avery County can be accepted.
New animals are accepted by appointment when space is available. We strongly suggest that anyone with an animal to bring in, please call us first.
We do not euthanize healthy adoptable animals to make space.
When the shelter is full, we use a waiting list for animals that need to come in.
Those on the waiting list have first priority.

Anyone picking up a stray animal is assuming responsibility for that animal until there is room to take it.
Although we make every effort to accept all eligible animals, unfortunately there are times and circumstances when animals cannot be accepted.