In 2024, Franklin County Humane Society (FCHS) made a life-changing impact on countless animals. We found loving homes for 1,113 cats and dogs, reunited 90 lost pets with their families, and provided care for 679 vulnerable puppies and kittens. Founded in 1981 as a foster network, we opened our Union, Missouri shelter in 1994. For over 30 years, we’ve provided safe haven to animals from Labadie, Marthasville, New Haven, Owensville, Pacific, St. Albans, St. Clair, Sullivan, Union, Washington, Villa Ridge, and beyond. This year, we proudly achieved a 93% live release rate, meeting the “No-Kill” benchmark as defined by Best Friends Animal Society!
At FCHS, we are committed to reducing pet overpopulation. Every adopted pet is spayed or neutered, and in 2024, we distributed 370 discount spay/neuter vouchers. We also hosted two free vaccine clinics and supported community-led efforts to trap, neuter, and return (TNR) feral cats. Our work extends beyond shelter walls—we provide free pet food and straw bedding to low-income households, offer discounted microchipping, and maintain a lost & found pet service. Through educational outreach, our staff and volunteers promote responsible pet ownership in schools and community groups.
Keeping our doors open costs approximately $2,100 per day. We rely entirely on donations, grants, adoption fees, and support from individuals and businesses—we receive no funding from county or state governments, nor from any national humane society.
Our Canine Ambassadors bring joy and companionship to the community. They attend reading programs like “Wagging Tales” at the Washington, MO Library and “Awesome Pawsome” at Scenic Regional Library in Union, MO. These events help elementary-aged and struggling readers gain confidence by reading to a non-judgmental, comforting dog. Our volunteers and their dogs also visit local schools to provide stress relief and offer companionship to senior living facility residents.
This Give STL Day, we’re focusing on our nursery program, which provides lifesaving care for over 800 orphaned and neglected puppies and kittens. As a shelter in a rural farming community, we see firsthand the challenges unwanted litters face—mothers struggling to care for their young, abandoned newborns, and stray pets searching for food and safety. Without intervention, these animals have little chance of survival. With your support, we can continue to give these vulnerable pets a second chance at life.
Help us save lives—donate this Give STL Day!