A Journey from Heartbreak to Hope: Your Support Made This Possible!
It is both heartbreaking and hopeful to follow the journey of 41 mixed-breed puppies and dogs rescued from a hoarder in Newton County. Some were just weeks old, and the conditions they were living in were unimaginable. But because of generous donors like you, we can respond to the calls for help and provide second chances to these precious puppies and dogs.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office had alerted our Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) to the situation. On the property, there were three deceased dogs and the others were living in inhumane conditions. The owner agreed to surrender the remaining dogs to HSMO.
The ACT set out on the journey to the southwest corner of the state, a five-hour drive from our St. Louis Headquarters. And what they found was heartbreaking.
There were puppies housed in a dilapidated recreational vehicle. Two dogs with recent injuries lived in the cab of a rundown semi-tractor trailer. Others lived in a large garage amid piles of used tires, rusted farm equipment and abandoned trucks. Their food was scattered on the
floor, which was covered with feces and urine. None of the animals had ever received veterinary care and all were filthy and matted. Many were fearful and distrustful of their rescuers.
It took hours to round up these fearful animals as they hid under trucks and amid the stacks of tires. With patience and compassion, the team coaxed the dogs out of their hiding places and headed to our headquarters. It was evening when they arrived in St. Louis, where they were met by the veterinary team and shelter staff ready to provide compassionate care to these pups. And now, thanks to you, their journey to care, healing and a second chance to happy and healthy lives has begun.
We are grateful to law enforcement who reach out to us for assistance. We are grateful to our ACT staff who are ready to rescue animals from severe neglect 24/7/365. And we are especially grateful to our generous donors who make all this possible.
PROVIDING SECOND CHANCES TO ANIMALS SINCE 1870
Main Number 314-647-8800
hsmo.org
Report Animal Abuse and Neglect 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835
Headquarters 1201 Macklind Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110
Macklind Adoption Center 314-951-1562
Best Buddy Adoption Center 11660 Administration Dr. Maryland Heights, MO 63146
Best Buddy Adoption Center 314-951-1588
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
480 Josephs Rd. Union, MO 63084
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch 636-583-8759
Animal Medical Center of Mid-America
All locations 314-951-1534 or amcma.org. Patients seen by appointment.
Donations 314-951-1542
Mission: Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. We provide a safe and caring haven to all animals in need—large and small—that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation through our rescue and investigation efforts, spay/neuter programs, and educational classes. We are committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through our adoption programs and our shelter pet training program. We further support that bond by making available world-class veterinary care.
The Humane Society of Missouri is an independent, non-profit organization not affiliated with any national animal welfare organizations. We do not receive tax support or United Way funding. We rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, and fees for services.
Dear Friends,
Our work requires compassion and commitment. We have an amazing staff and volunteers who deliver that care and kindness every single day. It also takes specialized programs, equipment and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that our team can provide the utmost care to every animal that needs our help. Here are recent improvements your support has made possible:
Your support ensures we have top-notch facilities, equipment and programs to give second chances to deserving animals.
• Just a year ago, historic flash flooding left the lower level of the Best Buddy Center submerged in 24” of standing water. The damage to equipment and supplies was extensive. Fortunately, no animals were harmed. Since then, the lower level of the building has been totally rebuilt and refurbished, including the 106 cages that were damaged. An additional sump pump and flood sensors were installed to help give early warning to any water seepage. We have also regraded the outside of the building to prevent future flooding.
• We purchased two new trucks and three vans for our Animal Cruelty Task Force, which responds to dire cases of neglect and abuse in all 114 counties in the state. Last year alone, they traveled 295,887 miles to every corner of Missouri. We also purchased personal voltage detectors for our specialty team who are trained to respond to natural disasters where they often encounter downed power lines.
• At Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, we installed 11 automatic horse waterers which work like water fountains. Not only do the waterers free up considerable staff time, but they give the horses access to a constant source of fresh water. When the horse drinks, it activates the trough to refill. The waterers are heated to keep the water flowing year-round.
• To ensure every dog has the best chance of finding a forever home, we introduced the Home Enrichment Foster Program. It builds on our robust foster program by placing dogs that find the shelter environment too stressful into home settings. Our goal is to find homes for 100% of adoptable animals.
Thank you for your support as we make improvements to our facilities, equipment and programs. I am so grateful to you for ensuring our animals are safe, receive top-notch care and have their best opportunity at a second chance!
With immense gratitude,
Kathryn W. Warnick President
Starving and Neglected Horses Arrive at Longmeadow: Thanks to You, Our Doors Remain Open to Animals
in Need
When some animals arrive at our doorstep, they are ready to go straight to their forever homes. But oftentimes, the residents at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch require lots of compassionate care and lengthy stays to be rehabilitated. This is the case for the six horses and foals rescued from Benton County. Your continued support means we will care for these animals, no matter how long it takes.
