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Tuesday 12:30pm - 5pm Wednesday 12:30pm - 5pm Thursday 12:30pm - 5pm Friday 12:30pm - 5pm Saturday 12:30pm - 5pm

Watauga Humane Society

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United States
Boone, NC
Watauga Humane Society

We aim to provide shelter and care for all animals in need in Watauga County, NC Watauga Humane Society was incorporated in December 1969.
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We are a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing shelter and care to animals in need in Watauga County, NC. Our shelter is located at 312 Paws Way, Boone, NC 28607, just off the intersection of Old 421 and Don Hayes Road. We have facilities for the housing and care of stray dogs, cats, and small animals. We provide food, shelter, medical care, and lots of love to all our animals

as we work to find them a loving “fur-ever” home. For additional information about WHS and our services, please visit our website!

09/02/2025

🧻🐱 Litter-rally Out of Control! 🐱🧻
📅 Saturday, September 6th
🕙 10 AM – 3 PM
📍 Tractor Supply Plus, Boone

Each week, our feline residents go through 2,000 lbs of cat litter, yes, you read that right. Imagine needing a litter-al ton of toilet paper just to get through your week… yeah, it’s like that. But fluffier.

Between 36 cat condos, two kitten-packed rooms, and two VIP suites, and countless foster homes, our Overlords are working overtime. Their business is our business, and we almost always Litter-rally need more.

That’s where YOU come in. 🫵

Swing by Tractor Supply Plus in Boone on Sept 6th and help us stack the litter like it’s going out of style. (Spoiler: it never is.)

Just shop like usual, and when you check out, ask to add a bag (or two!) of litter to your purchase. The team will set it aside and stack it up for us—no heavy lifting required! 💪🐾

Let’s turn litter into love. Because when nature calls... it calls 120 cats at once 🐾💛

09/01/2025

🍕 A Slice of Hope: Pepperoni’s Next Chapter

Pepperoni Pizza Slice isn’t doing his best in the shelter. Truthfully, it’s been a hard chapter in a story that’s already had too many sad pages. 💔

He was found chained to a tree at the end of a quiet road. No food. No water. No explanation. Just tied there, barking into the silence, waiting for someone to notice. 🥺 A kind stranger did. She brought him home to her garage, and for a few days, he got a taste of what it’s like to be safe. 🛏️ He didn’t chew, barely had accidents, and would trot outside in the rain, then return right to his blanket like he’d always had one. 🌧️➡️🛌

Pepperoni is gentle, curious, and still figuring out the world. Crowds still spook him. Flags and windmills, too. 🎏 But give him a little space, a patch of grass, a leash and a little love? He shines. 🌱💛

He may not have leash manners yet, and he’s probably best as your one-and-only, but this pup is trying so hard. 🐾 What he needs now is a soft place to land. Somewhere patient. Peaceful. Kind. 🏡

Thank you, Kelly Battley, for sponsoring Pepperoni in honor of Manzo. 💕 You’ve given this boy a little breathing room, and we hope the right heart sees him now. 👀❤️

Pepperoni Pizza Slice is a 5-year-old neutered male pup who has been in our care for 112 days

As a privately funded, non-profit organization, we depend on your generosity and sponsorships like these to survive and thrive. Help us save more lives by visiting our website, selecting an animal and click on the “Sponsor This Animal”.

09/01/2025

Wait... are we in Pokémon GO?! 😱

Yup, it’s true! Word on the street (and in the app) is that our adoption center has popped up in the Pokémon GO universe, and that means your afternoon walk just got a whole lot more interesting.

If you’ve never played, don’t worry, this isn’t a gamer-only thing. Pokémon GO is a free mobile game where you walk around real life, catching cute little creatures that appear on your phone screen. Think of it as scavenger hunt meets adorable fantasy pets, and in our case, maybe real ones? 😉

Players can visit real-world landmarks, called PokéStops, to collect goodies and sometimes even drop lures to attract more Pokémon (and people!) to the spot. And now, we’re one of those spots. 👀

So if you’re in the area, swing by, fire up the app, and see who’s hiding out near us. You might just catch a Pikachu and fall in love with a pup. 💛

08/31/2025

✨ Funding Hope, One Second Chance at a Time ✨

Not our usual Sunday glow-up tale, but this one matters. 🧡 Because sometimes, the biggest success is just holding on until hope catches up.

