Animal welfare is one of those matters that people become passionate about. It seems that when the interests of man and animal conflict, it is frequently the voiceless animal that loses. So, animals truly need advocates.

We wish to contribute to a better life for animals and to inspire awareness of and compassion for all living beings. We aspire to provide a safe haven, loving attention, nutritious food, meticulous health care and daily exercise to each and every animal in our care, and to do our best to secure for each of the animals permanent, loving, responsible homes. We shall carefully attempt to match companion animals with caregivers to attain a quality and nurturing lifestyle for both pet and owner. Much of our time and energy goes toward ending the specific problem of pet overpopulation. We will be active in our community educating the children in our schools, bringing the community together with fundraisers and pet friendly events and ensuring each pet owner has all the resources and information necessary to care for their pet.

We must rely on donations from our friends and supporters who share our belief that every animal deserves the opportunity to be adopted into a loving home. Because it is difficult to run a shelter based solely on donations, our success depends on you. You CAN make a difference. Your generous support of the Humane Association will help us to feed and care for our local pets until they are adopted into a loving home.

Please browse through our web site to see what you can do to save shelter pets:

Adopt a pet!

Donate/Become a member!

Be a volunteer!

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Is ECCHA a County Funded Organization?

The Association is not funded through any state or local government appropriation. Nor do we recieve any funding from the United Way. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Approximately 50% of our funding comes from memberships, donations, estate bequests, and fund-raising events; the remaining from adoption and boarding fees and municipal service contracts. Each year, we provide care and shelter to approximately 2500 animals. These animals are either strays brought in by local officials & private citizens or are simply surrendered to the shelter by their owners. 

Some shelters are “no-kill shelters”. In order to make this claim (unless they have unlimited facilities and resources), they must limit the number of animals they accept. The ones they have no room for end up at open-door shelters around the country like ours.

These no-kill shelters provide a valuable service in the community for the animals they take in, but they are unable to meet the needs of many of the stray, abused, injured and at-risk animals that are welcomed and served by open-door shelters as the one operated by ECCHA.

Both “no-kill” and open door shelters seek the same goals. We want an end to the overpopulation and suffering of pets. We want to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets. This will happen when enough people spay/neuter their pets and look to humane associations instead of pet stores when they want to add a pet to their family.

Our History:

The Eau Claire County Humane Association was organized in 1962 in response to a growing need to care for unwanted and abandoned animals. It was incorporated in 1968 and a board of directors was established. The first shelter was constructed in 1975 on Old Town Hall Road on land donated by Mrs. Pearl Sequin. 

After 23 years of housing thousands of animals, the building was in great disrepair. In 1998 a capital campaign, "Operation New Home" received tremendous community support and raised approximately $675,000 to build a new shelter building. In early 1999, the 5,500 square foot building was completed, just down the road on that same land donated by Mrs. Sequin.

A volunteer board of directors establishes the policies and operational guidelines of the Association. A trained, dedicated staff operates the shelter and provides food, water, exercise and a clean environment for each animal. Community volunteers also help at the shelter in many ways, such as dog walking, animal socialization, cleaning, organizing and office work. 

Over the years, the Eau Claire County Humane Association has saved the lives of countless animals through immediate care and treatment, and ultimately adoption. Because of the Association, these otherwise unwanted pets have found happy, loving homes.