I've volunteered and fostered animals with many other animal rescues, both locally and in other states, and Asheville Humane is the only one that gets it right the first time. Volunteers and fosters receive comprehensive training up front, as well as ongoing support and access to resources. Regular classes enable volunteers to gain a variety of experiences. Volunteers are noticed and appreciated by the staff. AHS is a fun place to spend time, whether it's walking dogs, doing laundry, washing dishes, or working with potential adopters to find the right match for them.As a donor, I know that my gifts are used for the benefit of the animals, not for excessive salaries. Donors are kept apprised of what their gifts are accomplishing, and are invited to gatherings where we connect with other like-minded people. AHS goes to extraordinary lengths to heal and treat animals brought in. Sometimes it takes months for healing, but the staff doesn't give up. One small example of how the animals' needs are put first is mandatory nap time. From 1-2 pm daily, the animal areas are locked and the lights dimmed. No member of the public, no employee, and no volunteer may enter while the animals have their downtime.One of my fosters at AHS was a mother cat and her four kittens, all with upper respiratory infections. All except one kitten recovered and were returned to the adoption center for adoption. A herpes virus had taken hold of this last kitten and he was losing his eyesight. The medical staff at AHS provided me with the oral medications and eye ointments to treat him, but still he didn't recover. Ultimately this kitten required two eye surgeries by Dr. Otto Sharpe at Swannanoa Valley Vet to save his eyesight. AHS paid for all these treatments and medications. After four months of caring for this kitten, my family and I adopted Little Joe, shown in the photo. This is but one of hundreds if not thousands of stories of how AHS never gives up until the animal is healed.Through its Community Solutions Program, AHS strives to help people keep their companion animals in their homes. This involves providing dog and cat food to 17 food pantries throughout Buncombe County on a weekly basis (about 5,000 lbs. of food per month); free or low-cost vaccine and vet clinics; spay/neuter vouchers; and community outreach tables in low-resource neighborhoods. There is a dedicated Helpline for the public to call for assistance with any concern regarding their animals, and the staff person speaks Spanish. I am so proud to be part of an organization that is literally a safety net for our community.
Before you all get defensive please let me tell you what the Asheville Humane Society did to me after all I did for them as a devoted volunteer. The PAID STAFF are simply the coldest rudest Humans I have ever worked with. They treat volunteers horribly. Rude and heartless. I fostered my kitty Debra and then adopted her. Not one of them ever mentioned or asked about her. I sent a few photo to them and was told never do that again. That the message thread was strictly for business only. What planet are they on? I Knitted many ADOPTION blankets that went home with the babies and really helped them feel loved and cared for. The staff made very little of it and hardly thanked me although I do it for the precious animals and not for humans. I never said no to anything asked of me and always showed up for my volunteer work never did I miss. Even did my Birthday fundraiser on Facebook and made money for them. I was treated so poorly that I cried many times by myself while driving home. I now volunteer for another wonderful rescue and shelter in the area and it's like a breath of fresh air. Although the Asheville Humane Society has and does help many precious bundles of joy I will say that they do it and get highly paid for that. You can go online and see their salaries. Volunteers♂️ ♀️ to them are invaluable and they don't care anything about us. It's all about the money . I refuse to put up with human bull crap including so called animal rescues. I will be the change this world wishes to see even if it means telling the truth and being an outcast. The universe is what serve and not silly egotistical humans. Ali Volunteer Manager, Kat relocation manager with the ludicrous PINK HAIR, Erin and Evie Foster Manager who check you out while filling out the paperwork in the street and not inside the facility even if u work there and Tina the adoption manager who told me in her own words "she had no idea what she was doing" after not even knowing that my kitty I was adopting had already been spayed while checking us out are just a few of the staff who have no class and obviously were not raised well and had a poor upbringing. No one should ever have to go through the sadness I experienced trying to help precious animals. Animals have always been and always be my passion and priority until my last breath. Attached are a few of my blankets and a few other photos including the lovely letter. Little did they know I had already found a truly wonderful shelter who do what they do with all their heart and without a salary it's all volunteer. Amen
This is my cat Sally. I last saw her last Tuesday 10/17, she was taken to the AHS on 10/19 and she was placed in a trial adoption within 24 hrs of being there. I checked the AHS website everyday but I never saw her. By the time I found all of this out it was Wednesday 10/26 and I wasn't able to get ahold of anyone at AHS until Thursday 10/27 and I was told Sally had been adopted. I'm completely devastated and at this point I'm hoping that possibly the person who adopted her will see this and reach out to me. She was given the name "Coraline" at the shelter. SALLY has a home and we love and miss her so very much
I volunteer at the thrift store and adoption center.
The staff and volunteers have welcomed me.
They have greatly enriched my retirement.
I had many choices where to donate my time energy and money, I choose Asheville humane society because of seeing first hand the honest dedication of each staff and strong volunteer team. They have become family to me.
