About the Wisconsin Humane Society

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness.

Since its inception in 1879, the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) has become one of the most well-recognized non-profit organizations in southeastern Wisconsin and a national leader in animal welfare. For 140 years, WHS has been providing lifesaving services for animals, as well as comprehensive educational and assistance programs for people in an effort to create a more humane community. Actively involved in issues on a national level, WHS is the largest humane society in Wisconsin and one of the largest and most innovative in the country.

WHS operates shelters in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Brown, and Door Counties, as well as a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in West Allis. The WHS Milwaukee Campus is also home to one of the largest and busiest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals in the country.

WHS was one of a handful of shelters that pioneered “as long as it takes,” ensuring that all animals available for adoption have as long as they need to find a new home. We have not euthanized for reasons of space or time since the construction of our Milwaukee facility in 1999. We were able to honor this commitment by making strategic and innovative decisions about our work. We were among the first organizations in the country to:

• Launch an open adoption process that makes adoption accessible and efficient
• Create operational initiatives to reduce disease transmission and length of stay
• Create bright, cheerful facilities to welcome visitors
• Offer onsite veterinary care with a team of full-time veterinarians
• Offer onsite behavior modification to address behavior challenges
• Waive adoption fees entirely for adult cats

WHS receives no general government support. We are funded through the generous support of community-minded companies, foundations, and caring individuals.