About Us
Our Mission - The Ashe Humane Society works to promote the welfare of companion animals in the community through programs and strategies aimed at improving responsible pet ownership and reducing the pet population. Dedicated to the welfare of companion animals, Ashe Humane Society is a non-profit organization that is entirely run by volunteers and funded solely by donations and non-governmental grants. (we are not a shelter and do not receive money from Ashe County Government)
As of May 1, 2023 the Ashe Humane Society became a foster-based rescue that will intake in-danger animals from Ashe County Animal Control only. Our new Spay and Neuter Financial Assistance Program and the new Trap-Neuter-Return Feral Cat Program started August 2023!!
We sold our building in July 2023 in order to use the money to better serve our community!!
Our History
2004 - 2019
The Ashe Humane Society was formed in March, 2004 by a group of people brought together by their concerns for the welfare of animals in Ashe County, North Carolina. In the past years, several attempts had been made in the community to form a humane society; all failing for various reasons, but primarily because of individual member’s inability to contribute the time, energy and focus necessary to ensure the success of the Society.
An early asset to the newly formed 2004 Society was the leadership and experience contributed by John Lisk. John gained his extensive leadership experience as a past Executive Director of a large metropolitan Humane Society in South Florida. He assisted volunteers of the Ashe Humane Society to form a plan for success. He emphasized the need for coordination and planning and the importance of having a centralized person to perform that function in the organization. He recruited a former employee for that position and a plan was presented to the members in June 2004.
A mission statement was written and programs developed that revolved around supporting the mission of “Saving and Protecting Animals of Ashe County”. Publicity and fundraising were targeted as primary needs in order to establish the Society in the community and enable it to achieve its long term goals. We have grown our efforts every year thanks to our donors, volunteers and local businesses.
We received our 501c3 status in 2006.
The Humane Society’s efforts have worked well since 2004. In 2007 we purchased a small building on Old Highway 16 in Jefferson, to become a resource center for the local veterinarian supported low-cost spay and neuter voucher program. We also have a small foster program in place for our adoption cats and have a viable pet adoption program.
2019 - 2022
In 2019 we received our shelter license through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Because of the small size of our facility, we were limited to housing cats with a maximum of 35.
When Covid hit in 2020 is greatly impacted our ability to have our facility open to the public and even though we struggled to maintain our 7 day a week volunteer staff we pushed through and maintained the high standard of care for our cat intakes and cleaning in order to maintain the shelter license. What became our biggest struggle was veterinary care, finding care and the rising costs. It also became impossible to continue with the low cost spay and neuter voucher since no local vet could honor them. The building maintenance was increasing in both cost and repairs needed despite covid affecting raising funds from donations.
Have more questions about the Ashe Humane Society? Click here to visit our FAQ page!