The Asheville Humane Society has been dear to my heart since moving to the area in 2003. My husband and I began as donors and I was excited to be accepted as a volunteer in 2010. I have enjoyed working with the volunteer coordinators and in the development office and have seen firsthand the care and dedication of staff, volunteers, fosters, and board members, they are truly amazing. They have helped thousands of homeless animals find their forever homes. There are wonderful programs to help pets stay with their families including pet food assistance, shot clinics, spay & neutering assistance, behavior training, and temporary homing. I especially love the nap time every that not only because provides a calm, restful period without adopters, staff or volunteers around but it has improved the adoption rate. And there are play groups, hikes on trails and city sidewalks, cat cafes, and yoga for puppies. Everyone strives to provide the best quality of life possible for animals in their care.
Working with Asheville Humane Society is always such a pleasant experience. My favorite program, and the one I use the most, is their foster program. We have barn cats and every once in awhile kittens. They are always very helpful in taking the kittens and placing them in foster homes....saving their lives.
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Working with and volunteering for the Asheville Humane Society over the past couple of decades has been such a rewarding experience. The organization is truly the best at animal welfare. A shining star!! Any who have adopted from them or volunteered for them can attest to their professional yet compassionate approach to caring for each of the furbabies. They especially excel in the foster program. Here are two of my recent finds that they took in and cared for. I am assured they found living homes.
I have had a great experience volunteering, fostering and being a donor for Asheville Humane Society. I’ve been impressed with the organization of the volunteer and foster programs as well as the formal and informal training opportunities that are offered. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and very supportive of volunteers. I have been able to learn so much about animal behavior and positive training methods.
The facility is kept very clean. The animals’ health is regularly monitored. Different forms of enrichment are provided to the animals because their mental health is valued as well as physical health.
I highly recommended supporting this shelter and adopting from here. Everyone I’ve encountered at AHS is passionate about caring for the animals as well as supporting the community.
In 2019, I decided to join a friend at Asheville Humane to create a new hiking experience for the shelter dogs called the Urban Tails Group Hike. We take out a group of dogs every Monday and Wednesday to one of the nearby trails. The dogs absolutely love getting out and the enrichment they receive is priceless. Our hope is that this helps them de-stress, learn manners and become more adoptable. I have also been able to help out with the relocation program that takes our animals and relocates them to shelters in other cities that do not have many adoptable animals. My experience with the staff at Asheville Humane has been welcoming and amazing! This is a wonderful rescue that truly cares for the welfare of the animals.
I have been a volunteer, foster mom, and donor to Asheville Humane for 12 years now.
Asheville Humane does it better than anyone! They have numerous programs to save homeless animals and enrich their lives while they are waiting to be adopted. They have an extensive, excellent foster program that saves the lives of many animals with special needs that otherwise would not make it. They spare no expense in getting neglected, abused, and homeless animals back to health. They have a community solutions group that reaches out into the neighborhoods to help people take better care of their pets and keep them in their homes. They have all kinds of enrichment programs including puppy classes, dog manners classes, hiking with dogs programs, agility yard, and others. The staff is well-trained, very compassionate, and always go the extra mile to keep the animals in their care healthy, behaviorally sound, and happy until they find their forever homes. I will continue to support Asheville Humane as a donor, foster parent, and volunteer for many years to come.
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I have been an active volunteer in several different roles for Asheville Humane Society (AHS) for over 10 years. They have a beautiful, clean facility with professional, dedicated, well-trained, and caring staff. They take excellent care of the animals including numerous on-site and off-site enrichment programs. They have a large number of speciality programs including foster and neonatal care, outreach services to the community, transport/relocation, working cats program, Canine Good Citizens training, Hiking Hounds/Urban Tails, and numerous special events. They make volunteers feel welcome as part of the "AHS family" and are always open to suggestions/new ideas. They are transparent about sharing information and are always looking for innovative ways to improve/expand their services to the shelter animals and the community.
I'm a foster parent, adopter, and donor for AHS, and I love the work they do. They have a great leadership team, excellent counselors and frontline staff, and are always focused on the wellbeing of the creatures in their care.
At the same time, they've made a huge difference in the local community, providing free veterinary care, food, and behavioral training to residents facing difficulties. COVID has created new challenges, but we were able to bring on 500 new, awesome foster families, and have been tentatively reopening by appointment.
I'm delighted to be a part of such a great organization, where the animals, and their people, always come first.
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AHS is a truly-progressive, forward-thinking, compassionate animal shelter. Over the last few years, they have dramatically improved their live animal save rate, increasing it from around 70% to almost 95%, with complete medical care given to all animals and a dedicated staff that focuses completely on the best outcomes for the animals under their care.
AHS work on a philosophy of "Beyond No Kill, a Life Worth Living" - https://www.ashevillehumane.org/beyondnokill which emphasizes the rights of animals to be free from hunger, thirst, pain, discomfort, and fear. In addition to their in-center programs like spay / neuter, fostering, adoption, and helping people care for their animals, AHS is heavily-involved in community outreach. They work with pet owners in challenging housing and other areas to provide free in-home advice and medical veterinary care. They also provide pet accommodation for people who are in distress or other difficult situations.
