Every companion animal – regardless of its age, breed, health or temperament – will find safe haven at Central Missouri Humane Society (CMHS). That simple tenant has guided the non-profit since it first opened in 1943.
It also results in some staggering statistics. Last year alone, more than 3,200 animals benefited from the shelter’s open-door policy. Finding homes for all those pets can be challenging, but Michelle Casey, who serves as the organization’s associate director, wouldn’t have it any other way. “We believe all animals deserve to be treated equally,” she explains.
Fortunately, thanks to the shelter’s dedicated network of foster homes and its proactive adoption program, CMHS never euthanizes animals due to lack of space. In 2018, CMHS placed more than 2,600 animals in loving homes, making it the largest pet adoption center in mid-Missouri. Dedicated foster families took in nearly 1,400 more. As a result of those efforts, no animal has a ‘time limit’ at CMHS.
“Animals are truly a gift from the universe, sent to help us make sense of a world that can at times be cruel and unforgiving,” Michelle maintains. “Our pets accept us despite our flaws and shortcomings. There are a great many lessons we can all learn from animals, if only we take the time to listen.”
