Aberdeen Area Humane Society (AAHS) was busy in 2025. With their help, 680 pets found their “fur”ever homes last year. While mostly dogs and cats, a couple other critters, such as guinea pigs, also found homes. In 2025, an astonishing 488 cats were rescued, with 470 finding new homes. In addition, 211 dogs were rescued and 206 were adopted. Three other pets were rescued, and a total of four other critters were adopted.
In addition to the high volume of rescues, the shelter also houses some temporary residents. AAHS handles strays and animals picked up by the city Animal Control Officer. Those pets are kept on temporary hold for 48 hours. After that, the pets are officially considered rescues and will be up for adoption.
The shelter takes a lot of work and dedication. Each week starts with a deep clean. On Mondays, the shelter is closed to the public so that every room can be thoroughly sanitized. Staff are at the shelter for the majority of every day, rain or shine. If there is a blizzard or threat of weather closing roads, a staff member stays overnight so the animals are still cared for.
“It is a lot of work in the background,” said Jan Hill-Steiner, Aberdeen Area Humane Society treasurer.
AAHS moved into their new building in fall of 2022. The upgraded facility allows the shelter to better care for the animals, which increases their chances of being adopted. At the beginning of the year, almost 70 cats were spread through the four dedicated cat rooms, sorted by temperament and health needs. Each dog has a kennel with access to long outdoor runs, and the new building also has several rooms for meet and greets.
“We don’t let people generally go back in the dog area because then it stirs them all up,” said Jody Stanton, Aberdeen Area Humane Society board member.
Improvements are in the works to make the outdoor area more welcoming. Currently, there is a fenced in agility park that is available during the hours the shelter is open. Soon, there will also be a sitting area for pets and the volunteer dog walkers.
“We have a beautiful pergola that Molly and Kevin Johnson built in memory of their mothers, who passed away. We’re going to add to that outdoor area so people can come and sit with shelter dogs and then let the dogs run in these groomed areas,” said Jan.
Ready to go home
At the beginning of the year, AAHS had about 70 cats and around 25 dogs waiting for their “fur”ever homes. Some of the pets have been waiting over a year to find a new home.
The shelter coordinates with other animal shelters and programs to increase the chances of adoptions. If a rescue specializes in certain breeds, such as Dachshunds or Pitbulls, or groups of animals the shelter is less equipped to handle, like birds, reptiles or horses, the staff will reach out to see if that rescue would be a better fit for the animal. Staff also coordinates with programs for animals with skills to become working animals.
“In the past, we’ve had dogs who showed an aptitude for becoming a search or rescue dogs. So, we found programs for them, and then they lived out their lives being search and rescue dogs,” said Jan.
Every spring, the shelter prepares for an influx of cats. Specifically, litters of kittens. Cats can have litters of one to eight kittens, up to three times per year.
“There is a kitten season. I didn’t know that until I got on the board,” said Anita Brewer, Aberdeen Area Humane Society board member. “It’s a real thing. In the spring, we get all these kittens.”
The kittens will spark a need for more foster homes. Aberdeen Area Humane Society has a foster program, in which volunteers take home a dog or cat to help socialize the animal. This is especially important for pets that might not have ever lived inside or had been running wild for some time. Socialization gets them used to being handled, being on a schedule, and an introduction to some basic training, all of which will increase the chances of being adopted.
“We could use more kitten fosters, probably even for some of our dogs too,” said Anita. “We only have so many people who foster and I’m sure they’re getting burnt out.”
The foster families keep the cat and her new litter for eight to 12 weeks. At that point, the shelter can start finding homes for the kittens.
“If somebody isn’t handling these kitties and socializing them, it’s harder to find them a home. A cat who will want to sit in your lap and cuddle, and it’s like, oh, sure, but for a cat that’s not as friendly, it’s harder,” said Jan.
Spay and neuter
One of Aberdeen Area Humane Society’s goals is to further educate the public on the benefits of spaying and neutering pets. This would dramatically reduce the number of kittens and puppies dropped off at the shelter each year. A discount program to get your pet spayed and neutered is in the works but is not available yet, said Jody. AAHS would like to be able to offer half off the procedure as a way to incentivize pet owners to get their pets fixed. The shelter would also like to have a catch and release spay and neuter program but the city and county currently do not allow it, said Anita.
“The best thing to do for your pets is to get them spayed and neutered because they can get cancers that kill them when they’re not fixed,” said Jan.
Volunteer
As a nonprofit, AAHS depends on the community. Volunteers have several avenues open to them if they want to help the shelter. The Humane Society’s board of directors is short a couple of people. The board assists with fundraising events and informational campaigns. They meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. Join the board by talking to a current board member or emailing: aahsboard1200@gmail.com
If you want to volunteer to walk dogs or socialize kittens, there is a mini training every Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the shelter. They also need help during the semi-annual Second Paw Sale and annual Bow Wow Boogie. Over 1,000 hours of work will go into getting donations ready for sale at the second paw sale. Visit ANewLeashOnLife.net for ways to volunteer or donate.
