Avery County Humane Society is a non-profit charitable organization that works to protect the animals of Avery County. Their funds come from donations, fundraising events, and several initiatives, such as the “Happy Paws Pet Boutique” or “Paws and Claws” resale store. Since 1978, this organization has evolved and grown and now houses up to 95 animals at full capacity while managing to help 800 pets find their forever homes each year.
Avery County Humane Society has limited space, so they only take in animals found or residing in Avery County. As a no-kill shelter, they often find themselves with no space to receive new pets, however, they do have a waiting list for animals looking for a place to lay their heads and be humanely treated until they find an opportunity to receive all the love they deserve.
Adoption is one of the most rewarding, life-changing experiences there is. Not only because of the magical bond formed with a pet almost from the moment you set eyes on it, but also the privilege of changing their life and, in turn, becoming a happier version of yourself.
To adopt an animal from Avery County Humane Society, you only need to follow these simple steps:
Avery County Humane Society’s staff will provide you with all the behavioral and medical information of your soon-to-be pet. After adoption, you'll also get the animal's complete medical records.
Adoption applications are located here.
Adoption fees at Avery County Humane Society are as follows:
PetLists Note: You're strongly advised against adopting two puppies at the same time. This often leads to severe emotional co-dependence and a specific set of problematic behavioral issues known as Littermate Syndrome.
Your adoption fee covers spaying/neutering, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, 24PetWatch microchipping, flea treatment, a free month of pet insurance, a collar, an ID tag, a veterinarian physical exam gift certificate, and some goodies from local pet food stores.
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.
