Your driving companion is waiting to be picked up.

We have wonderful pets looking for permanent, loving, responsible homes!

Check out our Humane Education programs!

Humane education programs help develop interest and empathy in young minds.

Where can I get my pet micro-chipped?

We offer this daily at Whatcom Humane. No appointment necessary!

Get together with other animal-lovers.

Supporting the animals can be quite glamorous!

Help us help them.

Show support for the animals in our care.

Whatcom Humane Society

CARING FOR ANIMALS SINCE 1902


Kindness

Respect

Compassion

SERVICES : WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

Animal Control and Rescue Services

We provide for all domestic & wild animals throughout Whatcom County.

Pet Licensing

Get your pet a new license or renew an existing one. Use our quick online form or download a form.

Low-Cost Microchip

We offer this lifesaving service for just $30 at our shelter facility. No appointment is necessary!

Surrender an Animal

As an open admission shelter we provide care for all animals in need, regardless of their age, breed or condition.

Pet Adoption

We have lots of great pets looking for permanent, loving, responsible homes. View them here!

Spay & Neuter

We offer a low-cost spay and neuter assistance program (SNAP) for eligible applicants.

Volunteer Programs

Become one of the dedicated volunteers who help us provide care for thousands of animals each year.

Humane Education

K-12 classroom presentations, fun service projects, summer camp, workshops & more!

LOST AND FOUND PET SERVICES:

I LOST A PET?

Due to the large volume of animals the Whatcom Humane Society receives each day, we cannot identify lost pets over the phone or by email. You must visit the shelter and look for your lost pet in person. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING! If your companion animal is lost, act quickly! Below is some information that we hope will help reunite you with your pet:

SHELTER HOURS & LOCATION
Whatcom Humane Society Address:  2172 Division Street, Bellingham, WA  98226 Phone:  (360) 733-2080 Fax:  (360) 733-4746 New hours of operation – Beginning Sunday, March 6th

Shelter Services (licensing, lost and found, animal redemptions, etc.) Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 6pm.

CLOSED Sunday, Monday and Major Holidays.

Animal Control & Rescue available seven days a week – 360-733-2080, ext # 3017.

GENERAL RECOVERY TIPS
Hanging posters in high traffic areas and delivering flyers door to door is a great way to get the word out in your neighborhood.  You can download a Lost Pet Flyer below to get started!
PREVENT DISAPPEARING
Each year in the United States, millions of companion animals enter shelters as strays. There are many ways to prevent your four-footed friend from disappearing. These tips can help you beat the odds:

  • Be a responsible pet guardian. Keep your dog or cat safely confined or closely supervised at all times.
  • Spay or neuter your animal. The most effective way to prevent your companion animal from disappearing is to have them spayed or neutered. This will curb their desire to roam.
  • Identification is a lost animal’s ticket home. Always keep a collar and ID tag(s) on your dog or cat.
  • Consider having your animal microchipped, a permanent means of identification. Ask WHS staff about getting your animal microchipped.
  • Safe travel. If you must travel with your dog, cat, or other animal, use a leash or carrier to keep him/her safe.
  • An accurate description of your animal is vital. Keep a record of your animal’s size, with any distinguishing characteristics, along with a current photograph.

I FOUND A PET?

We would like to thank you for the concern and effort you have given this animal. Now we hope to reunite him/her with his/her rightful owner. Your responsible and caring actions are greatly appreciated by the Whatcom Humane Society. The following information is to advise you of WHS procedures regarding incoming stray animals.

WE ARE AN OPEN ADMISSION FACILITY
It is important to know that the Whatcom Humane Society (WHS) is an open-admission humane society, this means that we will accept ANY animal that comes into us. Because of this, our facility accepts an average of over 3,700 domestic animals each year, not including many farm animals that are also brought into our facilities. Sadly, there are not enough homes for all of these animals. Whatcom County, and our country as a whole, are still suffering a tragic pet overpopulation problem, with an average 1.5 million animals being euthanized annually nationwide because new homes are not available. At WHS our goal is to find a loving family for every animal but unfortunately there are simply more animals than there are people who want to adopt them.
FOUND PET TIPS
These tips are intended to help reunite lost pets with their families:

  • Visit Petco lovelost to report the found the pet.
  • Check with residents in the area the pet was found. Go door-to-door.
  • Scan for microchip. Bring the found pet to Whatcom Humane Society or a local vet.
  • Alert the microchip company that you have found a pet and leave your contact info.
  • File a found report with the Whatcom Humane Society.
  • Place found ads on Craigslist under “Lost+Found”,“Pets” or “Lost Pets of Whatcom County.”
  • Create found pet flyers – post near the location the pet was found and high traffic areas.
  • We urge anyone that comes across an unknown animal to use caution, if you do not feel safe, please contact your local animal control or police department immediately.

Thank you for helping reunite a family!

