The Athens Area Humane Society is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to promoting animal welfare and the human-animal bond in the Athens area.

Our mission is to end animal neglect, cruelty and suffering, to promote responsible pet ownership, to provide safe shelter, and to locate loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals.

Serving the community for more than twenty-five years, the Athens Area Humane Society is the only open-admission shelter in the Athens area for cats and other small domestic animals.  Each year, the Shelter cares for 1200 abandoned and stray animals, striving to place as many as possible into loving lifelong homes.

The programs and services of the AAHS reach beyond sheltering and adoption alone.  Counselors provide lifelong behavior consultation to adopted and community animals, and referrals when needed.  We  help community members search for their lost pets by providing search tips and maintain a database of lost and found records.

The AAHS is working to end pet overpopulation.  We offer  low-cost spay/neuter assistance to Clarke County residents with financial need. These pet owners would not otherwise be able to afford the surgery, but with the help of funding from Athens-Clarke County, their pets will lead longer, healthier lives, and will also no longer be contributors to the epidemic of pet overpopulation.

The AAHS believes that humane education is an essential component of building a kinder, more responsible community.  That is why AAHS representatives visit scout troops, local schools, and civic organizations to educate about respect and kindness toward pets and all living things.

Take a look around our website to learn more about the work of AAHS.  If you believe in our mission and programs, please see the Helping AAHS pages of our site for just a couple of ways you can make it possible for our work to continue.