Notice

We are temporarily scheduling all Wellness, Vaccine Clinic, and Spay/Neuter appointments at our HICKORY location (3224 20th Ave SE, Hickory). Please check the Wellness Clinic tab or Spay/Neuter tab under our Services tab for additional details!

Announcement

After an extensive national search, the Humane Society of Catawba County Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Doug Rae as our next Executive Director. Mr. Rae brings a wealth of experience in animal welfare management. Since 2014, Doug has been the Executive Director at the Humane Society of Fremont County in Canon City.

In 2017 his organization was recognized as one of the top two open-admission shelters in the United States and received the Henry Bergh Achievement Award for national excellence in lifesaving performance.

Prior to Fremont, Doug held various positions in animal welfare in Rhode Island, Arizona, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Doug is widely recognized for stabilizing organizations, building system-driven operations, and strengthening financial transparency. His leadership philosophy centers on accountability, operational discipline, and treating every animal as an individual.

Paired with a brand-new executive committee, the Board believes that Doug will help restore HSCC as one of the most reputable shelters in North Carolina while pushing our organization to new heights.

The Board is grateful for Erin Stratford Owens who has stepped in as our interim executive director since July 2025.

Doug and Lynn, his wife, together with their two rescue dogs, Jasmine and Sadie, and a cat named Brady will be relocating to Hickory in the next two months and Doug will begin his new role with HSCC in mid April.

Double the Love Campaign

A huge, gigantic thank you to all the generous, caring people who supported the Humane Society of Catawba County “Double the Love” campaign. And many, many thanks to our anonymous angel who initiated the campaign with their financial matching pledge. We met and exceeded our goal, making the many animals in our care very, very happy.

Every day, we care for up to 100 dogs and cats – providing food, shelter, needed medical attention, and hope. We continue this mission with your support. Again, thank you from the staff, the Board, and especially from the animals.

Adoption Application Information

Humane Society of Catawba County is open to viewing animals by appointment only. Please submit your adoption application below. Once our staff has had an opportunity to review your application they will reach out to you by email to schedule an appointment.

ADOPT

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Vaccine Clinic
Vaccine Clinic

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Spay & Neuter

Pet of the Week

Sterling, Male (Neutered), 3 Years
Smokey, Female (Spayed), 1 Year

NEWSLETTER

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Kind Words

HSCC is a wonderful organization that we are lucky to have in our community. They work hard to educate the public and provide low cost spay/neuter programs, as well as low-cost vaccinations to help keep the pet population in check and up to date for their safety. They put a lot of love and dedication into raising money for their animals and finding wonderful forever homes for these precious babies. Personally, we have been able to adopt many of our fur babies from HSCC and they have and are the best additions to our family! Keep up the amazing work you all do!

Amanda Fu, Hickory, NC
We decided to adopt Ember in May after a two-year pet hiatus after the loss of our family pet of almost 20 years. At that time, I learned that the Newton shelter would be closing, and they were in need of foster families for the cats and kittens in the transition to the Hickory Shelter. As a summer service project, my sons and I decided to take on 6 kittens for foster. Thirty kittens later and we are still going strong. It is such a wonderful feeling to provide a steppingstone for these kittens on their way to their furever homes.

As much as we like to think we are helping them, they are helping us as well. Both my sons are on the autism spectrum and caring for the kittens have taught them how to care for a pet and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

The Humane Society of Catawba County has been a wonderful organization to be a part of. It seems like a family that works together for the wellbeing of the animals. They have made adoption and fostering an enjoyable experience. I hope to continue to foster for as long as possible.

April Miller, Hickory, NC