The Humane Society of Delaware County is not your average animal shelter. Our Mission –
We strive to provide the best care, treatment and placement of animals in need.
Thank You to our Generous Partners!
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Meet Your New Best Friend!
Every animal available for adoption at The Humane Society of Delaware County is special and deserves love, but these pets need special people, and we hope it’s you!
We hope you can join us on Saturday, July 18th for our Wine, Dine, and Whiskers 2026 FurBall!
Enjoy an evening of fun, food, and entertainment while helping raise vital funds to care for animals in need.
Helping People Help Pets!
It’s pets and their humans that make difference! Our stats demonstrate how our community supports our mission. When you consider that the HSDC is not supported at the county, state or federal government level, it takes a lot of love and dedication from donors to support daily operations. As a 501(c)(3), your donations are tax deductible.
- 11,100+ lives saved since 2019
- 1,906 adoptions in 2024
- 2,180 foster placements in 2024
ANIMALS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Week, a message from Debra Leckrone our Volunteer Coordinator and Community Outreach Manager…
🥰 It’s hard to put into words just how grateful I am for our incredible team of volunteers. 💖
You are caring, committed, and truly driven by your love for animals — it shows in everything you do. When I stepped into this role back in 2019, I never could have imagined we would grow into the amazing, strong, and compassionate volunteer community we have today.
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people, and I look forward to meeting many more in the years ahead. Each of you has helped shape what HSDC is today.
From offsite events to kennel assistants, dog walkers to cat socializers, kitten and cat room assistants, greeters, transports, and FurBall — every role matters. It truly takes a team, and YOU are that team.
I am so proud and forever grateful for each and every one of you and all that you do for HSDC and the animals in our care. 🥰
💖THANK YOU!! 🐾 ... See MoreSee Less
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🐾🥳 It’s Saturday and we’re wrapping up our Volunteer Appreciation Week highlights! 💖🐾
Today we’re celebrating this amazing group:
✨ Claire
✨ Sarah
✨ Mary
✨ Lynne
Your kindness, compassion, and dedication make such a difference every single day. Because of you, our animals receive the love, care, and second chances they deserve—and we truly couldn’t do it without you.
CLAIRE — “I chose to volunteer at the Delaware Humane Society because I love to work with animals and I love getting to know their different personalities and how they all are so cute and special in their own way!”
SARAH — “I chose to volunteer for the Humane Society of Delaware County because I have always had a strong love for animals and wanted to make a meaningful difference in their lives. Knowing that many of these animals come from difficult situations, I wanted to be someone who could provide them with comfort, and positive interactions while they wait for their forever homes. Volunteering allows me to give back to the community in a way that is rewarding.
As I just hit a year of volunteering- I have always been a dog person and love helping out as a kennel assistant. Although I grew up a dog person, I have recently adopted 2 cats from HSDC. Wanda and Goose have quickly become my best friends! It’s so special to be apart of the same place that has brought so much joy into my home.
MARY — “Three years ago I adopted Penny from HSDC. I was very impressed with the staff who cared for the dogs so lovingly and helped me find the perfect dog for me. A year later I decided to give some of my time and energy to help out as a volunteer Dog Kennel Assistant.
What I like the most about being a kennel assistant is the time in between loads of laundry when I get to sit with a dog. It could be a senior dog, a timid new dog, or a dog that can’t go for walks for other reasons. I’m there to let the dog know that people can be good, and they can learn to trust again. I just sit and talk to them, give them treats, and often they will warm up and get pets, or even sit in my lap. This is fun but also important in getting dogs adopted as they become more friendly and confident.
I’m so glad I decided to give back to HSDC. It’s the part of my week that I most look forward to. It’s so worth it!
LYNNE — “I chose to volunteer at the Humane Society of Delaware County because I wanted to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals who need care, compassion, and a second chance. Animals give so much unconditional love, and volunteering is my way of giving that love back. I also believe every animal deserves to feel safe, valued, and cared for while they wait for their forever home.
What I love most about volunteering is seeing the transformation that happens when animals receive kindness and attention. A shy dog gaining confidence, a frightened cat learning to trust, or an older pet finding a loving family are moments that stay with me. It is incredibly rewarding to know that even small acts—walking a dog, cleaning a kennel, offering comfort, or spending time socializing animals—can make such a big impact.
I also love being part of a team of people who share the same passion for helping animals. The staff and volunteers work tirelessly, and it is inspiring to be surrounded by such dedication and compassion.
Volunteering at the Humane Society has reminded me that kindness matters, patience matters, and every effort can change a life. I receive just as much joy from volunteering as I hope I give to the animals.”
My favorite thing about volunteering is walking the dogs and playing with them in the arena!
🐱 A special THANK YOU from our cat team, too!
HANNAH — "We so appreciate all of the work our volunteers do for the cats and guinea pigs at HSDC! Every load of laundry and litter box scooped makes a big difference!"
CORA — “To our amazing volunteers: thank you for all that you do! Whether you're helping a scared cat feel a little more comfortable or simply folding laundry and helping with endless dishes, your hard work makes all the difference!”
