Wisconsin Humane Society was founded in 1879 and has been saving the lives of animals in desperate need for over 140 years. They're a private, non-profit organization and the largest animal rescue organization in Wisconsin with 5 separate campuses:
Each year they take in over 40,000 animals in need of medical attention, love, and rehoming. Receiving no government funding, they rely heavily on kind donations to continue their crucial work.
The shelter’s vision is to create a community where animals are treated with the respect and kindness they deserve. In addition to finding 13,000 animals new families through adoption every year, the shelter offers the following specialized services:
By working closely with the community, the Wisconsin Humane Society aims to reduce the number of healthy animals needlessly euthanized each year. There's no time limit as to how long a pet can stay at the shelter. Their staff is committed to finding pets as many loving forever homes as possible, where true peace and happiness can be found.
No appointment is necessary to visit the shelter. There could be a short wait when you arrive to speak to an Adoption Counselor and meet the animals, so plan accordingly.
If you'd like to speed up the process, you can create an Adopter Profile in advance, which is found on their website. This isn't an application but will be used as a guide to find the best match for you.
The shelter operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you spot a lucky animal on their website who you'd love to adopt, be sure to get there ASAP!
It's possible to meet, adopt, and take your new pal home on the same day. From start to finish, the process can take as little as 1 hour. You'll need to complete some paperwork and pay the appropriate fee before the adoption can be finalized. Remember to bring a valid photo ID and proof of address.
All cats must be taken away in a carrier and dogs on a leash. The shelter has both items available for purchase in their retail store.
Adoption fees at the Wisconsin Humane Society are as follows:
Wisconsin Humane Society offers a 10% military discount on adoption fees with valid proof of service.
Your adoption fee covers spaying/neutering, up-to-date vaccinations, microchipping, a complimentary post-adoption veterinary visit, and a starter bag of Hill's Science Diet food.
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.
