About Us - Programs, Services & Activities

Volunteers

Volunteers are indispensable to the Idaho Humane Society and there are many opportunities for volunteers: assist with fund raising events and mobile adoptions; walk and groom dogs; take a dog to visit Assisted Living facilities; provide adoption counseling to new pet owners; and help with the daily services that we offer. See more volunteer opportunities on the volunteer page.

In 2007, volunteers and foster parents provided over 26,000 hours of service.

Education Programs

Idaho Humane Society offers training, seminars and professional workshops for adults, emphasizing the humane treatment of animals and the importance of spaying and neutering to combat pet overpopulation. For children, our educational programs include:

  • Adopt-a-Teacher - "Adopted" teachers and their students receive the monthly publication KIND News, a colorful, award-winning newspaper for elementary students that highlights the importance of treating people, animals and the environment with kindness and respect.
  • Friends for Life Summer Camp - Children (ages 9-12) who attend this annual one-week day camp learn about animals and responsible pet care and the value of community involvement. Each day includes opportunities to work with animals as well as educational exhibits and animal-related crafts.

Senior Citizens Adoption Program

The Pets for People Senior Adoption Program supports no-fee adoptions of adult animals by senior citizens who would otherwise be unable to enjoy pet companionship. This program is supported by funds from the Purina Foundation.

Foster Program

Volunteers open their hearts and homes to animals from the shelter. Through the Save Program, foster parents care for the animals until permanent homes are found. Through the Special Needs Program, volunteers care for animals that need time and attention to mature or recuperate from illness or injury before being placed for adoption. See more about the foster program and available foster animals on the foster page.

In 2007, the lives of over 1,500 animals were saved by foster families.

Pet Therapy Program

Residents of Assisted Living centers benefit from visits with animals. The Pet Therapy program facilitates pet visits to such centers, providing residents the opportunity to share a loving and therapeutic relationship.

Pet Receiving

There are many reasons a family can no longer care for a pet. Whatever the reason, the Humane Society provides relinquished pets shelter, care, and the chance to be adopted.

Adoption Services

A primary goal of the Idaho Humane Society is to find loving and caring homes for the many animals that come through our doors each year. Employees and volunteers work hard to match homeless animals with responsible people who are seeking loving animal companions. Each animal’s behavior and general health is evaluated before it is offered for adoption; helpful notes about the animal’s personality are placed on kennel cards for prospective adopters. The adoption fee includes the initial vaccination, mandatory spaying or neutering, and microchip identification.

The Idaho Humane Society has one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. In 2004, 6,418 cats and dogs found new homes through our adoption services.

Lost and Found Program

The number of pets reunited with their owners has grown significantly because of our computer network and microchip identification program. Owners are encouraged to microchip their pets when they come to claim them, and every animal adopted from the shelter receives an ID implant.

More than 2,000 lost pets brought to the shelter are reunited with their owners every year.

Animal Control

Animal Control officers investigate abuse and neglect cases, rescue stray and injured animals, respond to citizen complaints, educate the public about responsible pet ownership and enforce animal ordinances. Officers are on the road seven days a week and available after hours for emergencies.

Animal Control responds to over 1,000 calls every week.

Veterinary Services

The full service, low-cost veterinary clinic is open seven days a week and staffed by Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and professional staff. The clinic offers both regular and emergency outpatient services as well as providing all medical care for animals staying at the shelter.

Idaho Humane Society’s veterinary clinic serves over 17,000 animals each year and performs 7,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually.

Spay/Neuter Program

Working with a coalition of animal welfare groups and local veterinarians, the Idaho Humane Society veterinary clinic seasonally provides spay/neuter services at discounted rates.

Over 100 spay/neuter surgeries are performed under this program each year.

Inmate Dog Alliance Project of Idaho (IDAPI)

In cooperation with the Idaho Correctional Center, IHS places shelter dogs, in need of training and socialization, with inmates. Working with a professional dog trainer, the inmates obedience train and prepare the dogs for adoption. This program benefits both shelter dogs and inmates.

Humane Society Assistance Fund

The Idaho Humane Society Assistance Fund (HSAF) issues one-time grants to families who would not otherwise be able to afford the necessary medical care to restore their pets’ health. Funding for this vital service comes from grants and individual donations.

Each year funds from the HSAF provides over 75 families with veterinary care or spay/neuter services for their pets.

Companion Animal Emergency Fund

The Companion Animal Emergency Fund (CAEF) is used to provide emergency veterinary care for stray or owner-unidentified animals. This fund ensures that all animals requiring emergency attention receive life-saving care.

Each year the lives of over 200 animals are saved by emergency veterinary care services provided by funds from the CAEF.

Low Income Fund Endowment

The Low Income Fund Endowment (LIFE) was created to provide low-income families the opportunity to spay and neuter their pets. This program recognizes spay/neuter as an important step in curbing the large numbers of animals euthanized each year due to overpopulation.

Humane Society Court Intervention Program

As a proactive effort to reduce animal cruelty and neglect and animal attacks on children, the Idaho Humane Society Animal Control division provides a Humane Animal Care class for first-time offenders under animal-related ordinances or statutes. The class, part of a court-ordered sentence, teaches attendees the proper care of domestic animals.

Mediation Services

Due to the large amount of animal-related disputes in our community, IHS provides mediation services.

Statewide Outreach

As the largest animal welfare organization in the area, we frequently provide assistance in emergencies and disasters regionally. Additionally, we provide consultation services for shelters in our area.

See Spot Walk

An annual fall event, See Spot Walk unites over 2,000 dogs and their people in Julia Davis Park for a "fun walk" on Capitol Boulevard.

Each year See Spot Walk raises approximately $40,000 for the Idaho Humane Society.

Idaho Humane Society Lawn Party

An annual summer event featuring dinner, an auction and live entertainment, the Lawn Party is held in a beautiful garden setting overlooking the city of Boise.

Each year the IHS Board of Directors raises over $100,000 with this event.

Honorariums and Memorials

The Idaho Humane Society welcomes gifts and donations in memory and honor of family, friends and pets. Honoring a person or a pet by helping the Idaho Humane Society continue its life-affirming work is a thoughtful and honorable tribute to a special individual or to a pet who brightened someone's life.

  • Friends for Life Plaques - Metal plates in the shape of a cat paw or dog bone can be inscribed in tribute to a loved one or companion animal. Plaques are mounted permanently on cat cages or dog kennels.
  • Paws for a Cause Tiles - The "Wall of Paws" at the Idaho Humane Society provides space for personalized ceramic tiles memorializing beloved pets.

Idaho Humane Society Website

View animals available for adoption and learn about volunteering, care and training of animals, donating, upcoming events and more at www.idahohumanesociety.org.