Meet Franklin the Turtle, our resilient, big-hearted survivor whose journey mirrors everything we stand for: fierce compassion 💛, a voice for the voiceless 🐕, and healing through love and care 🩹. When he arrived nearly a year ago, a harness was embedded beneath his front leg. The smell of infection clung to the air, we knew it would be a long road. 🐾

Since then, Franklin has endured this lonely life and more bandage changes that we can count.

Yet through it all? Doggy kisses 😘 and the unmistakable tippy-tap of happy paws echoed down the medical suite. 🐾💓 A living testament to patience, resilience, and a team that shows up every single day. 🙌

⏳ 275 days later, he’s still waiting. From the look of him, he probably never learned how to share the couch 🛋️ (if he ever even had one). That too-tight harness didn’t just leave physical wounds—it taught him solitude. 💔 So, for now, he’ll need to be an only dog.

But with his treat-fueled charm? 🍪 We’re pretty sure he could sell ice to a snowman ⛄ if we taught him how.

Franklin’s journey hasn’t just been emotional—it’s been intensive. Care this steady, this devoted, comes with a quiet reminder of the very real cost of second chances. 💸

And while we don’t yet know their name, we know they’re coming. 🐶 There’s always another tail at the door, another paw reaching out for help. 🐾
We almost never say no.

But to keep saying yes, we need you. 🙏

💛 Help us craft more success stories—starting with Franklin.
👉 Donate today, and be part of the reason another dog finds their “yes.” 🧡

08/29/2025

When the Kennel Walls Close In 🐾
Some dogs adjust. Others unravel. 💔

Kennel stress is real—and we’re seeing it more each day. It shows up as pacing 🚶‍♂️, barking 🗣️, trembling 😢, withdrawal 🕳️. For some pups, it creeps in slowly. For others, it hits like a thunderclap ⚡. And no matter how much love we pour in, the reality is: a shelter is still not a home 🏠.

Why does it happen? Every dog is different. Some have past trauma 😔. Some are simply sensitive souls 🌱. The noise 🔊, the smells 👃, the constant coming and going 🚪—it can chip away at even the bravest hearts ❤️.

Right now, we’re watching a few of our dogs lose their spark ✨. Not because they’re “broken,” but because they’re stuck. And watching that happen, knowing who they really are under the stress—it’s heartbreaking 💔.

Kennels are meant to be a safe stopover ⏸️, not a final destination 🚫. And for some, even a short stay is too long ⏳.

There’s only one true fix: a couch 🛋️, a yard 🌳, a quiet moment 🌙, a human who says, “you’re safe now.” A foster or forever home where they can exhale 😮‍💨 and remember joy 🐶💞.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering or adopting, now is the time ⏰. Not just to save a life—but to bring one back to life 🌟.

Below are pictures of the pups we’re keeping a close eye on 👀. If you recognize their faces, it’s because we’ve posted them often—most recently in our “solo dog” spotlight. We’re trying, truly. But no matter how much love we give 💕, the kennel itself becomes the stressor. And that’s something we simply cannot fix.

🐾 💞 🐕

08/29/2025

Raise a glass with us to Lost Province Brewing Co & Province at Hardin Creek one of our Pawprints Partner Sponsors for this year’s Fur Ball!

This Boone favorite is all about craft: from their artfully brewed beers to their scratch-made food, they’ve created a space where locals and visitors alike can gather, connect, and feel at home.

Because their commitment keeps community at the heart of what they do, it also helps us keep compassion flowing at WHS, where every adoption, every rescue, and every tail wag depends on support like theirs.

So here’s our toast: to good brews, good company, and good deeds. And on September 13, let’s add good dancing to the list at the Fur Ball!

🎟️ Sn**ch a ticket 👉 wataugahumane.org/furball

08/28/2025

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day: A Love That Lingers ♥️

Today, we honor the pets whose paws no longer walk beside us, but whose love remains etched forever in our hearts.

We remember the nose prints left on windows, couches woven with fur, as if stitched together by love itself. The forgotten toys waiting quietly beneath the bed, anticipating a playtime that will never come. Even the smallest reminder can open the ache anew, because grief is love with nowhere to go.

