Mission Statement
The mission of the WCHS, Inc. is to provide compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, to measurably reduce companion animal overpopulation and to take a leadership role in educating and promoting humane values.
We strive to maintain a place of safety for healthy adoptable animals; a temporary home for the lost or homeless; a haven for the mistreated, neglected or abused animals of the Wayne County area.
We are dedicated to the prevention of cruelty and abuse to animals; partnering with law enforcement, we help care for animals that have faced cruelty or neglect in the Wayne County area.
Euthanasia is not our population control, but rather an act of kindness to end animals’ suffering or to ensure public safety and welfare.
It is our pledge to nourish the relationship between companion animals and humans through education, media exposure and readily available information and assistance.
Description
The WCHS was chartered by the State of Ohio on February 27, 1973. The first board of directors started a serious fundraising campaign to build an animal shelter to house stray and abandoned dogs and cats in Wayne County.
In 1976, the board of directors was approached by the mayor of Wooster to contract the Humane Society for animal control within the city. An agreement was signed and the city of Wooster arranged to lease property to the humane society for the purpose of building an animal shelter. The shelter was later built for $40,000.00.
In March of 1980, the Wayne County Commissioners contracted with the Humane Society to house and care for all dogs picked up by the Wayne County Dog Warden's Office. This contract remains today.
In 1995, the WCHS animal shelter was over-crowded and desperately needed to grow. Another crucial fundraising campaign resulted in the renovation of the old shelter and a new building. The animals were moved into the new building on September 1, 1996. The renovations and new building were paid for by private donations, totaling over $600,000.00. The shelter remains today and is staffed by full and part-time employees, as well as numerous irreplaceable volunteers. All of the efforts of the past and present staff, volunteers, and board members are done to benefit the homeless animals in Wayne County and to secure the mission of the WCHS.