AHS is involved with the local community and partners with many organizations to promote responsible pet ownership and to educate people on how to care for and ensure the physical and mental health of their animals.
AHS also treats its employees, volunteers, and fosters well - my wife volunteers at the organization, and they have a large, dedicated foster network. All in all, AHS is a great nonprofit for Asheville and the surrounding area, and I am delighted to continue supporting them with donations and fostering - I hope you will, too.
I have been a regular donor to AHS for more than 5 years. More recently, I've become a volunteer to both Operations and Community Solutions departments- and this direct experience has done nothing but strengthen my resolve to contribute to such a worthy local nonprofit! I'm proud that Buncombe County's homeless and at-risk animals have such a resource with Asheville Humane Society.
I have been volunteering at Asheville Humane Society for over a year now and absolutely love it! It's a great organization where the animals needs are always put first. It's a very clean and organized facility. The staff is always appreciative and thankful for the volunteers. Asheville Humane Society offers lots of volunteer opportunities as well as continued educational classes for their volunteers as well as the public. It is such fun walking and playing with the dogs and watching them come out of their shell. I've also met lots of new great people while volunteering.
Every crisis brings heroes that you didn't know you needed. The staff at AHS are those heroes. Throughout the Covid-19 shutdown and then all of the re-opening steps afterward, AHS have kept the animals safe and secure, its staff informed and safe, and the public aware and engaged. They have adapted, shown compassion, and still managed to adopt out and care for hundreds of animals. Now that they're open fully, the staff are on top of cleaning and sanitizing, and making happy adoptions.
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I moved to Asheville with no knowledge of local charities. I went to an event run by Asheville Humane Society and my mind was changed. Engaged staff, educational volunteer program, clean and safe facilities... all meant these were my people. I learned animal body language, customer service, animal behavior - all free and all taught by pros.
I've now been with AHS for over 5 years and in that time I've adopted, fostered, joined committees, chaired a committee, hosted a fundraiser, and am a regular donor. If I were just one of these roles, it would be interesting, but since I am happy and proud to fill all of these roles, I think that proves AHS's commitment, sincerity, ability for compassion and change, and desire to always be the life-saving force in their community.
(Greatnonprofits asks me to choose a role, so I chose my most important one: volunteer.
I'm a volunteer and donor, and started working with the Asheville Humane Society in January 2019, shortly after moving here from NY. I've worked with many different staff members, on many different projects, and everyone has been professional, personable, and dedicated. I'm currently volunteering with the Spay/Neuter Alliance, and the Pet Assistance Program through the Community Solutions Department. It's very fulfilling knowing that I can help so many dogs & cats during these crazy times. Also, the need is so great during these difficult economic times, that being able to volunteer for and donate to such a great organization is something that I will continue to do, and look forward to, every week.
The Asheville Humane Society is a loving organization dedicated to the care and well-being of animals in the area. The staff is caring and hard-working. They approach their jobs with love and heart.
The Asheville Humane Society is a credit to the people of Buncombe county. It is a top notch well run nonprofit organization. They are very active in community education and outreach programs for animal care and wellness. I know that any funds donated are used for the welfare of the homeless animals in the Asheville area.
I have been volunteering and/or fostering with Asheville Humane Society for several years now. It started as a simple, I'm going to foster. I loved their mission so much that I started volunteering for their Urban Tails program. That turned into me volunteering for a pilot program they received a grant for where I became a homecare foster assistant, going to foster homes to do wellness exams, vaccines and preventatives on the sweet little foster babies to keep them from having to come on campus and risk getting exposed to disease. COVID halted everything in its tracks. However, the way they handled that situation is amazing in and of itself! Once they started slowly allowing a few volunteers back on campus, there I was. My role transitioned to an in-house role because of COVID. Now, I'm there 3 days a week supporting the foster program to make sure we get all of these awesome animals to the adoption floor and in loving homes as soon as possible! Asheville Humane is the most loving animal rights facility I've ever had the pleasure of volunteering with and will continue for years to come!
I can speak for Asheville Humane from numerous levels. As a donor, I know my donations, both financial and in-kind, are going to support the very best care for animals in Buncombe County. As a volunteer, I appreciate the loving and compassionate care we give to all our animals in foster care. As a client served, I have experienced how AHS uses available resources to house and protect animals in need. As a past Board member, I know first hand of the commitment to both the animals in our care as well as the animal families we serve in the community who benefit from our compassion and dedication to their care.
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As a donor, foster parent, volunteer, adopter and Board member, I have experienced how this organization operates at all levels. The AHS staff in every department is compassionate to the needs of not only the animals in their care but to the public and fellow employees. AHS is doing truly outstanding work not only at the Buncombe County shelter but outside the shelter through their community outreach programs. Their outreach efforts allow families to keep beloved pets in the home where previously they may have been surrendered to the shelter. This is a win-win for the taxpayers of Buncombe County and answered prayers for many pet guardians. I would encourage everyone to visit the AHS Adoption Center and the Buncombe County shelter to see first hand how the staff maintains the facilities and consistently works to ensure that all animals coming into the shelter have the best oppertunity to be safe, healthy and to thrive.
