The Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) is an independent, private, nonprofit organization devoted to the companion animals of Catawba County and the surrounding region. Our services are open to all area residents, with no restrictions based on county of residency — if we can help an animal, or the family who loves them, we will.

We are an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) corporation, governed by a dedicated local board of directors. We operate independently of county government, and we are not affiliated with — or funded by — the Humane Society of the United States. Every gift we receive is tax-deductible, and every dollar stays right here in our community, caring for the animals in our shelter.

Our Mission

The mission of HSCC is to promote animal welfare in our community by providing shelter and compassionate care to homeless companion animals while leading our region in low-cost spay/neuter initiatives, education on the humane treatment of animals, and adoption services.

A Commitment to Transparency

We believe the community that supports us deserves to see exactly how we operate. We are committed to running this shelter in an honest, accountable, and transparent way — welcoming feedback, opening our doors, and working to earn your trust every single day. The animals depend on it, and so do we.

The Humane Society of Catawba County traces its roots to 1971, when a group of volunteers founded the Western Piedmont Humane Society. For nearly three decades, the organization was run entirely by volunteers with a single purpose: to find new homes for abandoned animals. In those early years, animals were housed in foster homes and adopted out without the vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, or medical care we consider essential today. At the time, the organization served four counties.

As the region grew, the other three counties formed their own humane organizations to serve their communities. In 1998, the Western Piedmont Humane Society became the Humane Society of Catawba County, so that the organization's name would accurately reflect the area it served.

Building a Permanent Home

In 2000, thanks to a grant and guidance from the Beaver Family Foundation, the reorganized HSCC formed a board of directors and hired its first staff member. The board and director set out to raise the funds needed to build a no-kill animal shelter. In the fall of 2001, the organization leased a small piece of land and built a rudimentary facility — a small outbuilding office, a storage building serving as an adoption center for 40 cats, kittens, and puppies, and twenty-two outdoor runs.

After three years in that limited space, it became clear that serving the growing homeless-animal population in our region would require a permanent facility. In December 2007, following a $3 million capital campaign, HSCC opened The Pat Anderson Center for Animal Adoption and Humane Education — a no-kill companion animal shelter, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, and education center. It was then, and remains today, the only brick-and-mortar nonprofit companion animal service organization in Catawba County.

A Legacy of Spay/Neuter Leadership

HSCC has always recognized pet overpopulation as a national tragedy — one felt just as deeply here in Catawba County. Beginning in 2000, HSCC partnered with Humane Alliance, a leader in high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter, to sterilize shelter animals. Communities that adopted similar programs saw the number of animals euthanized for population control fall by as much as 60 percent. Recognizing the impact, HSCC made a spay/neuter clinic central to its new facility, serving both the shelter and the wider community.

Since opening the Pat Anderson Center, HSCC has adopted out thousands of homeless animals. Every adoptable cat and dog is spayed or neutered, receives age-appropriate vaccinations, is tested and treated for illness, microchipped, and lovingly cared for until they find their forever home. Our Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic prevents the birth of thousands of unwanted litters every year and hosts low-cost vaccine and wellness clinics for the public.

In 2024, we expanded our reach with the opening of Foothills Animal Health Center in Claremont, where we serve the public with vaccine appointments, veterinary exams, and additional spay/neuter services. Our public services remain available to all area residents, with no restrictions on county of residency.

As an independent nonprofit, the Humane Society of Catawba County relies on the generosity of our community to carry out our mission. We are a private organization — not a government agency — and we are not affiliated with or funded by the Humane Society of the United States. The care we provide is made possible by people and organizations who believe in what we do.

Our work is supported by a combination of sources: individual donations, memorial and tribute gifts, grants, fundraising events, and the modest fees we charge for services such as adoptions, spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchipping. We work hard to keep those services affordable and accessible, while making sure every dollar is put to work for the animals.

Grants & Community Partners

We are proud to be supported by national and local partners whose generosity strengthens our lifesaving work, including Maddie's Fund, Petco Love, the BISSELL Pet Foundation, the Banfield Foundation, and Pets for the Elderly, among many others. These partnerships help fund adoptions, spay/neuter services, senior pet programs, and more.

Your Support Keeps Our Doors Open

We cannot do this work without you. Every contribution — large or small, one-time or recurring — goes directly toward food, medical care, shelter, and a second chance for the animals who depend on us. On behalf of every animal in our care, thank you.

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At the Humane Society of Catawba County, accountability, honesty, and transparency aren't buzzwords — they're how we earn the trust that makes our work possible. As a nonprofit that depends on community support, we hold ourselves to high standards and welcome the oversight that keeps us there.

State Licensing & Inspection

Our shelter is licensed and inspected by the Animal Welfare Section of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), under the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act. State inspectors conduct unannounced inspections throughout the year to ensure we meet the standards required of every licensed shelter in the state. We welcome these inspections — they keep us sharp and accountable to the animals in our care.

In the spirit of full transparency, the State of North Carolina posts shelter inspection reports publicly. You can review inspection records for licensed facilities on the NCDA&CS Animal Welfare Section website at ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws.

Nonprofit Governance & Financial Stewardship

HSCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a local board of directors. Like all public charities, we file an annual IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We take our responsibility as stewards of every donated dollar seriously, and we are committed to sound financial practices, clear approval processes, and tracking exactly where each dollar goes.

An Open Door

Transparency means more than paperwork — it means an open door. We invite the community to see our work firsthand, to share feedback whether it's praise or hard truth, and to hold us to the promises we make. We would rather hear where we can do better than pretend we are perfect. That is the only way we get better for the animals.