I have been involved with making donations and attending fund raising events for the Garland County Animal Welfare Assn. for about 6 - 7 years now. The improvements to the facilities, operations, and local outreach have been phenomenal. They continue to add cutting edge programs that directly improve the community. One of the finest qualities is how much they care and show compassion, which, in turn, has benefited thousands of animals. This organization is truly a gem for our area. I highly recommend a visit to volunteer, adopt a pet, or just to check out all the things going on at their location. You will find very friendly and helpful staff that really cares about what they are doing.
Review from Guidestar
Kaye Gilder, Ivy Wood, Sunshine and the entire staff are the most amazing animal lovers, saving every animal they possibly can. They go above and beyond in EVERY way even when they really don't have room for another baby young or old. My experience reaching out to GCHS was more than I could ask for!!!
I am a volunteer & I can't say enough of the wonderful ways GCHS is helping our community with the stray dog & cat population. This organization requires hard work & dedication & a passion to help these animals. They are volunteer & donation driven & save hundreds of dogs & cats in Garland County.
The humane society of garland county is a wonderful organization. They really care about the animals and want to help all of them find their furever home. We got our Freddie there and are so happy we did.
For years, this was basically a shelter run by hoarders. A whole new group was put in charge a couple of years ago. In that time, over 500 Fur Babies were placed in loving homes. Now the new group is beginning a Capital Campaign to build a much needed shelter for cats, puppies, the humans who work there etc. The Shelter went from being a sad run-down space to a place of happy animals and hope!
Not sure where the 1-star reviewers got their information, but they are COMPLETELY WRONG. I know the staff at the kennel and they are the MOST loving, caring people you will find anywhere in the world of rescues. They go above and beyond what is required to save cats and dogs. Their books are open to anyone who would like to see them and they have adopted out HUNDREDS of dogs and cats since they took over the mismanagement by the previous administration of the kennel 2 years ago.
Review from Guidestar
I am a volunteer at this Humane Society and I can't begin to express how wonderful the staff is to all the animals they care for. I was afraid that I would want to take all of the dogs and cats home, but the staff truly makes it a loving temporary home for them. I love spending quality time with the animals. It makes me feel good and I know it makes them feel good. It's definitely a well run operation! The shelter is in dire need of funding to get a facility that is not falling down around them while they work! I have never been around people as dedicated and loyal as this staff is. They love the animals and do everything they can to provide a better life for them until they get adopted into a fur-ever home.
Review from Guidestar
This group does a wonderful job caring for homeless cats and dogs. Great leadership and caring workers and volunteers.
It is amazing how far this organization has come in just two years! It now has the support and involvement of several local veterinarian clinics. It now partners with other rescue groups locally and in California. The Humane Society now has a working relationship with Animal Control (the municipal agency) such that AC will call the Humane Society when AC is overcrowded and needs to "make room". Through the partnership with AC, the Humane Society has saved numerous dogs from AC's "death row". It's great to go out to the kennel and see the dogs out in the play yards running around and playing instead of all cooped up in their runs. The community has noticed the change and continues to reach out to support the Humane Society with food drives, fund raisers, and adoption events. It's a great organization doing some great work in Garland County, Arkansas!
Between August 1, 2015 and August 19, 2016, The Humane Society of Garland County has adopted out 241 dogs and 57 cats to prescreened homes locally, and they have sent 81 dogs on transport to Friends of Orange County Homeless Pets, a private organization in California, where they were adopted into prescreened homes. They currently have 60 dogs and 30 cats in our care at their kennel. The organization changed kennel managers and elected a new board of directors in 2014, and, since that time, the organization has grown in its outreach to the community, as well as increasing its success in placing dogs and cats into loving permanent homes. Volunteers and board members have spoken at local schools and organizations on multiple occasions, and this resulted in increased awareness of responsible pet ownership as well as increasing awareness of our organization. We are working toward building a new facility at our kennel site, as our current buildings are inadequate and dilapidated. We have had good support from local donors in the community to raise funds for our capital campaign. We have had several successful fundraisers as well. We now have good relationships with Animal WelfareLeague of Hot Springs Village and Paws and Claws Rescue locally. Overall, this organization is making great strides in animal welfare in the Garland County area. The organization financials are transparent as well.
