Humane Society of Chittenden County

My family and I have been adopting cats from HSCC since I was ten years-​old — that’s twenty-​one years of family pets! They’ve grown into such an amazing organization over the years and I’ve recently begun volunteering with them. I can say from first-​hand experience that the staff is completely devoted to keeping the animals stimulated and comfortable as they wait for their new homes. Their residents are allowed to stay for as long as it takes to get adopted and they only ever euthanize in dire circumstances when it’s the humane decision — a tough call all pet guardians have to make at some point.
The facilities are constantly being cleaned and the staff and volunteers are clearly devoted to the well being of the animals. Another reviewer noted there are a lot of rules, but keep in mind those are to keep the animals healthy and adoptable, and also to prevent the spread of anything from the shelter to your own home!
HSCC hosts some really fun social events like free movie screenings and dog playtime cocktail hours in the warmer months where you can meet the staff and learn more about animal welfare. It’s more than a shelter, HSCC is a valuable community resource. I look forward to adopting again in the future!

This is one of the cleaner animal shelters I have been too, but there are some rules. (Be sure to sign in; no fingers in the cages; only one community cat room per day; no, you may not see the dogs downstairs!) It is probably clean because there are lots of rules. But I felt like I was about to get in trouble at any minute with the staff, who were very polite and even friendly… but firm.
I came to see about volunteering and eventually getting a cat for my pet puppy, who I plan to get in December. (I am looking to volunteer at an animal shelter to assuage my guilt about getting a dog from a breeder, even though that was not entirely up to me.) (Please don’t judge: I feel badly enough already…)
Single cat cages line the main room — but don’t put your finger in! If you want to see one of those cats, ask the staff and they will carry kitty to a penned-​off section in the office area, where the fax and printer and phones will freak out kitty so that she cannot pay attention to you.
Now, I am used to being loved by animals. I have been called the «Cat Whisperer» by friends and family. But all 4 kitties that I spent time with in The Cage in The Office (2 adults, 2 kittens) ignored me completely because they were either focused on trying to escape (I’m like, «look, buddy! I am your best hope for escape!) or were too freaked out by the office machines to notice me.
However, once the cats were back in their cages in the front room, they looked at me adoringly and were begging me to pet them — pawing the cage, rolling on their backs, pleading with their eyes. But, of course, you can’t pet them once they are in their cages.
The dog viewing room was completely empty except for one dog who, according to the sign on his door, does not get along with all other dogs. All the other dogs were downstairs, where you are not allowed to go. (I guess you have to make prior arrangements) You can, however, view them from above through a window on the main floor. It is not a very informative view.
Generally, it is a nice facility. The staff is obliging and polite. However, I just felt the animals were unhappy. The cats and the one dog, anyway.
(Compare this to the Humane Society in St. Albans, which reeked to high heaven when I was there of cat food and kitty litter — but man, those were some sweet, happy cats! And a few volunteers were walking around the grounds with some dogs, and you were allowed to pet them. Not so rule-​oriented…)
I plan to volunteer at St. Albans. I’ll get used to the smell, do may part to alleviate it, and won’t have to worry about getting in trouble with The Rules.