The Bitter Root Humane Association was formed in 1972 by a group of local animal lovers. In 1984, Countess Margarite Bessenyey gave the group land on Fairgrounds Road and Betty Cook, as President, led volunteers in raising money to build a shelter. That building served as a temporary home for countless animals for over 35 years. During that time, the shelter also housed hundreds of animals during the major wildfires of 2000 through 2016, and took in animals from numerous neglect and hoarding cases, including the recent, highly publicized Husky case. Time, however, took its toll and that shelter became unsafe and non-functional for our staff, volunteers and animals that call the shelter home. In March of 2020, after over a decade of fundraising efforts, construction began on a new, modern shelter which opened to the public in July 2021. We are proud to say, we have no time or space limits to finding the perfect home for our “guests”!
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to provide caring, compassionate shelter and enrichment for homeless companion animals, find loving lifelong homes, reunite pets and owners, promote population control and advocate for all animals.
Adoption Policy
To adopt a pet at BRHA, you’ll need to fill out an Adoption Application and complete an interview with an adoption specialist. But what’s more important is everything that comes before the application and the interview, namely, finding the best match possible.
When adopting a pet, it’s essential that every member of the household is in agreement concerning bringing in the new family member. This is especially important when adopting a dog and BRHA requires all household members including canine family members to attend the interview and “Meet & Greet” with the prospective adoptee.
1. Find the Right Pet
You'll want to read the pet descriptions listed on our website and think about your lifestyle and what you want in a pet. Photos and descriptions of all cats and kittens, dogs and puppies, and small animals available for adoption on our website are updated constantly.
Call us to inquire or visit the shelter. Come meet our wonderful pets. You'll want to take this opportunity to ask questions of our adoption counselors, who can offer their experience in helping you find your new best friend.
2. Fill Out an Application
You'll need to complete an Adoption Application, which you can download and fill out before your visit or email the application to BRHAfront@bitterroothumane.org
3. Complete an Interview
You will be interviewed by a BRHA adoption specialist to be sure you are familiar with any special needs the animal might have. The animal you select may not be available due to previous applications, waiting medical procedures or special needs.
https://bitterroothumane.org/animals/
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