About Us

The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Funding for the organization comes from private donations. We do not receive any funding from the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society of Missouri, SPCA, or any government agencies.

HISTORY
The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri was incorporated on October 19, 1956, as a non-profit organization dedicated to homeless animals. It was originally called the Greene County Humane Society, Inc., and then changed to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society on December 30, 1978.

The shelter building sits on ten acres of land donated by Ruby S. Vella. The original building was built in 1960, and small additions were made to the existing building over time, along with satellite buildings for storage, etc.

In 2005, a capital campaign committee was formed to raise the money necessary to build a state-of-the-art facility to replace the aging, crowded buildings. Operations were moved to the new facility in September of 2009, and the organization’s name was changed to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.

OUR MISSION
The mission of the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri is to aid in the alleviation of distress and suffering of animals by operating a shelter for animals in need of care, placing animals in suitable homes, and offering educational programs that promote animal welfare.

Are you a No Kill shelter?
Yes! At the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, it's our responsibility to do everything we can to help every animal. We do not believe in euthanizing animals for space. Our goal is that 98 percent of the animals coming into our shelter find forever homes, but becoming No Kill wasn't as easy as flipping a switch. So far, we have been able to meet the criteria established through the Asilomar Accords to qualify as a No Kill facility. We hope that with the community's help we can maintain that status. We love all of our cats and dogs here at the Humane Society, and we’re committed to helping them find the new loving families they all deserve.

How does the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri receive its animals?
We receive our animals from people giving up their pets for a variety of reasons, including changes in family situations and moving. Some of our animals have been strays rescued from the streets by a kind citizen. One thing all of our animals have in common is they are looking for permanent loving homes.

What is the difference between Springfield Animal Control and the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri?
We are two very different organizations. Springfield Animal Control is funded by tax dollars and overseen by the Department of Health. They are charged with enforcement of animal control laws and the laws protecting animals from abuse or neglect. Animal Control responds to citizen's complaints about animals and impounds stray animals (hence the name “pound”). Springfield Animal Control does not offer animals for adoption. The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri does not receive any tax dollars and is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. We do not have the power to enforce ordinances but do assist citizens with animal abuse or neglect complaints when possible. Our goal is to find homes for all adoptable animals brought to our facility.

Do you receive money from taxes?
No, we do not receive any money from taxes or from other humane societies.

How do you get funds to operate the shelter?
Money to run our shelter comes from donations from individuals and companies, along with service fees, such as the adoption and surrender fees.

Does it cost money to surrender an animal to the Humane Society?
The owner surrender fee is $30 for each individual animal or $30 for each litter of 5 under 3 months of age. This helps offset the costs of vaccinations, evaluation, and initial care that every animal receives. It costs us approximately $300 to provide for each animal, however, we will never turn away an animal brought in by an individual for a lack of a donation.

Do you transfer animals to other shelters?
Yes, we do transfer animals to other shelters when appropriate.

How long do you keep animals before euthanizing them?
We do not set a time limit on any animal. We evaluate the health and temperament of each animal every day. An animal will stay as long as they remain adoptable and in good health.

Our Adoption Process:
When you find an animal that you are interested in adopting, you will have to fill out an adoption application. Once you have completed your application, our front desk staff will verify all of your information. If applicable, a call will be placed to your landlord/rental company to confirm the pet policy. If there are currently other pets in the home, a call will be placed to their current vet for verification that the animal(s) are up-to-date on their rabies vaccine. When all information is verified, the dog or cat will be available to go home with you at the time of the adoption!
What you need to adopt:

Adopters must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid photo ID
Any current animals in the home must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccine
When taking a cat home from the shelter, we ask that you bring or are prepared to purchase a cat carrier
When taking a dog home from the shelter, we ask that you bring or are prepared to purchase a collar and leash

What's included in an animal's adoption fee?
The adoption fee includes initial procedures, such as deworming and vaccinations, as well as spaying/neutering and microchipping.

Why do I have to have my animal spayed or neutered?
We believe that spaying and neutering animals is the only way to fight the battle against pet overpopulation. The state of Missouri also requires any animal adopted from a pound or shelter to be spayed or neutered.

Are there any health benefits from neutering male animals?
Yes. If neutered before six months of age, a male dog or cat is less likely to develop testicular cancer.

Shouldn’t every female pet have at least one litter before being spayed?
No. Your pet will be healthier if she never sexually matures, and spaying helps protect pets from Pyometra and breast cancer.

If I find homes for my pet’s litters, then I won’t contribute to the pet overpopulation problem, right?
Wrong. Only a certain number of people want pets, so every home you find for your pet’s offspring takes one home away from a loving animal already at a shelter.

Can’t I allow my dog to breed if it is purebred?
Mixed breed or purebred – there just aren’t enough homes. Animal shelters receive purebred animals every day.

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