Humane Society of Walden
Connecting Animals with Loving Homes
The Humane Society of Walden is a no-kill shelter committed to the belief that all animals have a fundamental right to be treated with care and respect. Based in Walden, New York, the society also serves many of the surrounding communities, including Montgomery, Wawarsing, Maybrook, Mamakating, Shawangunk, and Crawford. Its mission is to ensure the health and welfare of the cats and dogs under its care while working to place these animals into loving forever homes. Since 2012, the Humane Society of Walden has saved the lives of 7,626 companion animals. The organization has been in operation since 1974 and is currently under the leadership of a five-member board of directors headed by Tracy Wilson.
Besides offering adoptions of cats and dogs as its Walden facility, the society also organizes events, including a Sunday Dog Walk where volunteers can spend time with the shelter’s canine residents. These weekly walks give the dogs a much-needed break from the shelter, allow them to socialize with other dogs, and provide good exercise in a new, stimulating environment. The society also hosts fundraisers, including indoor yard sales of donated items and an annual Penny Social with homemade refreshments and a raffle.
The society, which by this time established a mission statement of working to ensure the welfare and kind treatment of animals in New Rochelle, opened its first shelter on Morgan Street in 1922. Its membership grew to 618 by its 25th anniversary, and the following decade saw one of the shelter’s rescue dogs, Mr. Skips, serve in the US Army during World War II. The organization moved to what became officially known as Humane Lane in 1981, and then again to its current home on Portman Road in 1996.
Renamed the Humane Society of Westchester in 2015 to better reflect its broader commitment across the county, the shelter has expanded its operations to best serve animals under its care. Renovations in 2008, 2012, and 2021 have enabled it to house a total of more than 1,400 cats and dogs each year in an environment designed for the animals’ health and well-being. As always, the society works to find ways to improve its facilities, so as to help as many animals in need as possible.
