Humane Society or Animal Control--What's the Difference?

Humane societies (also called animal rescue leagues, SPCAs, etc.) were created by concerned individuals to protect animals from people. Animal control agencies, on the other hand, were created by governments to protect people from animals.

Their source of funding matches their purposes: animal control agencies are funded by the local government (city or county) they serve; humane societies survive on donations from individuals and businesses in their community. These nonprofit agencies are not chapters of any national group, but are private organizations governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of people from the community.

Both these types of agencies work for the welfare and humane treatment of animals, and they often have similar programs: adoptions, euthanasia services, cruelty investigations, and animal rescue. Animal control agencies, however, are generally responsible for picking up strays and enforcing local animal codes (leash laws, vicious dog laws, pet licensing, etc.). Some humane societies contract with their local governments to take on this civic responsibility.

Humane societies tend to have services that reach out to area pet owners (and potential pet owners), such as visiting classrooms, holding summer day camps for kids, offering pet behavior classes, visiting nursing homes and hospitals with pets, and running spay/neuter low-cost clinics.

If you want to learn more about what we do, or want to volunteer at our shelter, call us!

Provided by the American Humane Association