Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Ashe Humane Society receive government funds for support?
A: No. Ashe Humane Society (AHS) is totally funded through tax-deductible donations, fundraisers and competitive non-governmental grants. We begin each year with no guarantees of any revenue. We are deeply grateful for each and every contribution we receive.
Q: Is Ashe Humane Society affiliated with the National Humane Society?
A: No. We are a separate and independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We do not receive any funding from the National Humane Society.
Q: How many employees does AHS have?
A: AHS is an all-volunteer organization and does not have any paid employees.
Q: How does Ashe Humane Society differ from the Ashe County Animal Control shelter?
A: Ashe County Animal Control is a government-funded building and program that provides temporary shelter for strays. AHS does not receive funding from Ashe County government and by law cannot accept strays. AHS works closely with Animal Control to help find permanent homes for dogs and cats through its foster and adoption programs.
Q: Does AHS have its own shelter or facility?
A: No. We are a foster-based organization with no brick-and-mortar structure, so our foster volunteers are essential to helping AHS rescue and temporarily house dogs and cats. Housing a pet in a loving temporary home is infinitely better than having it live in a crate or cage awaiting adoption. We always need loving foster homes and encourage anyone who is interested in fostering to apply here.
Q: Who pays the bills for animals that are in foster care?
A: Ashe Humane Society pays for all medical expenses, including vaccinations and spay/neuter, and also provides food, crates, litter boxes, etc. while the pet is in our foster program. The foster family incurs no expense for the pet.
Q: Do you still have the low-cost spay and neuter voucher program?
A. No, our voucher program has been discontinued. We do have the Ashe County Community Spay and Neuter Transport Program that happens approximately once a month. Click here for information!
Q: Should I call Ashe Humane if I see a case of animal neglect?
A: No. You should call the Ashe County Animal Control at 336-982-4060. We have no authority to act in abuse or neglect situations. Animal Control is equipped to investigate and remedy these situations.
Q: Can you help capture feral cats?
A: No. Please call Animal Control at 336-982-4060 for advice regarding ferals on your personal property. AHS does have a program to help citizens capture feral cats for spay/neuter and vaccinations through its Trap/Vaccinate/Neuter/Return (TVNR) Program. Click here for more information.
Q: Do you euthanize animals?
A: No. Dogs and cats that are in our direct care are fostered until they are adopted.
Q: Do you ever turn anyone down who wants to adopt a pet?
A: Yes. We have a screening process designed to ensure we place a dog or cat in a home that meets both the needs of the pet and the adopter. We ensure that all adopters have the time, space and resources to properly care for their new family member. We also require a vet reference prior to adoption and reserve the right to re-claim a pet that we have placed if we find it is not receiving adequate care.
Q: Can I still adopt an animal from you if I don’t want to spay or neuter it?
A: No, our policy prohibits us from allowing someone to adopt a dog or cat who refuses to have the pet spayed or neutered. The biggest reason there is an over-population of dogs and cats is because some people do not spay or neuter them. AHS works hard to educate people on the importance of spay/neuter and helps ensure adopted pets are spayed or neutered, providing financial assistance as needed.
Q: Do you ship animals to people who adopt?
A: No. We do not ship animals anywhere to anyone, because we feel this places too much stress on an animal and we would have no idea the type of situation the animal would be going to. If an adoption out of the area is approved, occasionally one of our volunteers drives the animal to its new home or meets the new adopters halfway.
Q: Can I adopt an animal from you if I live out of the area/state?
A: Yes. While we would encourage you to adopt from a local animal shelter or rescue group, we realize that maybe we have the exact animal you have been looking for. We would require you fill out the appropriate application via email or mail. We also require a positive reference from your veterinarian. This would ensure us that the animal will receive vaccinations, be spayed or neutered and receive veterinary care when needed.