Review from Guidestar
This non profit is in an extreme state of mismanagement. The 2015-2016 President has stated untruths publically and misleads the community. Their 990 for 2014 states that the first $100,000.00 they receive of donations goes into the pockets of individuals not used toward saving the lives of unwanted pets. Sadly it's the animals that suffer.
Review from Guidestar
There have been numerous requests for an accounting of this non profit's donations but all request have been ignored. Hostile take over in 2014 created inexperienced management and especially BOD. Organization was financially secure until the hostile take over however without financial disclosures to the general public how can one be assured they remain good stewards of the publics money and trust. There is a shelter with high overhead expenses and a large payroll. Turmoil abounds in this organization.
Review from Guidestar
JULY 2015
As previously reported, this Humane Society, killed 5 young, healthy dogs that inexperienced kennel management did not know how to work with in Nov, 2014. Their new website, written after this, proudly proclaimed that they are a 'no kill shelter.' However, in the Spring, 2015 - about 6 months later, they killed 10 dogs and an unknown number of cats. When asked about this - they 'sanitize' their rationale. Dead is still dead.
They do not go out to rescue animals, nor do they deal with abuse/cruelty cases. They no longer provide medical aid to animals that have been rescued when found. They get the majority of their animals from a kill shelter - only 'highly adoptable' animals that they can quickly 'turnover' by selling them at Petco. They do NO vetting/checking vet references, fenced yards, personal references or landlord permission to adopt out animals prior to sending the animals home with strangers - they just fill out a form.
Our community no longer has a Humane Society that answers reports of abuse, neglect or injury. They refer ALL reports/phone calls to the local Animal Control - a kill shelter. Very sad for the innocent animals of our county - they have no voice.
PREVIOUS POST Very sadly, this organization, under a new board as of 8/2014, is no longer a no-kill shelter(began killing 11/2014) nor does it rescue abused, neglected or injured animals. Their phone message directs callers/reporters of abuse or concerns to a kill shelter that does not offer medical assistance, animal abuse/neglect calls and is basically unprepared to rescue and aid neglected, injured or abused animals.
When donors have asked for an accounting of funds.... no responses have been given. The focus now is basically working ONLY with animals that they can readily 'turn over' at Petco....it is certainly not a concern of animal welfare or the humane treatment of animals.
Donors have been alienated and knowledgeable volunteers / animal socializers have been run off. Members are no longer permitted to vote for board members - they are 'appointed.' The only thing members are permitted to do is give them money....not opinions or voice concerns.
Due to their 'new revised policies', their is no refuge or assistance for abused, neglected or injured animals. These animals must remain in situations of abuse / neglect and injured animals are 'left' until the kill animal control shelter is open, and if they have time/manpower, they will retrieve and kill the pet.
The new kennel manager had NO experience with abused/neglected animals or kennel management - only as a vet tech in an office. The other 'new board members' had never volunteered or been involved at the kennel yet professed to be experts / knowledgeable enough to 'critique' years of experienced people.
Long time donors have left. I no longer donate to them, they have been removed from my will and I no longer will volunteer. Hardly would I consider it a 'humane society' when it ignores the plight of helpless animals.
Review from Guidestar
The Garland County Animal Welfare Association dba The Humane Society of Garland County was a "No Kill" shelter for 39 years. In 2014 around Christmas they chose to euthanize 5 young, healthy Hound/Beagle mixes that they deemed unadoptable. The dogs lived at the facility for several months and the former Kennel Director had them walking on a leash and on the path to adoption. Seven dogs from the same area were already socialized and adopted into loving homes. The new Kennel Manager and BOD took over the facility in July 2014 so the question is what happened to these dogs in 5 months that made them unadoptable? After 39 years as a No Kill shelter it is no longer.
Review from Guidestar