We adopted our sassy hound Sookie September of 2016 and from that day on AHS has become a huge part of our story. I volunteer there when I can, host 3rd party fundraisers and enjoy their events that involve the coummunity in so many ways. AHS is not just a nonprofit, they're family! We also have them to thank for Willy too, he was a puppy I picked up doing a transport for them that I instantly fell in love with!
Asheville Humane Society is celebrating their 35th Anniversary. This is an amazing organization and the expansion of their work over the years is worth noting. The staff, the board, and all the volunteers are extremely passionate about the work they are doing. The community outreach programs are stellar and making a difference in our community. So many people have found their perfect fur babies. I do believe that AHS is one of the best in the country.
I continue to be so impressed by this forward thinking organization. They truly are about hope, not heartache. I have served as a volunteer and now as a member of the board of directors, and I consider myself lucky to be associated with them.
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Financially stable and transparent, excellent Executive Director, knowledgeable and friendly staff, amazing number of dedicated volunteers and fosters, and best of all, they do it all while taking every animal that comes through the door, saving all that can be saved, and finding them homes with loving families. Their Community Pets outreach program is groundbreaking and a model for similar organizations around the country. They are the BEST!
Ebouressa 08/07/2018
Thank you so much, Nan, for this glowing report. We appreciate you so much for all you do and the compassion you bring.
As I write this, I have a Chihuahua on my lap whom we adopted from AHS. His name is Pepe and he would like for me to share with you all that, while he loved his time at AHS, he loves his forever home even more.
As for me, I’m a Board member and donor to AHS and couldn’t be more proud of the work it does. The people involved with AHS - staff, volunteers, donors - share a mission to provide a life worth living for these animals.
My role with Asheville Humane Society has taken many forms - adopter, treasurer, volunteer, donor and member of the community served. In all of those capacities, I can say that AHS is an all-star organization. I adopted our most recent addition (Rosy) from AHS and the adoption experience was excellent. The adoption counselor helped us determine if she was the right fit for us and provided us with guidance and resources to help care for our new puppy. And the work began long before we adopted her with ensuring she was healthy, happy, microchipped and ready to meet her forever parents. As the Treasurer and a donor, I am continually impressed with the fiduciary responsibility exercised by the executive director, the employees and the Board to ensure that all money donated to the organization is used to further the organization’s mission and is used efficiently and with great care. As a volunteer, I am offered educational opportunities to increase my effectiveness in my duties and feel like I am contributing in the best way I can. As a member of the Buncombe County community, I believe that our community is substantially better for the efforts of AHS. AHS has saved countless animals, providing veterinary and behavioral support to homeless animals in our community to help them find their forever home. In addition, the organization’s progressive community solutions programs are on the forefront of animal welfare, thinking outside the box to help keep animals in their already loving homes. AHS is an amazing organization!
The Asheville Humane Society is an incredible organization with a passionate staff. They have gone beyond no kill and provide animals a life worth living. They have a live release rate of 93% which is outstanding for an open admission shelter!
They are transparent in everything they do. They are fiscally responsible and accountable for all their actions. Asheville Humane Society is a model for others to follow.
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The Asheville Humane Society is an incredible organization that goes above and beyond to meet the needs of vulnerable animals in our community. They go "Beyond No Kill" in their approach to animal welfare. They not only operate the County Shelter but they have a wonderful Adoption Center. They also provide services out in the community to help with animals in need.
They are a great steward of the funds they receive through donations. I like the idea that my donations stay local and benefit animals in my hometown. They also have the most hard working and dedicated staff to take care of the animals they receive.
Asheville Humane was so helpful in finding me my newest family member. When I walked in the door I felt like family, and they spoke with me about many different animals, letting me visit with them all, and ultimately make my final (tough!) decision. I couldn't be happier!
Working with Asheville Humane Society has really opened my eyes up to how amazing an animal welfare organization can be! Every shelter can step up to the plate to save animals and help members of the community keep their pets happy and healthy, and Asheville Humane Society proves that! It's hard work, but keeping pets out of the shelter whenever possible, and finding them homes if they end up in the shelter is what Asheville Humane does best!
I visited AHS over the Subaru Loves Pets weekend. I didn't adopt anyone but was thrilled to see how many people were there and how many wonderful adoptions were taking place. so many nice families. Thanks for all you do!
I have donated to, volunteered for, and adopted from Asheville Humane Society over the last 15 years. AHS has high-performing, top-quality staff at all levels. The animal care is outstanding. AHS has the highest possible non-profit ratings and the organization is excellent at fund-raising and stewardship of donations. AHS staff and employees hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. It is truly a remarkable organization dedicated to homeless animals and animals in the community whose owners need financial and behavioral assistance to keep their animals in their homes.
I worked with this organization when it was first formed as Buncombe County Friends for Animals. I have seen the organization grow and change over the years. It is progressive, forward thinking and always looking for ways to improve. The facility is amazing and so are the people who work there. The focus is on the community and the animals that live in the community. It is really an amazing organization.
