The New River Humane Society (NRHS) Animal Rescue, located in Fayette County West Virginia, has been open since 1998. The shelter was partially funded by the County Commission for years. On November 10, 2022, a new organization called the Fayette County Humane Society (FCHS) was selected by the county to run the animal shelter.
The New River Humane Society then moved into a new building; although operations for the NRHS will be different, they will still be able to save animals and help the community with spay/neuter, vaccine, and animal care in the new location. The new building is in Oak Hill at 201 Maple Avenue near the library and will still be known as The New River Humane Society.
NRHS Board Member Sherry McDaniel said, “We’ll still be able to operate and save animals and do spays/neuters and continue to help the community. We will be running the new building as private rescue. We’ll be able to operate without a lot of the political hang-ups that we’ve had to have in the past. We get a fresh start, and our building is going to be in the middle of town rather than down a windy road and tucked away. So, it’ll be easier for people to get to us to find us.”
McDaniel also believes, “We will need to figure out a steady funding source where the county used to employ or pay for a lot of our wages and utilities. So, our funding sources are going to be a big challenge; to start out, we won’t be able to save as many animals because we’re just going to be a smaller operation. We don’t have as many kennels, we don’t have as many employees, so we’re going to start small with the intention to grow as much as we can.”
The Executive Shelter Director, Brooke Hutcheon, has stated, “the pros are having a space to call our own, still able to operate whilst having a second animal shelter in Fayette County to help save more animals and being able to run our rescue coordination and low-cost spay/neuter programs.” Hutcheon also believes, “the cons are having the community adjust to our new phone number and address, which can be confusing and/or misleading, since there is still another group with the name Fayette County Humane Society at our old location and address.”
The Secretary at the NRHS Board, named Tammie Gillespie, said “The old location was a little bit off the beaten path, and the new location is much more easily accessible. Breaking away from the county allows this organization to make its own choices and grow, without being dictated to and restricted by the county. The new space is huge, so there are so many possibilities within that building.” Gillespie also believes, “But the organization is now responsible for 100% of the operating costs. Prior to breaking away from the county, the county provided the buildings (that needed major upgrades by the way) and they also reimbursed a portion of the payroll. All other organizational expenses were paid for by the organization. Now, all the expenses, including the lease, utilities, animal care, gas, etc. will need to be paid for by the NRHS. So fundraising is more important than ever.”
Concerning NRHS functions, there are facts that are important for the community to know. McDaniel stated, “A lot of times we don’t take in stray cats because they’re feral and they carry disease. This can make it difficult to handle them and can put the other animals in our care at risk of getting sick.” The NRHS will help pay to sterilize these animals in the community, so they do not keep breeding and adding to the problem. The NRHS will also take stray dogs as space allows.
In addition to funding stray cat sterilization, they will also help pay for Fayette County residents to spay and neuter their own pets. This program is need based; those with a low household income can print the form off the web site or submit it online and the NRHS will return their request, if they qualify with a voucher. Families can also call to have one mailed to their home. Once the form is received, a member of the NRHS will be in contact with the time and location of the procedure for the pet. There is a limit of five sterilizations per household using this program.
If you have a pet you need to re-home, the first step is to call the NRHS. If they are full, they will ask if you can care for your pet until a partnering rescue organization has space to take on the animal in their care. Sometimes there is a waitlist as the rescuers stay busy.
The rescue program helps at least three to five animals each week, but it can sometimes take up to as many as 90 animals. There are multiple rescue partners that animals are transported to. According to board member Sherry McDaniel, “Around 1500 to 1700 that go to rescue each year.” How many animals go to rescue depends on how much space is available.
Foster homes are important and a huge asset for the New River Humane Society, as they are a no-kill organization. To become a foster, you can talk to someone who works at the shelter, and they can set you up by filling out some simple paperwork and walking you through the process with some simple tips to help keep your family and your foster guest comfortable. Fosters and rescues are what help keep animals from being euthanized. McDaniel stated, “to keep rescue organizations successful, whoever is running it, needs to put in the effort and make the right connections with people who can transport the overflow animals to other places so that the facility does not become too full. This is the only way to prevent from having to euthanize the animals in a community.”
The members of the NRHS are excited to continue their operations in a new building, and they wish the FCHS the best with their endeavors as they operate at the old shelter with the County Commission. The NRHS will still be in need of support from community volunteers and donors, especially in the initial stages of their transition.
New River Humane Society Contact Information:
Phone number: 681-220-1067
Address: 201 Maple Ave, Oak Hill, WV 25901