How we help animal shelters and rescues

For decades, Humane World for Animals has helped shelter and rescue professionals as well as pets and their families.

We empower and support shelters and rescues through training, education, advocacy, mentorships and programs. We help shelters and rescues succeed while tackling the root causes of why animals are in shelters in the first place, such as lack of affordable veterinary care, spay/neuter access and pet-inclusive housing. 

Training and education for animal shelter professionals

We train shelters and rescues so they are up to date on best practices in their facilities. We also help them get at the root causes of pet homelessness, so they can then extend their programs into their communities—and keep more pets with their families.

We offer extensive training programs and resources to help every shelter and rescue professional, volunteer and advocate succeed:

• Virtual learning: HumanePro is our comprehensive education and empowerment hub offering blogs, tool kits, fact sheets, articles, webinars and a full Video Learning Library on topics from creating foster programs to transporting horses.
• Collaborative learning: We host the annual Animal Care Expo, attended by 2,000-plus animal welfare professionals each year.

Mentorship programs and grants for animal shelters

• Mentorship and training: We provide mentorships and trainings through our Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services programs. We also run a Shelter Mentorship program, which provides selected shelters with expertise, hands-on support and $15,000 grants.

Direct rescue support during cruelty cases and disasters 

• Beyond the shelter: Our free Law Enforcement Training Center trains thousands of law enforcement officers and attorneys annually on how to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases. Our Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance offers trainings, webinars, continuing education credits, scholarships and internships to veterinary professionals serving lost pets and shelter animals.

Policy and advocacy to prevent pet homelessness

We work proactively to prevent pet surrender or suffering before animals ever reach shelters:

• Policy change: We support and defend policies that address community cats, access to veterinary care such as spay/neuter and vaccines, puppy mills, animal cruelty and fighting, pet-inclusive rental housing and pet overpopulation.
• Direct support: When shelters and law enforcement need help with large-scale cruelty cases, neglect situations or disasters, our Animal Rescue Team provides direct rescue support. Then, our rehabilitation centers house and heal animals until they can be placed for adoption through our Shelter and Rescue Partners.
• Access to care: Through our programs such as Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services, we’ve supported hundreds of thousands of pets and people without access to veterinary care and pet essentials.

Questions? We’re happy to answer them. Contact us.

Get the facts

• Find out who’s behind misinformation about our work
• See our financial and impact reports
• Explore our shelter and rescue programs
• Learn about More Than a Pet
• Subscribe to A Humane World