About Us

Shelter New Sign 2021

Contact

Shelter:

279 New Vale Road
Newland, NC 28657
828-733-2333

Mailing Address:

PO BOX 1213
Newland, NC 28657

Adoption Information - info@averyhumane.org

Charlene Moore, Shelter Manager - charlene@averyhumane.org

Melissa Webb, Assistant Shelter Manager - melissa@averyhumane.org

Elsa Delgado, Executive Director - elsa@averyhumane.org

Jennifer Gregoire, Volunteer Coordinater - jennifer@averyhumane.org

HOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

ADOPTION/EDUCATION CENTER:

Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Sunday Noon to 4 p.m.

Our shelter hours may vary on major holidays, staff training and during inclement weather.

INTAKE OFFICE:

Tuesday - Sunday: appointments only.

Avery Adoption and Humane Education Center

Located at 279 New Vale Road, Newland, N.C. 28657 (behind Ingles)

About Us:

Avery Humane Society is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. Our mission is to respond humanely to the needs of animals in Avery County.

Income sources include adoption fees, Happy Paws Pet Boutique located in the shelter, fundraising events, grants, and general donations. Avery Humane Society receives no direct funding from county, state or federal government, United Way, or any national group such as ASPCA or Humane Society of the US.

We have been operating as a community non-profit organization since 1978 and moved into our current shelter facility in April 2012. Our shelter can house approximately 95 animals and have adopted out over 8,100 animals since moving into our new building in 2012. We also help reunite more than 100 lost pets with their owners each year. Visitors are always welcome at our shelter. In fact, we have approximately 1,500 visitors per year.

Surrendering or Turning In an Animal

Avery Humane Society is a "Limited Admission" facility. Our policies for accepting animals are as follows:

Only animals found or residing in Avery County can be accepted.
New animals are accepted by appointment when space is available. We strongly suggest that anyone with an animal to bring in, please call us first.
We do not euthanize healthy adoptable animals to make space.
When the shelter is full, we use a waiting list for animals that need to come in.

Those on the waiting list have first priority.

Anyone picking up a stray animal is assuming responsibility for that animal until there is room to take it.
§ 14‑361.1. Abandonment of animals. Any person being the owner or possessor, or having charge or custody of an animal, who willfully and without justifiable excuse abandons the animal is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Although we make every effort to accept all eligible animals, unfortunately there are times and circumstances when animals cannot be accepted.

Animals that need immediate/emergency veterinary care cannot be accepted. We do not have a veterinarian on staff.
Aggressive animals or animals that have bitten a person cannot be accepted. We cannot put our staff or the public in harm’s way with an aggressive animal.

Need to surrender a pet but our shelter doesn't have space available at this time? You will be put on our waiting list but while you wait you can rehome it by using Adopt-A-Pet Rehoming Tool by clicking here:

Avery Humane Society has no legal authority to respond to animal neglect or abuse cases. We cannot trespass on private property. For insurance and liability reasons we are unable to leave our facility to conduct rescue or pick-up of animals that are not the property of Avery Humane Society.

Once an animal is accepted by the Avery Humane Society:

All new animals are required to be held for a period of 72 hours before they can be adopted, euthanized, or altered per Senate Bill 626 - Section 2, Chapter 19A of the General Statutes 19A-32.1

(a) "All animals received by an animal shelter or by an agent of an animal shelter be held for a minimum holding period of 72 hours".

After the 72 hour hold period the animal becomes the property of Avery Humane Society. The law is in place to allow the animal to be reclaimed and for staff to observe health or behavioral related problems.

Upon intake all animals are:

Tested for heartworm or communicable diseases
Vaccinated
Micro-chipped
Wormed
Treated for fleas

Avery Humane Society spends $150 in the first hour of a new animal arriving. These services are performed to protect the animal arriving and those that are currently being housed at the shelter. If the animal is reclaimed, any expense incurred is to be reimbursed by the owner. Depending on the length of stay, approximately $400 is spent on every animal on medical expenses.

Adoptions:

Adopting a shelter animal can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. We aim to help each potential adopter find the best match for his/her personality and lifestyle. However, with the rewards also come responsibilities.

Adopters are adopting animals "as is." If an animal is being treated for an illness or injury, that information is shared with the potential adopter. It is his/her choice to adopt the animal or not. Each animal is spayed/neutered, and its entire, available medical record is provided as part of the adoption agreement. Once the adoption is complete, the adopter takes immediate possession of and responsibility for the animal.

The adoption fee includes a FREE vet check at any participating veterinary office, a FREE collar, 30 days FREE pet insurance (for pets over the age of 8 weeks), and coupons at area pet stores plus Petango, an online pet store.