ALISA — “Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week! 🩵🐱🐶🐹🐰
I am so thankful for all of our incredible volunteers! Your time, dedication, and compassion make a real difference every day. Because of you, we’re not only able to care for every animal who comes through our doors but also help them find loving homes where they can truly thrive.
We couldn’t do this without you, thank you for everything you do!”
Join us in giving these wonderful volunteers a big round of applause in the comments! 👏💕
From all of us here—thank you for being the heart of what we do. 🐾❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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🎉🐾 It’s Friday… and time to feature more amazing volunteers in celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Week! 🐾🎉
Today we’re giving a BIG shoutout to Lyndsay & DJ 💙Your dedication, teamwork, and love for the animals never go unnoticed—we’re so lucky to have you both!
LYNDSAY & DJ — “Both of us are firm believers that there are many pups and kittens in shelters and fosters that need and deserve loving homes. We first were exposed to HSDC because we were invited to the FurBall a few years back. We donated financially and although we knew the funds would go to good use, we felt we could do more by also giving our time. Donating money made us feel good while we were doing it, but spending time with the animals or volunteering in other aspects allowed us to extend our joy beyond a single transaction.
👏 And let’s hear it for our incredible TNR Team—Paula, Kim, Steve, and Gary! Because of your hard work and compassion, so many community cats are getting the care they need. You truly make a difference every single day. 🐱✨
PAULA — “The Humane Society of Delaware County has a robust volunteer program. I primarily focus on TNR, Trap Neuter Return and fostering feral mommas with kittens and spicy kittens that need socialization.
The reason WHY I volunteer with HSDC is because we share the same passion for helping people and animals. They prioritize and help people who really need help; Mobile home communities, lower income parts of Delaware County, programs for 55 and older and programs for children with pets in the home. They support my passion for cats by getting grants to help curtail the overpopulation of cats and are passionate about doing so. The staff and other volunteers are also supportive of each other and respectful. HSDC is the place you want to volunteer with, they really love what they do and do it well.”
KIM — “I am one of 4 volunteers that are part of the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program. We begin
in March every year; this is my second season. Every Thursday morning, I get up at 6:30 to arrive at my assigned neighborhood to catch cats that haven’t been spayed or neutered.
During surgery, a very small tip of the ear of the cat is snipped to identify if the cat was spayed or neutered. Then I pick up the cats from HSDC and release them back into the neighborhood.
This program is very important to me because we all know of the continuous overpopulation of cats and kittens. Not only do we TNR, but we also help educate the public about spay and neutering their pets and offer low-cost services for those who can’t
afford to do so.
I have been volunteering at animal shelters for 25 years, here at HSDC for 3. Here, I volunteer for cat care, dog care and walking, public events, humane cases, and fostering cats. What I really like about volunteering here is there are so many opportunities to help in different ways. Of course, my husband and I have four foster fail cats of our own (his
fault).
The public is generally grateful and thankful for what I do. I get satisfaction from that and knowing I’m making a difference in an animal’s life. The volunteers and employees at HSDC are very nice and appreciative, and I would encourage anyone to take the training to become a volunteer. I promise you’ll love it.”
🐶 PLUS… a special THANK YOU from some of our canine crew!
HEATHER — “The Dog Volunteers at HSDC are at the heart of every success story.
Their impact goes far beyond daily care—every walk and moment of kindness helps prepare these dogs for a brighter future. Because of them, our mission isn’t just possible—it’s meaningful, and every wagging tail reflects their incredible work.
I love seeing our Volunteers faces every day, they have become part of our HSDC family!
SAVANNA — ““Thank you to each and every volunteer who puts their time into helping us care for our animals. We genuinely could not do what we do without you, and I always look forward to meeting you all!! From one animal lover to another, thank you!!
NIKKI — “I’m incredibly grateful for the volunteers who dedicate their time and compassion to caring for the animals in our shelter they truly make a difference and we wouldn’t be here without them!”
BARBARA — “I want to thank the wonderful volunteers that devote their time to helping the dogs and caregivers. Our volunteers are the life blood of HSDC! My gratitude for the many hours they spend at the shelter is beyond what can possibly be expressed in words. The difference they make is immeasurable.
Caretakers genuinely could not do what they do without them. The dogs are nurtured and loved by so many throughout the day, and this means so much. Surrounding them with so many caring and gentle people reminds not just them, but us all, that humans are good.
From washing dishes to walking dogs, every bit of help is crucial to making each day a success. More dogs have the chance at the loving life they deserve because of the many hours they devote.
Volunteers save lives! Volunteers ARE what makes HSDC great! Thank you!”
ALEX — “Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week!
We truly couldn’t do this without you. Your time, compassion, and dedication make a real difference for every animal in our care. Thank you for showing up, loving the ones who need it most, and being such an important part of our team ❤️”
🥰💖Join us in showing some love and appreciation for these wonderful volunteers in the comments below! We couldn’t do what we do without each and every one of you. ... See MoreSee Less
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