Humane Society Of Catawba County


Hickory, North Carolina

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About Catawba County Humane Society

The Humane Society of Catawba County is non-profit organization and have two adoption centers:

  • Hickory: 3224 20th Ave SE, Hickory, NC 28602
  • Newton: 201 Government Services Dr, Newton, NC 28658

Their history dates back to 1971. During it's first three decades of operation, when it was called Western Piedmont Humane Society, the shelter was run by volunteers whose sole mission was to capture homeless animals and rehome them. They served four counties during this period until each county opened their own humane organizations.

  • In 1998, it was renamed Catawba County Humane Society. A grant from the Beaver Family Foundation saw the society go through much-needed change, including hiring a board of directors and their very first employee.
  • In 2001, their fundraising efforts paid off and the society leased a piece of land and built a temporary shelter consisting mainly of outdoor runs.
  • In 2007, a $3 million campaign allowed them to open the Pat Anderson Center for Animal Adoption and Humane Education. This center offers a low-cost spay/neuter clinic and an education center.

Catawba County Humane Society's mission is to make a difference in their community by advocating for the humane treatment of companion animals. Their vision is to end euthanasia and see that the inhumane treatment and cruelty to animals is put to a stop.

Contact Info

Address:
3224 20th Ave SE
,
Hickory
,
NC
28602
Phone:
(828) 464-8878
Email:
emily@catawbahumane.org
Website: catawbahumane.org

Hours of Operation

Mon - Sat: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: Closed

Adoption Process

Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment. Not only will you have to provide the animal with food, shelter, and medical care, but you'll have to spend time with them and ensure they get the training and exercise they need.

Ready to adopt a cuddly new friend at Catawba County Humane Society? Great!

  1. You can view the profiles of all their cats and dogs on their Petango pages.
  2. If you see an animal you just love, download one of the application forms below and fill it out. You can submit the application either via email or in-person at the shelter.
  3. Next, visit the shelter in person! It's always a good idea to call ahead to see if the animal you're interested in meeting is still available.
  4. Interact with the animal to ensure it's a good fit for your home, lifestyle, and personality. Speak with a helpful member of Catawba County Humane Society's staff, as they'll know more about the animal's history and medical needs.
  5. Ready to pull the trigger? All that's left is to complete some paperwork and pay the adoption fee.
  6. Enjoy your new-and-improved life with a lovable companion!

Adoption applications at Catawba County Humane Society can be found below:

  • Adopt a dog
  • Adopt a cat

To adopt, Catawba County Humane Society requires you to be 21 years or older and have permission to keep the pet from your landlord and all the members of your household.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees at Catawba County Humane Society are as follows:

Dogs

  • Adults: $200
  • Long term resident adults: $75

Cats

  • Kittens: $75
  • Adults: $30
  • Long term resident adults: $10

Your adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, a free veterinary exam certificate, FIV/FeLV testing for cats, and heartworm testing for dogs.

Adoption Process & Fees

Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!

In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.

Why Rescue A Shelter Dog?

Because shelter dogs are full of love!

Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?

I can't say for certain, but yes.

Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:

  1. Love
  2. Patient
  3. Training

Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:

  1. Anxiety
  2. Aggression toward people & pets
  3. Resource guarding
  4. Destructive behavior
  5. Housetraining regression
  6. Poor social skills
  7. Leash reactivity & barrier-related aggression
  8. Constant whining

These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.

Animal Shelter vs Humane Society vs Rescue: What's the Difference?

You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.

Animal Shelters

  • Most Animal Shelters are city or county-run organizations, often operated by the local Animal Control department, that manage strays and handle owner surrenders.
  • They usually have kennel facilities you can visit to adopt animals, and they usually have less stringent adoption requirements, lower adoption fees, and same-day adoptions (because their goal is to get animals out of the shelter).
  • Unfortunately, they usually know very little about each animal, including their true personalities and any behavioral problems.

Humane Societies

  • Most Humane Societies are non-profit organizations, many of which are no-kill shelters.
  • Some (but not all) are affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States.
  • They exist to improve animal welfare in the local community and often partner with city or county-run Animal Shelters that often euthanize animals due to capacity restraints.
  • They usually have kennel facilities, sometimes at multiple locations, and usually offer other services to the community such as low-cost spay/neuter clinics, community education programs, and more.
  • They may also have some animals in foster care.
  • There's a lot of variation in process and fees among Humane Societies, but they usually have really good websites that detail everything for you.

Rescues

  • Most Rescues are foster-based organizations that don't have physical facilities.
  • They usually have websites and contact emails, but not all of them have phone numbers.
  • Because they don't have a physical facility, you need to view animals in their foster network online, usually on their website but sometimes on their member pages on either PetFinder or Adopt-a-Pet.
  • If you see an animal you'd like to meet, contact the rescue using the process listed on their website or via email. They'll help you through the application process and set up a time for you to meet the animal at the foster's home.
  • Adopting from a rescue generally is the most expensive option here and takes the longest, but you get an animal that's been cared for in a loving home environment and their foster can tell you a lot about their personality.

6 Tips to Improve Your Adoption Experience

Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.

  1. See an animal online that you'd like to meet? Call the shelter before your visit to make sure the animal is still available. This especially applies for puppies, which are adopted out quickly.
  2. Usually, you'll need to get some paperwork in order: a photo ID, vaccination/medical records for any pets you currently have, possibly your vet's contact info and a couple of personal references, and (for renters) proof you're allowed to have a pet (copy of your lease or your landlord's contact info).
  3. If you need to provide contact info for your vet, let your vet know ahead of time. Otherwise, they may not release your information.
  4. Many shelters require your current dogs to meet adoptive dogs. Your current dogs need to be up-to-date on vaccinations.
  5. Some shelters require you to schedule a home visit to ensure a suitable living environment for the new animal.
  6. Adoption fees may seem excessive, but they're actually amazing values. Truthfully, caring for a pet is expensive. Most adoption fees include required medical care to get the animal ready for their new home including (but not limited to) spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, general vet exams, flea/tick treatment, deworming, heartworm testing/treatment for dogs, and feline leukemia and feline AIDS testing/treatment for cats. In general, your adoption fee is less than the cost of this care, so you're saving money in addition to your new animal's life!

If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!

For more information about what's included in your adoption fee, or any other questions about the adoption process, reach out to
Humane Society Of Catawba County
in
Hickory
,
North Carolina
directly using the contact info above.

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Other Shelters in

North Carolina

Curious about other shelters? Here's 6 more. You can also browse all
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You can also go back to our listing of all 50 states to find shelters elsewhere in the US.
All information on this page is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge. If you spot an error, please contact us using our contact form.
Note: Hours of operation and other information on this page are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.