Thank you for your interest in the Humane Society of Vilas County! We are a small, nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization located just outside Eagle River, Wisconsin. We serve the people and pets of Vilas County, helping to rescue and rehome cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. We offer pets for adoption to loving homes. The Humane Society of Vilas County is located on Hwy. 45 North between Conover and Eagle River.
Mission Statement
The Humane Society of Vilas County is a non-profit 501c3 organization, dedicated to the welfare and humane treatment of animals.
FAQ’s
How do I make an appointment?
Appointments are available for potential adopters with approved applications. There is no obligation to adopt at an appointment. These adoption appointments are a great way to spend uninterrupted time with our staff and your potential new pet to get all the information you need to make your decision about bringing your new friend home!
How do I adopt from HSVC?
If you are interested in adopting any animal from our shelter, the first step is to submit an adoption application. You can download an application from the links on our adoption page, attach the completed application to an email, and send it to the Humane Society of Vilas County at vilashumane@yahoo.com. We will reply confirming receipt of your email. If you do not get confirmation, your email was not received. If you do not have email, we can mail an application to you.
Once the application is received, the approval process will take approximately 24-48 hours and you will be contacted as soon as it is completed. Incomplete applications need more follow up and will take longer to process. As a part of the approval process, we verify home ownership or get approval from your landlord. We do this because one of the top 10 reasons animals are surrendered is “landlord does not allow pets.” We also check on vaccination history and your working relationship with a veterinarian for any currently or previously owned pets. This shows us your intent to provide any needed medical attention for the new pet and that you will comply with state and local ordinances. We do not adopt to anyone under 18 years of age.
Since you are called the Humane Society of Vilas County, are you run by Vilas County?
No. The shelter receives no county, state, or federal government funding. We are a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on the generosity and support of our donors to help us provide life-saving services to the animals in our care. We are also grateful to receive support through donations, bequests, and fundraising events.
So, you’re not run by the county, but didn’t tax payer dollars pay for the land & building you’re in?
No, tax payer dollars were not used to purchase the land or build the existing building. The land was donated by a private party to be used for an animal shelter and the building was built with funds raised by the Humane Society of Vilas County, a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Is your shelter a no kill shelter?
The Humane Society of Vilas County is committed to saving lives. Our outcomes meet the generally recognized no-kill standards of saving 90% or more of the animals we receive.
We never euthanize animals for reasons of space or time. Adoptable animals stay with us until they are placed in good homes and there is no time limit on how long they may remain at the shelter.
Animals who are severely injured or have a serious disease from which they cannot recover may be euthanized if it is the most humane option to end their suffering. Animals who are aggressive to the point of posing a serious threat to humans may also be euthanized. The necessity for humane euthanasia is always heartbreaking and these decisions are never made lightly.
How many animals can the shelter hold?
HSVC is a Wisconsin licensed dog seller and dog facility operator. We follow enclosure requirements set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.
Our general population area for dogs consists of 7 small kennels and 7 large kennels. Our dog isolation area consists of 2 small kennels, 2 large kennels. Isolation is only used as a temporary housing unit until the animal is ready for general population.
Our general population cat room is an open concept housing area that can comfortably hold 15 cats. We have 8 cages in isolation to temporarily house cats until they are ready for general population.