One of the finest nonprofits I have ever been associated with. Well managed, fiscally responsible, compassionate, innovative, and works tirelessly to save animals' lives.
Ebouressa 08/07/2018
Thank you, bdsilv. We have so much respect for your business acumen and knowledge. It really highlights our success in transparency, business efficiency and program effectiveness to have you highlight this in your review.
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I have been volunteering for this organization for over five years. Its mission is very clear -- to save the lives of local animals. As a volunteer, I witness first-hand the good they do both for animals and for the public. This organization works tirelessly to get animals adopted in so many ways: in its Adoption Center, via a very active foster program, through transporting animals to other animal welfare groups, and much more. It also offers innovative programs, such as the Safety Net program, to help pet owners keep their pets rather than surrender them to the local shelter.
Asheville Humane Society is also an excellent steward of funds, using as much as 85% of donations received directly to benefit the animals they serve. This is a top-notch organization in every way.
The dedication of the staff and donors of the Asheville Humane Society is incredible. A wonderful organization to be associated with.
My experience with this organization over the past 15 years has been nothing but positive. As an animal lover and charity donor this group of compassionate and hard working people surpass anything else I have been involved with. I have been so impressed I recently joined the board to see what small part I could contribute.
They found my lost cat after 2 years and called me. My family is complete again because of these guys.
I consider myself an educated donor and do my homework before I give to charity. I want to know how much of my donation reaches the mission. I look for transparency. I require efficiency. I am a proud donor to Asheville Humane Society; they have met my criteria and then some. I know exactly how my gift is being spent. And many charity watchdog groups agree. They have been given the highest possible scores across the board. Thank you AHS for being an organization I can give to without question.
I am a junior volunteer and foster brother and I am so proud to be a part of this amazing group. Not only do they give the animals the best of everything, everyone at AHS is kind and friendly and they always say thank you. And it's so much fun!
As a volunteer for ten years, I have personally witnessed the growth of this organization into a nonprofit that truly focuses on saving the lives of homeless animals and giving them a life worth living.
Asheville Humane Society strives to provide the best care to the animals of the community, not just those who come through their door.
I have been a donor and volunteer with Asheville Humane Society for many years. I know from experience that they treat their employees and animals with kindness and respect. They are responsible stewards with finances , and fully utilize multiple resources to fund their lifesaving programs, including a robust volunteer program that provides for a huge part of their staffing needs. This organization is a model for how an open admissions shelter can be run in conjunction with a non-profit to save lives.
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I volunteer in the cat room at Asheville Humane Society most every Saturday, assisting the general public with finding the right feline to join their family. I know that every cat and kitten who I interact with, and there are hundreds each year, is as healthy and well cared for as modern shelter practices allow. When a cat or kitten is ill, they are immediately removed from active adoption status, and given immediate medical attention or moved to a foster home if longer recovery is needed. The staff is caring and devoted to adopting only healthy and happy cats and kittens. I personally have never seen kittens sitting in or near dirty litter boxes, nor would we/I ever adopt out an obviously sick kitten. To the contrary, most adopters tell me that our cat room is the cleanest they have ever visited. We also encourage adopters to contact us immediately if their are any health issues, and even provide coupons for a first Vet visit with many local Vets (at no charge) to access the health of the new family member. Asheville Humane Society takes AMAZING care of their felines and adopters. Please visit them to see for yourself.
I have been volunteering with the Asheville Humane Society since August of 2015, serving on its marketing committee. My career has included extensive experience working with many nonprofit organizations and I have been really impressed with how well this one operates, with great leadership, a strong staff, and an army of volunteers. Walking through the doors of its adoption facility is always a positive experience. Each time I'm there for a meeting I do a walk through of the adoption "condo" area and it speaks volumes about what an incredible job AHS is doing for the health of pets in our community. Also, instead of being the kind of organization that just tries to put a Bandaid on the problem, they are using their expertise and knowledge of the issues to create incredible new programs such as Thrive Together that address not only pets, but their people. They are agents of change in the animal welfare arena.
I have been a donor, volunteer, and foster parent for Asheville Humane Society for almost 10 years. I like that the money and time I give them stays local and helps the animals in Buncombe County. I especially like that I can personally choose which programs I would like my donations applied to. Their facility is gorgeous and the animals are happy and well cared for. The animals receive expert medical care, behavior training, and numerous daily enrichment and exercise programs. The dogs have large play yards and the cats enjoy two sun porches. Asheville Humane takes in every animal, regardless of age, size, breed, species, or medical condition. Every treatable animal is placed for adoption. No animal is ever euthanized for space constraints, and every animal stays at the adoption center, no matter how long it takes for the animal to get adopted. They have a robust foster program that saves thousands of lives by providing a home environment for sick and recuperating animals. Recently, Asheville Humane has begun a program that reaches out into the community to provide a myriad of services that enable people to keep their pets at home instead of relinquishing them to the country shelter. They run transport programs and work with numerous other animal rescue organizations to ensure that every animal has an opportunity to get placed in a loving home. For my money, nobody does it better than Asheville Humane Society!