A concerned member of the community contacted our Animal Cruelty Taskforce (ACT) to report a deceased horse as well as other horses suffering from neglect and starvation. The owner surrendered custody of the remaining animals to HSMO, and our ACT and Longmeadow teams acted immediately to bring these animals to safety.
The conditions of the horses, ranging in age from 8 months to 25 years, were shocking and heartbreaking. They were underweight, malnourished and suffering from heavy parasite loads. Others required medical attention for heart conditions and dental issues. The staff and volunteers spent hours removing the cockleburs from their manes, tails and bodies to bring some immediate relief. But the biggest concerns centered around nutrition.
It is confirmed that two of the horses are pregnant, and it is suspected that another mare is as well.
mothers nor their unborn foals will survive without extreme measures to bring them to a healthy weight and support their pregnancies. They have been put on a special grain and alfalfa hay that provide the nutrition they need. Their care and recovery will be costly and lengthy, but because of your kind support, we will be here for them while they recover fully and deliver their foals.
The fear is
In addition to the six horses rescued, our ACT, unfortunately, found three deceased horses. Sadly, two of these horses were the mothers of the foals. These orphans are unhandled and will need a lot of time to learn to trust people. They are now learning the lessons their mothers did not live long enough to teach. They are learning how to eat grain and how to lift their hooves for trimming. But what these unhandled orphans need most of all is a lot of time to learn to trust people.
Thanks to your love and support, we will be there for these horses and foals until they are ready to be adopted into loving homes.
Second Chances
rushed to HSMO after she was found cold and alone in a tote bag on the side of a building. She had the telltale signs of demodectic mange caused by mites … hair loss, skin infections and red, swollen paws. Our veterinary team also determined she was underweight and had a broken tail.
Bubblegum began to immediately receive special baths and medications to treat her skin infections and remove the mites. Mange recovery can be lengthy, so she was placed in a foster home and began to thrive! Her skin infections healed, she gained weight and her fur started growing back.
Happy Trails to Taz
Sweet Taz arrived at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch last fall in desperate need of our help. He was malnourished, 200 pounds underweight, blind in one eye and suffering from a heavy parasite load. His teeth and hooves were in bad shape, too.
At Longmeadow, he began receiving all the care he needed. The farrier worked on his hooves. And as his health improved, our veterinarians were able to float his teeth. After that, it didn’t take long for Taz to figure out how it felt to eat without pain, and boy, did that boy love to eat! Before we knew it, Taz was up to a healthy weight.
Our trainers evaluated Taz for riding, and he was great under the saddle. He loved being ridden outside and enjoyed being around people and other horses. It was no surprise that Taz was soon adopted into a wonderful home after he was made available! Thank you for being there for all the animals at Longmeadow, including Taz!
Bubblegum is as sweet as sugar, and it took her no time to find her forever home! Today she lives with her new parents and kitten sibling (also adopted from HSMO!) where she gets lots of playtime and snuggles. Thank you for supporting this sweet girl!
Made Possible by YOU!
Thor’s Purrfect Second Chance
Your love and support mean we can give second chances to our shelter animals, no matter how long it takes. And Thor had a long road to recovery before he could find his forever home. He came to us as a stray. He had an inguinal hernia and needed surgery to repair it. Unfortunately, Thor had many post-surgical complications, and his recovery was slow. He spent a few months in our In-House Foster Program, which allows our longterm shelter residents to hang out with our employees for love and attention during the day. Thor spent many days purring and snuggling with our staff! After two surgeries and a three-month recovery, Thor was ready to find his “furr-ever” home. Thor was quickly adopted! Thank you for being there for animals like Thor, no matter how long it takes!
Ariel’s Dog Days are Over
Ariel’s story is proof that incredible things happen thanks to your love and support. She was transferred to HSMO after she had been hit by a car. Ariel had wounds scattered across her face and body and a noticeable limp on her right rear leg. It was clear she had been nursing puppies, but her litter was nowhere to be found.
The next day four puppies were brought to HSMO without their mother. Our animal care staff placed the puppies with her, and Ariel looked after and nursed them until they were ready to be placed in forever homes.
Mika’s New Leash on Life
Our Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) found Mika just in time. She was rescued from Morgan County and was horribly underweight and shy. Once she arrived at HSMO, our veterinary team started working on her right away to help her get to a healthy weight. She also received medication for an upper respiratory infection and worked with our behavior team to help her come out of her shell. In just five weeks Mika nearly doubled her body weight! And soon enough, she was ready for her second chance at a happy healthy life.
