WHO WE ARE
Foothills Humane Society (FHS) is a private non-profit, 501(c)3 no-kill animal welfare organization located on eleven acres nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Polk County, North Carolina. We offer adoption-guarantee and serve all of Polk County, North Carolina. Polk County includes the incorporated towns of Columbus, Saluda and Tryon. When capacity permits, we also serve Landrum, Campobello and Gowensville in the northern Greenville and Spartanburg counties of South Carolina. FHS provides service and support for a community of ~25,000 people and ~1,600 animals annually.
FHS is supported by donations, grants, adoption fees, fundraisers and a contract with Polk County Animal Control.
WE ARE DRIVEN BY OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to shelter and care for stray and surrendered companion animals within our community; prevent cruelty to animals; reunite lost animals with their owners; adopt animals to qualified homes or place them with reputable rescue organizations; and educate the public about responsible animal ownership and population control.
OUR HISTORY
FHS began in 1957 as the volunteer-operated, Polk County Animal Protection Society, with no facility. Eleven acres was generously donated to FHS in the 1980’s and the facility we currently use today was built in 1989. Thanks to the support of our community, FHS now employs a dedicated staff to manage the facility and its residents. The Board of Directors voted to become a no-kill shelter in 2010.
In addition to our successful adoptions and rescue programs, we offer many volunteer opportunities, public training classes, training and behavior assistance for our shelter dogs, and boast an average 94% live-release rate, meaning that approximately 97% of our animals are adopted into loving homes or transferred to reputable rescue organizations.
CORE VALUES
- Demonstrate kindness to all animals
- Provide excellent animal care
- Educate the public about animal needs
- Realize the value of teamwork
- Focus on future goals & improvement
- Exercise social responsibility