I have two AHS alumni pets. They made the adoption process easy and fun. The facility is lovely and all of the animals are well cared for. It was so nice to go in and see happy animals!
I am also very impressed at the positive impact Asheville Humane Society has on the community. They help keep pets in their homes by providing vet assistance, medications, behavior assistance, and much more.
AHS is an amazing organization. We have adopted 3 pets from AHS, 2 cats and 1 dog, who bring joy to our family everyday. I highly recommend you take time to visit AHS and fall in love with your next furry family member. AHS staff are knowlegeable and take great time to make sure that animal and human will be a great match.
I have been following the development of this organization for over a decade, and am beyond impressed with their proficiency of mission, compassionate efforts and accomplishments in the interests of animals and people alike in the community, and state of the art facility and services.
Asheville Humane Society (AHS) is doing remarkable things not only with the homeless animal population in Buncombe County but with families who need help in order to keep their pets from becoming homeless. AHS is providing quality of life education in depressed areas making pets and their guardians healthier and happier. Their foster care program is the best I have seen in my 10 years of animal welfare work. So many lives have been saved and/or enriched through the Lilly Grace Fund (my favorite cause) that it is remarkable. I personally foster mama cats, kittens and adult ailing cats until they are ready to be adopted. This is most rewarding! I am a donor, a volunteer and a foster. I fully support AHS in all ways possible. I have also adopted from AHS and will continue to send anyone seeking a forever feline or canine companion to AHS. I know the quality of medical care and treatment each animal receives before being offered for adoption is the best.
n
The success of Asheville Humane Society rests on its leadership -- board, executive director, senior staff, and all other employees. They are all good stewards of donors' gifts and make good decisions, and they are loving and professional with the animals in their care. They take extraordinary measures to save every life possible and are now taking that mission out into the community to help animals and their people live safe, healthy lives without ever reaching the shelter doors. I have been involved in many different ways with Asheville Humane Society for about 12 years -- as a donor, volunteer, adopter, and board member, and I give it my highest recommendation.
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I am also a past board member and current volunteer. Asheville Humane Society owns and operates its Adoption and Education Center located next door to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter, which AHS operates under contract with the county and other municipalities. For the last two years, our county shelter has not had to euthanize a healthy, adoptable animal! What a beautiful thing to be able to say! When I first became involved 7 or 8 years ago, the shelter and AHS were at the sad facility at Lee's Creek, and the numbers of healthy animals they could not save because of overpopulation was in the high hundreds. The current statistics are just incredible, and I am so thrilled to be a part of this stellar organization. From the board, to the senior staff, to the kennel workers, you will find loving, caring professionals doing very difficult and emotional work with the highest regard for all life. We never turn our back on any animal -- we are the safety net when all other organziations have said no, sorry we're full. I will support AHS proudly and always!
I know of no better animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. Asheville Humane Society contracts with Buncombe County to run its open admission shelter--this means no animal is ever turned away! The devoted staff nurses sick animals back to health whenever possible, trains and uses its foster programs to give animals the time, love and care and training needed to become socially adapted to fit in with their forever family and now AHS is going out into the community to better reach those who have difficulty getting to the shelter or the adoption center to provide for spay and neuter clinics, teach about animal health and care and work to keep animals from ending up in the shelter in the first place. AHS has the most caring staff and they are passionate about the mission of AHS. If you haven't heard about AHS's Thrive campaign, then please check it out!
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I am so grateful that our county contracts AHS staff to care for our shelter animals. It's a great feeling knowing that lost and homeless pets are being cared for by true animal lovers. And I love all of the programs AHS has in place to help pets stay in their homes. Call them and they will give you a tour! I did and was so impressed. Make sure you ask to watch the doggie playgroups! It's the best.
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There is a very good reason why Asheville Humane Society is considered the Gold Standard of animal shelters nationally, with their innovative programs, groundbreaking services and deep compassion for the animals. When other groups ask me what their goals should be, I tell them to visit AHS and strive for that kind of care, professionalism and commitment. Best of the best!
Never will I adopt from here again! I adopted a cute little kitten which they never changed her cat litter. So I decided to adopt, which I recently found out she was infested with worms and was throwing up every where. Poor baby I felt so sorry for her. This place does not take good care of their felines! It's quite frankly pathetic. I will NEVER adopt here again.!!!
I have been a foster parent for several years with the Asheville Humane Society and have found that they have an outstanding foster program. Hundreds of lives have been saved due to their very effective, well organized and compassionate fostering procedures. So many of these animals would never even have made it to the adoption floor if not for the care provided by the remarkable staff that oversee these precious animals.
In every community you have a choice to give your time and resources to a non-profit. Everyone can give to a non-profit based on your passion of giving to a worthwhile cause. I choose animal welfare organizations and choose the Asheville Humane Society hands down. The infrastructure is there to provide the most help to the most animals in need. The competent staff, extensive volunteer network, the physical buildings and surroundings, and many other attributes is why I consider AHS as the number one animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. Come out and visit. I think you’ll come to the same conclusion.