And yet, within that ache, there is light. Love this deep does not vanish. It lingers, reshaping us, reminding us that we were lucky enough to be chosen. Each memory is proof of a love that stays, even when they cannot.

So today we pause together, to hold space for the laughter, the tears, and the pawprints that shaped our lives. May we carry comfort in knowing they run free now, tails high, hearts whole, chasing forever in the field of endless sun.

To those who mourn: this is our embrace. Share their stories, their faces, their antics. Let us remember them—together. ❤️

08/28/2025

🐾 Meet Callisto: She’s Survived Long Enough. It’s Time to Belong. 🐾

For her whole life, Callisto lived outside in a struggling cat colony, scavenging for scraps 🍂, braving the cold ❄️, and never knowing what it meant to belong. She survived, but surviving isn’t the same as living. No warm laps. No soft beds. No one to call her theirs.

When she finally came into our care, we hoped it would be the turning point she deserved. And in some ways, it has been; she’s safe, fed, and adored as a staff favorite. But this is not a home. After 161 days in the adoption center, the walls feel too small. Callisto isn’t thriving here. She needs more than visits and chin scratches… she needs a family. ❤️

At 5 years old, she has never truly known the comforts of home. Imagine half a decade without curling up on a couch 🛋️ that’s yours. Callisto is playful, opinionated, and a little sassy, but underneath it all is a cat who longs to rest. To belong. To finally stop surviving and start living.

She does carry some scars from her past, mainly a chronic skin condition. Callisto needs a special diet (Hill’s z/d) and a daily medication (cyclosporine) to stay comfortable. With this care, her flare-ups are manageable, and she can live a happy, healthy life. 🌸

🐾 This sponsorship is lovingly made possible by Kathy Koenen, in honor of the legendary Queen Amiga Mouseslayer. We think Callisto would approve—after all, every queen deserves her throne. 👑

Callisto is a 10 pound, 5-year-old, spayed female cat who has been in our care for 161 days.

It takes a village (and a few good treats). 🦴💖 Support our life-saving mission here 👉 https://bit.ly/3ZuuZcp

As a privately funded, non-profit organization, we rely on kindness, big hearts, and sponsorships like these to keep our mission going! 🐾 Want to be a hero for animals in need? Visit our website, choose a critter that tugs at your heartstrings, and click “Sponsor This Animal.” 🐕🐈 It’s the purr-fect way to spread love and help us save more lives, one paw at a time! ❤️

08/27/2025

💉🐾 67 Pets Cared For. A Stronger Community. Endless Gratitude. 🐾💉

Our most recent vaccine clinic was nothing short of wonderful, and it’s because of this community we’re so lucky to call home. Thanks to your support, 67 animals received the care they needed to live healthier, happier lives.
We are deeply grateful to:

✨ Dr. Wechsler of Animal Hospital of Boone , whose skill and kindness guided every step.

✨ Petco Love ❤️ and the Town of Boone North Carolina 🏘️, whose sponsorships made this clinic possible and open to everyone, no matter where they live.

✨ Bocca Bistro , who not only fueled our staff and volunteers with pizza (the truest superpower) but also partnered with Chris at Lowe’s Home Improvement to donate a staggering 400 pounds of dog food to pets across Watauga County. 🐕🍲

It takes a village to make moments like this possible; and ours is nothing short of extraordinary. 💛

Address

PO Box 1835
Boone, NC
28607

Opening Hours

Tuesday	12:30pm - 5pm
Wednesday	12:30pm - 5pm
Thursday	12:30pm - 5pm
Friday	12:30pm - 5pm
Saturday	12:30pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18282647865

Website

http://www.wataugahumane.org/

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Our Story

Watauga Humane Society was incorporated in December of 1969. We are a not-for-profit charitable organization and dedicated to all aspects of animal welfare. The Watauga Humane Society animal shelter is located at 312 Paws Way just off the intersection of Old 421 and Don Hayes Road in Boone, NC. If you have a GPS, you can enter 142 Don Hayes Road and it will bring you straight to us! The shelter has facilities for the housing and care of homeless dogs, cats, and small animals. We provide food, shelter, medical care and lots of love to the homeless animals at our shelter and we work to find permanent, loving homes for them. In an effort to help control the pet population, we offer low-cost spay/neuter through our partnership with Humane Alliance in Asheville.