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.

Our vision for the future is that no adoptable animal will be euthanized in Catawba County, and overpopulation, cruelty and inhumane treatment of animals will cease to exist.

Our beautiful facility features the Pat Anderson Center for Animal Adoption and Humane Education Center as well as Foothills Spay/Neuter Clinic.

The Western Piedmont Humane Society, formed in 1971, was run solely by volunteers for nearly three decades. Their only purpose was to place abandoned animals in new homes. At that time, animals were housed in foster homes, and the volunteers adopted out the homeless animals without vaccinating, spaying, or neutering them. At that time the organization served four counties. Over the years, the other three counties formed individual humane organizations to serve their own communities. In 1998 the Western Piedmont Humane Society changed to Humane Society of Catawba County so the name of the organization would most accurately represent the area served.

In 2000, thanks to a grant and guidance from the Beaver Family Foundation, the reorganized Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) formed a board of directors and hired their first staff member. Over the next few years, the board members and executive director worked to raise funds to build a no-kill animal shelter. In the fall of 2001, the organization was able to lease a small piece of land and build a rudimentary shelter facility. The shelter consisted of a small outbuilding office, a storage building for the adoption center (housing 40 cats, kittens, and puppies), and twenty-two outdoor runs. After working at this limited property for three years, it became apparent that if HSCC was going to effectively serve the growing need of the homeless animal population in this region it needed to build a new permanent facility.

HSCC has always recognized animal overpopulation as a national tragedy, the problem being no less intense in Catawba County. Starting in 2000 HSCC utilized Humane Alliance, a leader in aggressive low cost spay/neuter programs, to sterilize the shelter animals. Towns and cities that had implemented similar programs in their areas found the number of companion animals who had to be euthanized declined by up to 60 percent. HSCC realized a spay/neuter clinic needed to be part of their new facility, benefiting both the shelter and local community animals.

In December 2007, after a 3-million-dollar capital campaign, Humane Society of Catawba County 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 still is now the only brick-and-mortar nonprofit companion animal service organization in the county.

Since that time the growth of HSCC has been phenomenal. HSCC has adopted out thousands of homeless animals. All adoptable cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, receive age-appropriate vaccinations, tested and treated for pathogens, microchipped, and lovingly cared for until they find their forever home.

Foothills Spay/Neuter clinic at HSCC offers spay/neuter surgeries to the public, preventing the birth of thousands of unwanted litters annually. In addition, the clinic hosts low-cost vaccine and wellness clinics. HSCC/Foothills Clinic has many low or no-cost programs designated for specific groups in need and is always striving to find a way to help all area residents afford to provide proper care for their companion animals. Regular spay/neuter surgeries and vaccine clinic appointments can now be scheduled on this website.

HSCC also offers a Pet Food Pantry program to provide supplemental pet food assistance for those dog/cat owners who are facing financial challenges. This program is supported by donations of pet food by area residents and financial sponsorship by local businesses and individuals.

Our public services are available to area residents with no restrictions on county of residency.

2024 will see the launch of a new public clinic in the City of Claremont that will provide spay/neuter, vaccinations, well and sick pet visits.

Please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on HSCC services, programs, and events.

  • Lanny Huffman Chairman
  • Brenda Kanipe Vice Chairman
  • Jodi Buckland Secretary
  • Charles Connor IV Treasure
  • Tiffany Brittain
  • Chris Broyles
  • Laura Burton
  • Jennifer Horton
  • Randy Truitt
  • Grace McLaurin
  • Kathleen Setzler
  • Jay Teeter
  • Nancy White
  • Marcus Woodie
  • Ken Wilkinson
  • Jackie Wright, DVM

Are you looking for a meaningful career in animal welfare? Join our team! Our shelter offers diverse opportunities to animal lovers from all backgrounds. Whether it’s working daily caring for the shelter pets as a kennel technician, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and helping adopters at our front desk, or joining the medical side of our operations in the Spay/Neuter Clinic, you will find many rewarding opportunities at HSCC. Get started today by submitting your application through our online portal.

Apply Online

  • Jane Bowers – Executive Director (Contact Me)
  • Alicia Blackburn – Director of Marketing (Contact Me)
  • Diedre Henry – Special Events Manager and Volunteer Coordinator (Contact Me)
  • Emily Buckland – Director of Clinical Services (Contact Me)
  • True Young – Animal Services (Contact Me)
  • Kaitlyn Ewing – Director of Intake and Rescue (Contact Me)
  • Dr. Jenna Adams – Shelter Veterinarian
  • Monica Shields – Lead Adoption Counselor