A Partnership with the Community:

The Avery Humane Society strives to be a valued member of the greater community in Avery County. Over the years we have forged positive working relationships with many community institutions. For example, Crossnore School has former shelter dogs from the Humane Society living in each of its cottages. The Humane Society provides educational programs in the Avery County Schools. Other benefits to residents of Avery County include:

Low adoption fees – specials at certain times of the year
In addition to owner-surrendered pets, the shelter takes in strays.
Low-cost euthanasia service is offered to Avery County residents for their pets that are at the end of their life, or mortally injured/terminally ill.
Due to the generosity of local donors, more than 1,000 cats and dogs owned by Avery County residents were spayed/neutered for free, along with free rabies vaccines, for a cost exceeding $60,000.
When there is a surplus of donated food, a food bank is open for those in financial stress so that they can keep their pets.
In partnership with the local prison, a select number of shelter dogs are trained by inmates. Basic training and socialization helps the dogs become more adoptable. It is also enriching for the inmates who learn skills that may help them find future employment in the animal care field.
Low-cost shot and micro-chip clinics are offered periodically to the community.
Volunteer and community service opportunities
Pets are reunited with their loved ones each year through the lost and found program.
Visitations to Avery County, and local spending, are increased through social media bringing out-of-town adopters to the local area.
The shelter provides employment opportunities.

Directions To The New
Avery Humane Society
Adoption and Education Center

Click Here For Google Maps

From Elk Park, NC:

Follow 19-E and head straight onto NC-194 South toward Newland for approximately 5 miles. Turn right onto Vale Road just after passing the Ingles/Roses Shopping Center (a beautiful waterfall will be on the left directly across from Vale Road). You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

From Johnson City, TN (and locations to our west, including Roan Mountain and Elizabethton):
Take US-321 to Elizabethton and turn right onto US 19-E. Follow 19-E into Elk Park, North Carolina. Continue straight on this highway (signs change to NC-194 South) toward Newland for approximately 5 miles. Turn right onto Vale Road just after passing the Ingles/Roses Shopping Center (a beautiful waterfall will be on the left directly across from Vale Road). You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

From Asheville, NC:

Head east on I-40 towards Statesville. Take exit 85 and turn left at the bottom of the ramp for US-221 North. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn left at the light to follow US-221 North. Continue to follow US-221 North for 32 miles to Crossnore. From Crossnore take NC 194 five miles through Newland until you see the sign for Dollar General on the left. Turn left on Vale Road between Dollar General and the Roses/Ingles shopping center (a beautiful waterfall will be on the right directly across from Vale Road). You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

From Charlotte, NC:
Starting on the South Side of Charlotte: Take I-85 South to Gastonia, NC. Take exit 17 for US-321 North. Follow US-321 North to I-40 West in Hickory and take exit 43B for I-40 West towards Morganton. Exit 105 will take you towards NC Hwy 181. Take NC 181 north from Morganton 35 miles to Newland. From NC 181 in Newland, turn right onto NC 194 at at the stoplight next to CVS Pharmacy. Travel one mile until you see the sign for Dollar General. Turn left onto Vale Road between Dollar General and the Roses/Ingles shopping center. You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

Starting on the North Side of Charlotte: Take I-77 North to Statesville. Take exit 51B for I-40 West toward Hickoryand Morganton. Exit 105 will take you towards NC Hwy 181. Take NC 181 north from Morganton 35 miles to Newland. From NC 181 in Newland, turn right onto NC 194 at at the stoplight next to CVS Pharmacy. Travel one mile until you see the sign for Dollar General. Turn left onto Vale Road between Dollar General and the Roses/Ingles shopping center. You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

From Boone, NC:
Follow NC 105 South 17 miles to Linville. Turn right at the stoplight for US-221 in Linville. Travel 5 miles on NC 181 to Newland. Turn right onto NC 194 at at the stoplight next to CVS Pharmacy. Travel one mile until you see the sign for Dollar General. Turn left onto Vale Road between Dollar General and the Roses/Ingles shopping center. You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.

From Winston-Salem, NC (and locations to our east):
Follow US-421 West to Boone, NC. Turn left onto NC 105 South 17 miles to Linville. Turn right at the stoplight for US-221 in Linville. Travel 5 miles on NC 181 to Newland. Turn right onto NC 194 at at the stoplight next to CVS Pharmacy. Travel one mile until you see the sign for Dollar General. Turn left onto Vale Road between Dollar General and the Roses/Ingles shopping center. You will see the Adoption Center one quarter mile ahead on the left as the road bears uphill to the right.