IMPOUNDING STRAY ANIMALS
WHS will house impounded stray domestic animals that arrive without any identification at our Division Street shelter for a minimum of 72 hours or up to 5 days (not counting days the shelter is closed to the public) in order to provide the owner an opportunity to find them. Impounded stray domestic animals that arrive wearing identification (including a microchip) may be held for up to 14 days while staff make attempts to contact owners by phone, mail and email. Injured or unweaned animals may be euthanized during their stray holding period of their condition is life-threatening, they are suffering and veterinary assistance is not possible.
At the end of the animals’ stray holding period our staff will examine and evaluate the animal to determine whether he/she can be placed into our adoption program, is a candidate for transfer out to another animal welfare shelter or rescue group or is not a candidate for our adoption program based on the animals health and/or behavior. Animals that are aggressive to people or other animals and/or have health conditions that WHS is unable to treat may be humanely euthanized.
WHS can not make any guarantees regarding placement of animals in our shelter. Animals made available for adoption remain in our care as long as they are happy, healthy, well-adjusted and we have the ongoing space and resources to humanely care for them. There is no time-limit as to how long an animal remains in our adoption kennels.
WHATS NOT ALLOWED FOR ADOPTION?
The following is a list of conditions under which an animal may not be placed for adoption:

  • They are under 8 weeks of age.
  • Their advanced age is causing extreme medical or physical problems or distress.
  • They are in poor general health or physical condition.
  • Their temperament or behavior is such that they are not safe around humans or other animals.
  • They are showing extreme signs of stress due to being placed in a kennel environment.
  • They show signs of contagious/communicable disease that could infect other animals.
  • There is no space available in the adoption kennels.

Depending on the specifics of the animal’s condition and availability of space, some animals may be placed in foster care until they are old enough to be made available for adoption, held for treatment/observation before being evaluated for adoption, or transferred to other facilities for potential adoption placement.

ANIMALS PUT UP FOR ADOPTION

At WHS every effort is made to find loving homes for the animals in our adoption program. Once an animal is placed into our adoption program, there is no time limit on the animal. Animals may remain in our adoption program for a day, week, month, or longer. However, animals available for adoption may be euthanized if there is a decline in their health, temperament, or physical condition or if space becomes limited and we need to make room for new incoming animals and there are no placement options with other rescue groups or facilities.

If you wish to inquire about this animal, you may do so by calling the shelter at (360) 733-2080 ext. 0. 

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING THIS ANIMAL?

If you are interest in adopting this animal, we ask that you come to the shelter before the end of the stray holding period and complete an adoption application. Adoption policies apply, ask staff for details.

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What do I do if I find an injured wild animal?

  • Always keep yourself safe first.
  • If you can safely capture the animal, put it in a warm, quiet, undisturbed place.
  • Avoid handling it as much as possible.
  • Contact the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which is open 7 days a week!

Call the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Keep in mind that not all wildlife needs our help.

  • Baby birds with feathers spend some time on the ground as they learn to fly, while parents stay nearby.
  • Fawns are left alone for several hours while their mothers go off to feed.

Read more about Finding Injured Wild Animals >>

ADOPT

Interested in adopting? Take a look at the many wonderful animals available, then visit our shelter. We’ll help you & your family find the perfect companion. Read More>>

Inar the Puppy

Meet Inar the puppy!

Featured Pet

SPECIAL EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

The WHS Thrift Shop is Moving!

A MESSAGE TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS The Thrift Shop will not be open for shopping until September 27th. The Whatcom Humane Society Thrift Shop has moved! Our new thrift shop will be located at 1534B Birchwood Avenue – between the Guide Meridian & Northwest Avenue –...

Stay Tuned!

More workshops are coming soon! Follow us on Facebook and keep an eye on the website for upcoming workshops.

Address & Hours

Address:  2172 Division Street, Bellingham, WA  98226
Phone:  (360) 733-2080 ---- Fax:  (360) 733-4746

 

Shelter Services/Front Office
Open Tuesday thru Sunday 11am – 6pm

Animal Adoption Services and Kennel Viewing
Open Tuesday thru Sunday 11am – 6pm
Adoption counsels stop 1 hour prior to closing

Closed To The Public
Mondays & Major Holidays

Animal Control & Rescue Department: (360) 733-2080 ext 3017

Customer Service: (360) 733-2080 ext 0

Farm Facility:  By Appointment Only

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center:
Not open to the public. Please call for assistance with injured and orphaned wildlife.
(360) 966-8845

WHS Thrift Store Address & Hours

Address: 4151 Meridian St #110, Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone:  (360) 543-6792

Store Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 11am-3pm.

Donations Accepted: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9am-4pm & Sunday 11am-2:30pm.

Department Directory

Main Phone:  (360) 733-2080

Laura Clark, Executive Director
director@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3026

Animal Control & Rescue
animalcontrol@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3017

Shelter Operations
operations@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3024

Adoptions/Customer Service
adoptions@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3001

Licensing
licensing@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3010

Volunteer & Outreach Services
volunteer@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3075

Humane Education
outreach@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3116

Special Events/Fundraising
events@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3014

Donations
administration@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3002

Finance
finance@whatcomhumane.org / ext #3021

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
wildlife@whatcomhumane.org / (360) 966-8845

Farm Facility
farm@whatcomhumane.org