Mika got adopted into a home where she gets lots of love and attention. Thank you for being there for Mika every step of the way!
Once the puppies had been adopted, Ariel needed surgery on her injured leg. She received extensive physical therapy, including hydro and laser therapies in our pain management center, to aid in her recovery. Ariel’s story landed her on the local news where her story would end in true fairy tale fashion … a station’s employee fell in love with her and decided to adopt her! Because of you, she is now living her best life! Thank you for giving Ariel and her four puppies a second chance at happy and healthy lives!
From food to litter, we're proud to support the pets of the Humane Society of Missouri.
Operation SNIP: Working to Overcome Pet Overpopulation During Puppy and Kitten Season
When the temperatures rise, so does the number of unwanted puppies and kittens that are often left to fend for themselves. They are abandoned, left to starve, face extreme weather conditions, or tragically die in accidents.
Our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation, and thanks to caring supporters like you, we accomplish this by offering Operation SNIP (Spay/Neuter Incentive Program) yearround. Our low- and no-cost spay/neuter program is the largest in the St. Louis metropolitan area and is open to all Missouri residents. Spaying or neutering cats and dogs is the single most important measure we have to tackle pet overpopulation. For more than 20 years this program has prevented the suffering and homelessness of tens of thousands of unwanted animals.
There’s
Inflation has become a huge obstacle in providing Operation SNIP services. In the last two years, the supply costs for SNIP procedures have increased six-fold from $9.85 to $60.69 per procedure. Inflation also impacts our clients — from a trip to the grocery store to monthly utility bills — and it is feared that people are struggling to provide veterinary care to their companion animals because they must make difficult financial decisions for their families. Passing along these supply increases to pet owners could make Operation SNIP unaffordable and inaccessible, and they may have no choice but to turn animals out onto the streets, creating a threat to public health and safety.
Thanks to your continued support, HSMO is still able to provide Operation SNIP procedures despite inflating costs. More than ever, THANK YOU for your generosity and for helping to end pet overpopulation!
No Place Like Home: HSMO’s New Home Enrichment Foster Program
Here at HSMO, our goal is to find forever homes for 100% of adoptable animals. And thanks to you, we go the extra mile to find the perfect homes for our shelter pets. For some animals, the shelter is a scary and stressful environment. And no matter how hard our staff works to overcome this, some of our dogs do not thrive in the shelter. But recently our Foster and Communications departments, along with our shelter veterinarians and animal behavior teams, have combined their expertise and created the Home Enrichment Foster Program to give these dogs a second chance.
The Home Enrichment Foster program builds on our already robust foster program. It places certain shelter dogs, those not thriving in the shelter environment, with a specially-trained foster family. And while the dog is in foster care, he or she is also available for adoption. The pet gets to stay in a home environment where they are comfy and stress-free until the perfect family comes along to adopt them.
Potential adopters can go online and see adoptable animals, including our Home Enrichment fosters. A designated foster coordinator will
work with these hopeful adopters to arrange to meet these pets, and foster families bring in the dogs to meet their potential new families.
Your love and support of our foster programs mean giving second chances! There is no place like home – thank you for finding homes for these deserving animals!
Be the Life of the Party! Sponsor a Barn Buddy
Barn Buddy sponsorships are a perfect gift for birthdays, well-wishes and showers! Your support also helps to care for the animals at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.
longmeadowrescueranch.org/barnbuddies 314-951-1542
Glow in the Park Returns on Friday, September 15!
Our annual Glow in the Park Balloon Glow dinner will take place in the Central Fields of Forest Park, under the auspices of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race.
hsmo.org/glow
Give Our Animal Friends a Free Ride!
You can donate your old car, truck, motorcycle, boat or airplane to HSMO! Donating is easy, pick-up is FREE and most vehicles are accepted. Donations may even be tax deductible!
hsmo.org/vehicle-donation 314-951-1542
When you become a monthly donor, you provide critical support we can count on. You can make a huge impact with recurring gifts that are automatically charged on the first of each month, guaranteeing funding is always available for animals in need.
hsmo.org/humanehero 314-951-1598
Sept. 9, Oct. 7 & Nov. 4 11p.m. - 3p.m.
Join us for free family fun at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch Wagon Days! Spend time with rescued farm animals, meet the worldfamous Barn Buddies, watch Twister the painting horse, then take a wagon ride through our 165-acre facility in Union, Missouri.
longmeadowrescueranch.org/wagondays
Providing Excellence in Veterinary Care
Receive the best treatment for your pets while supporting HSMO’s mission of giving abused and neglected animals a second chance.