When people think of private nonprofit animal shelters like Valley Humane Society, they often picture joyful adoption moments—kittens and puppies finding new families or adult animals getting a second chance at love. These stories are real, and adoption is central to our mission—but it’s just one part of how we serve the community.
Valley Humane is a nonprofit organization that operates independently of government contracts, which allows us to focus our efforts on community-based programs without also managing animal control duties. At Valley Humane, we believe the animal welfare system works best when public and private organizations work together. Government-run shelters provide critical public services and serve as the first point of intake for many animals in need. In a recent article by our CEO & President, Melanie Sadek, we explored the essential yet often misunderstood role these agencies play.
This piece continues that conversation—highlighting how private shelters like Valley Humane strengthen the system as a whole through transfer partnerships, preventive care, and community-based programs that help reduce shelter intake and keep pets in loving homes.
Meeting Needs Before They Become Crises
Valley Humane focuses on prevention—keeping more pets healthy and reducing the number of animals who enter the system in the first place.
Every adoptable animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before going home with their new family. These preventive steps reduce the risk of illness, unplanned litters, and lost pets—common factors that lead to animals entering shelters in the first place.
We complement the work of government-run shelters by focusing on intake prevention. Programs like our AniMeals Pet Food Pantry and Field Veterinary Program help pets stay healthy and at home.
We also work in partnership with local municipal shelters by welcoming animals from these facilities into our program, which opens space for new animals in need of support. This relieves some pressure on the animal control agencies that serve as the first point of intake.
Community-based programs and proactive care also help ease the strain on the broader sheltering system while supporting both animals and the people who love them.
Supporting People as Well as Pets
At Valley Humane, we play a unique role in supporting both pets and people. Our focus is on strengthening the human-animal bond, especially during hard times.
Our AniMeals program helps ensure that no one must choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pet. By providing pet food to local residents, AniMeals keeps animals in their homes and reduces the number of pets entering animal shelters.
Our newest community program, the Field Veterinary Program, launched late in 2024. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, Valley Humane identifies and supports families in need by providing one-time services such as exams, vaccinations, parasite control, and microchipping. By increasing access to basic veterinary care, we help keep loved animals healthy and at home with their families.
We also have the flexibility to invest in programs that extend beyond traditional sheltering and animal care. Our Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy program brings the comfort of animals directly to our community. This all-volunteer team of people and their dogs visits hospitals, schools, senior centers, and other spaces where people are navigating grief, illness, or stress. These joyful visits offer a meaningful moment of peace—and a reminder that connection can come in many forms.
How to Support Your Local Shelter
Government-run animal shelters are essential to the health and safety of our communities—providing critical public services and serving as the first point of intake for animals in need. At Valley Humane Society, we’re proud to partner in that work—expanding capacity, supporting families, and helping more animals stay healthy and loved.
As a community-funded organization, everything we do is made possible by people like you.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Adopt a pet and welcome them into your home.
- Foster an animal in your home to create more space for animals in need.
- Volunteer your time and skills to care for animals in the shelter or support community programming.
- Donate: every contribution helps provide food, care, and critical services.
- Advocate for funding and legislation that enhances animal welfare.
- Share shelter stories and events to help raise awareness and support.
When we work together, we create a better experience for animals in need and the people who care for them.