Humane Society of Yates County
Working to Benefit Pets and Their Owners
The Humane Society of Yates County provides care and shelter to pets while advancing animal welfare in its community. Located in Penn Yan, New York, the organization focuses its work on placing dogs and cats into loving, permanent homes. As a no-kill shelter, the Humane Society of Yates County prides itself on creating a safe haven for each of the animals living in its facility until the right pet parent comes along.
The success of the Humane Society of Yates County can be seen in the impact it has in its community. In 2021, the Finger Lakes organization maintained a 98.5 percent live release rate, meaning that all but 1.5 percent of animals it took in were either adopted or returned to their owners. It achieved similar rates in previous years—99.1 and 97.6 in 2020 and 2019, respectively—all while providing other important services across the county.
These services include low-cost spaying/neutering for pets of individuals who are income-eligible. Through this program, people who meet the income and other related requirements can get their pets spayed or neutered at a cost that’s less than a third of what they would likely pay at veterinary clinics.
Related services include a program in which Yates County residents can request that the society trap and neuter free-roaming feral cats before safely returning them to the responsible parties. The organization also welcomes as many pet surrenders as it can legally handle, and through its no-charge Silver Whiskers Program, it works to connect local senior citizens with older cats.
Recent cats adopted through the Humane Society range from 7-month-old Luka to 9-year-old Bonnie, while 10-year-old dog dachshund Isabella and 1-year-old German shepherd mix Birdie have similarly found loving homes. The organization lists on its website the animals it currently has available for adoption, and anyone interested in becoming a pet parent can begin the adoption process by completing a survey online.