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I have been a donor to the AHS since moving full time to Asheville in 2006 from the U.S. Virgin Islands. The uniqueness of this organization is that you can see exactly how your donations are being spent and keeping it on a local level to benefit everyone and every animal in Buncombe County. Sure, one can donate to a lot of different local animal rescue operations but AHS is number one in my book. As they say, "More bang for your buck". Thank you to the volunteers and staff of AHS for a job well done.
Great organization! Really making progress towards "no kill"; a rare feat for a county animal shelter required to accept all animals.
I've been on the board for 1 year & am continually impressed with the dedication & passion of the staff. Everyone loves animals & works hard to insure their well being.
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The animals are not just well-cared for, they are actually HAPPY! The dogs get to go out to play in playgroups with giant balls, kiddie pools and agility equipment, while the kitties get outside playtime in our screened in porches with lots of toys and different levels to climb. I believe in the way they do sheltering and adoptions, and I know how much love they put out into the community for people and pets in need. Way to go, AHS. Best in the business!
Asheville Humane Society offers so many great programs for the animals and their humans in Buncombe County. I've been so impressed with the kind and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. We are very fortunate to have such a high caliber animal welfare organization in our area.
Starting out as a volunteer, then a donor, then a Board Member, I have seen all aspects of this organization. The Staff, The Volunteers and the supporters of the organization make it what it is today. They are simply miracle workers. Each day brings a new challenge, but everyone works together to not only meet the challenge head on, but to do what's best for the little souls that enter our doors. I am extremely proud of their (our) accomplishments over the last decade that I have been involved. At the end of the day everyone has the same goal, saving the babies.
My family and I have adopted from AHS a number of years ago. We were impressed with the level of care and concern our dog was given while there. When they were trying to raise funds for their new building we gratefully donated to help them. In their new facility, they are able to assist many more animals in an incredibly warm and inviting environment. Now their building matches the level of their dedication to animal welfare!
Asheville Humane Society has taken what once was a depressing shelter and built a modern, very functional building that focuses on rescuing and saving animals instead of just "moving them through the system"...All animals are given a second chance, first when they arrive at the shelter where they are analyzed, given food and medication, and treatment by veteranarians to when they are placed in holding until they can be neutered or spayed and eventually moved into the clean, bright new adoption center where potential adopters can see them at play and happy. All of the animals are very well cared for and you can see that they can feel the love that covers them...
I've been a board member, a foster mom, a volunteer and a donor and there is no angle from which Asheville Humane Society doesn't stack up with the best non-profits I have encountered in any city I've lived in. I also train dogs as a hobby and am so impressed with the level of expertise, problem-solving and experience they bring to each individual animal. They are up-to-date, state-of-the-art and compassionate, conscientious, creative and caring. The staff is absolutely remarkable and do their job with professionalism and passion. Their reach into the community in the distribution of educational and physical resources to keep animals in their homes is just one of a multitude of quiet services they provide to the city and county.
The Asheville Humane Society is a great asset to our community. The number of animals they save is a great story (over 5000 last year). The dedication of the employees and volunteers is beyond the grasp of most people. It's an organization where the passion for saving animals is totally visable by all associated with the organization. That includes not only employees and volunteers but also all the dedicated people on the Board of Directors and committees that report to the BOD. They have a great network of contributors who also are very passionate about the work this organization does.
Ron Gallaway
Asheville Humane Society is a top notch organization. They do an incredible job of finding good homes for countless animals in our community. This organization has aiways been very transparent on how my donations are used. Keep up the great work!
I adopted from Asheville Humane Society and had a fantastic experience. The staff there is so kind and caring, and the animals are treated with such love and respect. The facility is beautiful and clean. A wonderful place for homeless animals to reside until they find their forever homes! This community is so lucky to have Asheville Humane Society caring for animals in need.
I have been an active Volunteer with Asheville Humane Society for several years, and can attest to the excellent care the pets receive while in our shelter. I work with cat adopters almost every weekend, and am always impressed with how efficient and caring the staff is with every adoption. I am also a corporate sponsor and can attest to the diligence the team uses in their marketing and operation efficiency. I have volunteered and supported other shelters over the years, and have no reservations when I say that Asheville Humane Society is the best run shelter I have encountered with the most dedicated volunteers and staff.
ACN helped me feed my dog Brody and fixed him for free when I was out of work. Now that I'm working again, I do all I can to give back to them. They are the reason I still have my dog!
I have supported this charity for numerous years because of their professionalism, dedication and transparency. I am thrilled with their ability to see that so much of my donation goes directly to their programs to save more pets.
ACN rocks! So far we have adopted 4 dogs and 1 cat from them over the last ten years. We love to shop at Their adoption center/pet supply store Pet Harmony because they carry all the best food and treats. And I know SEVERAL people who have gone to them for really inexpensive shots and free spays and neuters. And they help in all counties for whoever needs it. They do it all and I cannot say enough good things about them. They have been around longer than most of us have been, and I love the difference they have made in WNC! Thanks ACN!
