History
The original Idaho Humane Society was formed in Boise in the late 1890s and active through the early decades of the last century. The current Idaho Humane Society was officially incorporated after three Boise women - Mrs. John (Olga) Rothchild, Mrs. Ben Mains and Mrs. Earl Zimmerman - protested inhumane conditions at the Boise City Pound in June 1941. The Idaho Humane Society took over the functions of running the shelter and was highly successful at finding the owners of lost dogs and adopting out those that were not claimed. Today, the shelter currently handles an average of 12,000 animals a year and has one of the most successful adoption and fostering programs in the Northwest. The current Idaho Humane Society has a staff of over 100 employees and more than 1,000 volunteers. It is governed by an all-volunteer, 19-member board of directors.
Specialties
The Idaho Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization and veterinary charity in the state. We are a private 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations to provide programs and services that benefit animals in Idaho. MISSION: The mission of the Idaho Humane Society is to advocate for the welfare and responsible care of animals, protect them from neglect and cruelty, and promote humane education, awareness, and compassion. We believe that because domestic animals are a product of human intervention, we have a special obligation to them in regard to humane treatment and responsible stewardship.