Franklin County Humane Society

In 2023, FCHS found homes for 1,058 cats and dogs and returned 111 lost pets to their owners. We nurtured 805 puppies and kittens. We were founded in 1981 as a fostering network and opened a shelter in 1994 in Union, Missouri. We provide temporary homes for animals from Labadie, Marthasville, New Haven, Owensville, Pacific, St. Albans, St. Clair, Sullivan, Union, Washington, Villa Ridge, and beyond. In April of 2024, we celebrated 30 years of continuous operation of our shelter and achieved a live release rate of 93% which is considered "No-kill" as defined by Best Friends!

FCHS spays and neuters all adopted pets to help decrease the number of unwanted litters. In 2023, we sold 32 discount spay and neuter vouchers and held three separate free vaccine clinics for area pet owners. Our volunteers helped citizens trap/neuter/return many feral cats in our community. We operate a free pet food program and provide free straw bedding for low-income households. We provide discounted micro-chipping and a lost & found pet service.  Our staff and volunteers promote responsible pet ownership to local schools and organizations.

The cost to keep our doors open is approximately $1,900 a day. We are supported by donations from individuals, businesses, grants, and adoption fees. We receive no funding from the county or state governments. Our shelter is privately owned, so we also do not receive funding from any animal welfare organization or humane society.

FCHS Canine Ambassadors share the joy of dogs with our community. Our volunteers and their dogs attend reading and comfort events with children and comfort interactions with senior citizens. "Wagging Tales" hosted by the Washington, MO Library and "Awesome Pawsome" hosted by Scenic Regional Library in Union, MO are two reading events our Canine Ambassadors attend every month. Elementary-aged students and those who struggle with reading out loud come to the libraries to read to a dog. The programs are designed to help kids become more confident readers. When students are asked to read out loud in a classroom setting, they may be embarrassed or may feel they are being mocked for their reading abilities, but a dog is non-judgmental and is there to listen and provide comfort. Canine Ambassadors also mingle with students at local schools to provide stress relief during testing or other challenging circumstances.

Our Canine Ambassadors also visit residents at senior living facilities.

This year we are again focusing our Give STL event on nursery services for over 800 pets. We are located in a farming area on the outskirts of St. Louis and 62 percent of the pets we adopt into loving homes begin their journey with us as orphaned or neglected babies and mothers. Unwanted litters and their mothers struggle to survive. Pets often stray from home to find mates, give birth or provide for their babies. Pet owners of mothers with newborns sometimes become overwhelmed and abandon or surrender their pets. We provide care to these orphaned pets so they can have a chance at a wonderful life.