My husband and I adopted our dog from ACN a few months ago and it was a wonderful experience. My friend had suggested them for a new dog when we lost our Mitzi, so I thought we'd go down to their shelter and pick one out. Instead, we met with adoption staff and talked about what want in a dog. We are seniors, but very active. They steered us towards several dogs who would be a good fit with us, including a little mix who we had already walked by with little interest. But when they put her in Howard's lap, he melted. I didn't think he would ever fall for another dog the way he loved Mitzi but I was wrong. The foster mom showed up to bring her home about then, so we got to talk to her. Turns out she had many of the same habits as Mitzi and we took that as a sign. "Lily" as she is now known, has filled the hole in our heart left by Mitzi. I can't believe we had walked right by her. I have such an appreciation for the kind staff at ACN and the way they took so much time to really help us find the right one. It is obvious how much they care about every single animal in their care and how hard they work to get the right adoption. I cannot imagine life without Lily now. Everyone should adopt from the Compassionate Network!
I may have only just begun my time on the auxiliary board of the Animal Compassion Network, but my relationship with them goes back to just about the day I moved to North Carolina six years ago (2006). Animal rescue, health, safety, immunization and altering have been virulent passions of mine. I began my journey with ACN completely by accident (I gravitated toward the kitties in the windows at Petsmart!) and have been an avid fan from that moment on. And, as an author, I assure you...I know a LOT about avid fans! (I was going to say rabid but...well, perhaps that would be a bad word choice in this venue!) The people at ACN had a hard task winning of a jaded native NYer like me, believe me...but win me they did. I'm devoted to them and think of them synonymously with the animal rescue I love. There are other groups in the area of course, but I see true excellence here. Since words are my thing, I'll use a few to make impact on the internal image I have for them: Dedication. I have never met any group of people more devoted to a cause than they are. (Honestly, I don't think those people ever go home!) They are always there, and if not there they are doing on-site adoption drives. Loyalty. To the cause, to the fosters, to each other. Decorum. ACN caters to animals and the people who love them without ever losing sight of the understanding that they do what they do for the animals and not for accolades or stroking of their own their own ego. Tirelessness, Resourcefulness. In this economy new and better ways of fundraising is crucial and they will brainstorm for hours thinking up new ways to educate and draw in the public. Compassion. There's a reason why they have that "C" in their name. They have touched me deeply with things they do. Such as donating pet food to the homeless and indigent so they can feed an animal who just might be their very last friend in the world...and they won't have to give them up or be forced to make a choice between who gets to eat that day. Community. Drives such as shot clinics for the in need in order to decrease unnecessary death from viruses that can so easily be avoided. Advocating to make it against the law to keep a dog chained outside indefinitely. Spay/neuter vouchers to help reduce the stray and feral pet populations and, once again, lending a helping hand to those who couldn't afford it otherwise. Evolution. They strive to grow and self-improve, from raising new funding sources to expanding on all of the above. Okay so, now that I've written another novel (see looooong paragraph above!) I hope I have conveyed just what the Animal Compassion Network is all about. I'm sure I've even forgotten a few things. I hope anyone reading this will come find out for themselves by visiting the website :)
I appreciate that Animal Compassion Network uses so much volunteer power that their overhead is below 14%. I check out every charity before I donate to see how much of my money actually goes to the cause. I am impressed with how much they accomplish and how much of my money gets to those poor dogs and cats that really, really need the help. Thank you, Animal Compassion Network!
Not only do I volunteer, am on the Board, and foster kittens, but we have adopted through Animal Compassion as well. Seeing from the inside the care animals are given from their entry into the system to finding their forever home makes me proud to be a part of the whole process. ACN has attracted foster care not just for the average litter, but for newborns, special needs animals, and hard to place animals which is evidence of its level of service to animals and people. ACN is also dedicated to educating the public to improve the lives of animals throughout the area.
I know of no other animal rescue organization that provides such a wide range of services to help animals and their owners in the areas of greatest need: animal rescue, animal transport, spay/neuter, pet food assistance, education...
The thing I love most about Animal Compassion Network is that I adopted the love of my life from them! As a long time foster and supporter of ACN I've come to appreciate that they offer so much more than just adoptions. Spay/Neuter assistance, low cost shot clinics, pet food assistance, pet loss support group, training and grooming just to name a few. Perhaps the most exciting is the new transport program where 20+ dogs per month are adopted out through other shelters where they actually have a shortage of adoptable dogs! ACN's mission is to end euthansia of healthy, adoptable animals and is funded and supported by volunteers and private donations. I can't think of a better way to spend my time and money!
Folks need to be aware that although the AHS of Asheville does some wonderful work, they have very loose guidelines/definitions of "healthy" animals. Supervision towards the decision making process for saving versus killing animals is weak at best.
As a result of the above, the kill rate for AHS of Asheville is 59%. That means if you surrender your animal to the group, it has, in fact, a 6 out of 10 chance of being killed.
When you make your donation decisions, you might want to pick another organization with a lower euthanization rate of preferably a "no-kill" shelter.
Don't give your money away just because it the "Humane Society. "