Watauga Humane Society 312 Paws Way, Boone, NC 28607

"I went to the shelter to just look at the animals and hang out with some cats in the cat rooms, however I fell in love with one particular kitten and didn’t feel right leaving the shelter without him. I was told that he’d been exposed to a URI and because of that, I wouldn’t be able to fully adopt him, but I could foster with intent to adopt, just to be sure that the shelter didn’t need to give him any antibiotics or anything before being fully adopted, which I actually found to be very responsible on their part. I took him home to foster, and the team was quickly responsive with any and all questions I had! Along with that, my kitten had a note both online and in his record that said that he’d arrived at the shelter extremely under socialized. I can clearly see how much work staff and volunteers had put into his socialization because of how sweet, social and gentle he has been from the start! I’ve been able to officially adopt, and I’m so grateful to the shelter for helping me find my forever pal!"

"I’ve tried calling to surrender my two bunnies but after several attempts to call, I’ve been met with my only attempts to leave voicemails. I’ve received one missed call from this office but had been told that I will receive another call from the right department but has been radio silent for almost a week now. My personal situation and the circumstances with my bunnies being rehomed is dire and I’ve stressed my need for assistance with this office multiple times but have been IGNORED. PLEASE, for the love of the animals that Watauga Human Society claims to have, please give me a call back. Thank you!!"

"We adopted our sweet kitty Miso from here. They had her as Charlene and claimed that she had been abused, was missing her front teeth, and allergic to chicken. We can’t prove the first one but the last two claims are false and have been proven by our vet. However, they claimed her left ear was torn due to abuse but that is a common sign of spaying in cats. She isn’t marked elsewhere but confirmed spayed which this place says they had done. When we adopted her she was skin and bones and we were told she had been there for about six months. We got her, immediately took her to the vet and had her checked out, changed her diet, and within about two weeks she was already looking much healthier. She is a very friendly and playful girl (not common in abused cats). Miso also has some cardiovascular issues that the shelter either wasn’t aware of or did not inform us of. It is kind of a place to take in animals that need a home but it is NOT okay to treat them the way that it appears our sweet baby was. first picture -> the day we got her (late January) second picture -> late June"

"***READ THIS BEFORE YOU DECIDE THE ANIMAL RESCUE YOU WANT YOUR MONEY TO SUPPORT- I had true faith in The Watauga Humane Society. That faith is now shattered. I have been trying to rescue and find a home for two 14 month old puppy brothers, Max and Leo, since November of 2022. It is nearly August of 2023 now and Watauga Humane Society has turned me away and warned me; sorry, they’ve given me the “courtesy” of informing me they will turn me away again. My desperate pleas and telling Ashley I couldn’t even be in my home until I find the boys a place to stay lead her to tell me, “This call is a courtesy and you need to listen to me or I’m ending the call.” And, “I didn’t ask you to spend $17,000 (USD) on them!” Although, the first option on their webpage is a donate button. In November, a former App State professor and friend of mine who is now teaching at an American university in the Middle East, found two puppies dehydrated and starving on the streets of Doha, Qatar. In the Middle East, dogs are taken to pounds and are killed within a day or two. Unwilling to let that happen but unable to keep them herself, my friend found a foster facility that is the closest thing in Doha to a rescue. The woman at the facility reluctantly agreed to allow the dogs more and more time with her but it is nearly impossible to find a home for mixed breed strays anywhere in the Arab world. I am already caring for three older dogs. Two of them belonged to my father who passed away last summer. But I agreed to adopt Max and Leo since we couldn’t find any other options. I knew it would be a possibility my other dogs wouldn’t accept the brothers. But I believed with all my heart, in that case, our local humane society would take them in and find them a home. I have adopted from them when they were in the old shelter. I took a tiny puppy I found abandoned in the mountains to them in the multi-million dollar facility they have now. I have made contributions of money, crates, dog toys, leashes, etc. My mother donated monthly throughout her entire career at App State. And Max and Leo have had a very unique and difficult journey. So, I always believed, without question, they would help if we needed them. Instead I have been treated without any sympathy, guidance, or concern. And the lack of compassion for the boys has left me crushed. I was completely blindsided with Ashley lecturing me…”This is a business!” A business? Yes perhaps it is a business, but that’s not what the retirees, and working class, and struggling families, and college students, and countless other well intended people believe when we give our precious time and resources to The Watauga Humane Society. We believe we are helping a committed charity to save animals and make the world a better place. My latest dealing with this organization has been a slap in the face and a complete betrayal. Please continue to help save and care for animals. Please continue to make the world better. But consider doing that through genuinely heartfelt and sincere organizations rather than a cold business in a fancy building. I will update this when the story has an ending. Perhaps then we will all know who we really should invest our resources in. Follow up- Rescue dog and end of life sanctuary in Mountain City Tennessee heard Max and Leo’s story and immediately agreed to take the boys and find them loving homes. Melissa and the volunteers and staff at the shelter on Harbin Hill, RD were moved to help Leo and Max find there “happily ever after.” They do an incredible amount of work and service and they save and find homes for thousands of animals (over 30,000 thus far) with far less resources than the well funded shelters who turned Max and Leo away. If you have a calling to truly help animals in need, I strongly encourage you to give any time and money you can share to Rescue Dog and End of Life Sanctuary. For them it is simple…It is about the animals. Also, if you have the place and ability to add another sweet soul into your home, please go meet Max and Leo."

"We adopted our sweet girl and she has been such a blessing. I called and emailed several times while I waited for her to become available. The staff was helpful and sweet and took such good care of her."