They only vaccinate puppies and kittens one time instead of the three needed. The sent me home with a Feline Leukemia positive kitten that infected my cats and four of them died. I tried to report them to the state of Florida and nothing was done. I personally volunteered for them and found all manner of fraud and bad practices. All this is run by a single person who has gotten herself voted board president forever. How is that even legal? The board are all her friends. No oversight at all.
Review from Guidestar
Only allows 5 days for pets to be found and claimed. If the genuine owner contacts them after this time they won't release the pet back to them if they still have it. Disgraceful.
This “humane” society is anything but. They take in animals that are microchipped and have loving owners, ignore that fact, sterilize the animal, then sell it for profit! They have decided that they get to decide the fate of other people’s pets! They should be shut down! They should be reported for fraud, sued for extortion and have their 501(c)3 revoked for profiting from theft and fraud!
Having worked with humane societies and with various rescues, I can say without a doubt that this is one that I would not support. Five day grace period or not, if a rightful owner comes forward to claim the animal and you decide to sell it to another family instead, you are in the wrong. You are not only causing the owner harm, but you are denying the animal return to its comfortable and familiar environment for the sake of profit.
This shelter is for-profit, selling "purebred" cats for hundreds of dollars. They refused to return a purebred cat to the lawful owner even when given proof. Finally gave the cat back to the owner (a breeder) but only after they spayed her (out of spite). What a terrible place. They have posted a video on their FACEBOOK that is ELDER ABUSE. It's of the woman getting her cat back and basically they hold her hostage until she says what they want her to say! Disgusting!
This shelter refuses to give a cat back to the rightful owner. A cat that has kittens at home wanting their mother home. https://www.fox13news.com/news/purebred-cat-owner-pleads-with-highlands-county-humane-society-to-return-beloved-pet
This organization is run by one person who has changed the by laws allowing only members she personally approves of. The board is stacked with people who work for her or who have contracts with her company. Staff moral is very low and living conditions of animals are deplorable. There is absolutely no transparency, no written annual report, board meetings are held off sight and closed to public, no financials available when requested. Staff work in an office with no running water or bathroom facilities. No follow up calls are done for spay neuter surgeries. No follow up calls to adopters, very little screening of adopters. Dogs and cats are euthanized at the whim of the board president. Donors need to realize that animal welfare organizations have absolutely no oversight and can become the kingdom of one very egotistical person. Demand better for your animals Highlands County! Ask why so many small rescues have popped up in the past few years to fill the void!
I have had the honor serving on the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Highlands County for almost 4 years. I have been fortunate to see this shelter pull itself up from a huge debt to operating in the black each month. We are now breaking ground for new dog kennel facilities. This shelter is proud of their hard work and appreciates the support the people of Highlands County have shown them. The Board works very hard and puts on many very innovative fund raising events that are attended by thousands of people. The Board holds the shelter to a high level of integrity. The Board is very involved with the operation of the shelter and holds it to a high standard of care for all the animals entrusted in it's care. If you able interested in helping abandoned animals, this is a place that is very worthy of your support. It is a no-kill for space facility that operates 100% by public donation.