Watauga Humane Society is a 501c3 non-profit humane society with a government contract with Watauga County. This contract specifies WHS as the sole housing for all homeless, stray, and abandoned animals of Watauga County, including animals seized by Watauga County Animal Care and Control. For this reason, WHS is only able to house and care for animals that reside in Watauga County.
To meet life-saving goals, we operate as a Managed Intake organization. Managing intakes through scheduling appointments allows our team to ensure that resources are available to incoming animals for proper housing, medical care, and all other needs while allowing us to remain a No-Kill organization.
Pet Surrender Process
Owners are encouraged to try rehoming prior to surrendering a pet to WHS. Rehoming can be a safer and stress-free alternative, especially for any level of anxiety.
We understand that in some cases, surrendering your pet is the best option. We are here to assist you and give your pet the best care. There is never a time limit on how long we’ll care for an animal before they find a new loving home.
To surrender your pet, please call (828) 264-7865 ext. 1 to reach our Intake Coordinator. We will discuss options, including potential rehoming or scheduling a surrender appointment.
Please note that there is no guarantee for an appointment—it is a request, and all owner surrenders are handled by appointment only. We appreciate your understanding as we work to support both pets and owners through this process.
Stray Intake Process
You found a pet. Let’s work together to get them home! Outside of Boone city limits, there are no leash laws, which often means pets are found near their homes.
If the pet appears healthy and cared for, let’s follow these next steps.
If the pet is sick, injured, or aggressive, contact WHS as soon as possible to coordinate next steps. Do not attempt to handle the animal prior to talking with staff.