Athens County Humane Society

What Athens County Humane Society does

The Athens County Humane Society is a local, volunteer-run animal welfare group serving Athens County in southeast Ohio. Founded in 1910, it runs reduced-cost spay/neuter clinics for low-income residents, places animals through adoption and a foster network, runs a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats, and employs the county's Humane Agent, who responds to reports of animal cruelty.

Spay/neuter is the core of the work. Residents who show proof of Athens County residency and financial need (for example Medicaid, WIC, SSI, or household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line) register online, and a volunteer schedules the surgery. Clients pay a reduced fee and the society covers the rest of the cost. Foster homes have their animals' expenses paid by the organization. The society says it gets no tax dollars and is not part of, or funded by, any national organization.

This is a small group: its 2024 IRS filing shows about $251,000 in revenue, so individual gifts make up a real share of its budget. Donors can direct a gift to a specific fund, such as spay/neuter or TNR, or give to the general fund.

Key facts

• Founded in 1910; states that it receives none of the county's tax dollars (athenshumane.org)
• Reduced-cost spay/neuter for low-income Athens County residents: client fees listed at $60–$70 per cat and $130 per dog (athenshumane.org/spay-neuter)
• 2024 IRS filing: $251,028 revenue and $248,901 expenses (ProPublica)
• Donors can designate gifts to five funds: General, Trap-Neuter-Return, Humane Outreach, Spay/Neuter, and Animals in Care (donate page)

Before you give

• Gives online (one-time, weekly, monthly or yearly), via PayPal or Venmo, or by check to P.O. Box 765, Athens, OH 45701 (donate page).
• Gifts can be designated to the General Fund, Trap-Neuter-Return, Humane Outreach, Spay/Neuter, or Animals in Care (donate page).
• Also accepts in-kind supplies through Chewy and Amazon wishlists (donate page).