Founded in 1897, Seattle Humane proudly promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need. We are one of the region’s leaders in animal adoption, education and welfare.
Seattle Humane is more than a shelter—we are a community resource center, providing adoption services, a pet food bank and support for pet owners, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and wellness exams, humane education for all ages and more.
Approximately two thirds of the pets in our shelter come to us through our Lifesaver Rescue Program. Through Lifesaver Rescue transfers, pets get a second chance to be connected with a loving family, and we support other shelters in Washington and across the country that lack space or resources to care for them.
All of this work is made possible by the support of a generous community, and through our outreach, advocacy and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.
In 2022, we celebrated 125 years of saving lives and completing families. Learn more about our rich past and present, and our vision for the future.
Our Mission and Team Values
Seattle Humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance or geography.
Our Commitment
We believe everyone deserves a chance to experience the love of a pet and the lifelong benefits of the human-animal bond. With this lens, we will continue to expand our programs and services to impact as many lives as possible.
Throughout history, the human-animal bond has played a pivotal role in creating our communities and culture. There is a direct link between human welfare and animal welfare—all life has value.
Systemic issues of inequality and inequity create the pipeline of pets that come to Seattle Humane in need of care and shelter. Animals often end up in shelters due to housing inequities, lack of access to quality veterinary care, and people having to make tough decisions like choosing between an overdue bill and a beloved pet. These societal issues are created and sustained without equal access to quality education, community resources, good job opportunities, and the ability to build generational wealth.
Understanding that it’s all connected, we are committed to doing our part to break this cycle and build a culture of equity and inclusion in our organization and in animal welfare.
Seattle Humane is, and always will be, a safe place for people from all backgrounds and experiences to unite around a common goal of helping pets in need. We believe in creating a community of support, showing empathy, understanding, respect, and kindness in our daily lives and in our work at the shelter. We are working to be a greater ally in this wonderful and diverse community we serve.
Our Philosophy
In early 2024, Seattle Humane committed to an updated shelter philosophy to help guide our work in the coming years.
We strive to reach outcomes more quickly so we can serve more animals overall.
This philosophy is supported by organizational goals that will allow us to save more lives, complete more families and keep more pets with the people who love them.
Is Seattle Humane a No-Kill Shelter?
Seattle Humane is a managed-intake shelter that cares for pets with treatable medical or behavioral issues. There are no limits placed on the pets in our care for space or time. Pets receive the medical care and behavior support they need to thrive in new homes.
Seattle Humane has maintained an average save rate of more than 97% each year for the last decade, which means that 97% of pets who enter the shelter have a positive outcome. To qualify as a No-Kill shelter, the live save rate must be 90% or higher. This term is confusing, and while Seattle Humane fits this description, we do not describe ourselves as No Kill. We acknowledge that in cases of animal suffering, humane euthanasia is the most compassionate outcome. When a pet demonstrates behavioral concerns that pose a threat to people or other animals, or when they face significant quality-of-life concerns, euthanasia may be considered.
Euthanasia Philosophy
Seattle Humane takes into account individual animals and people, as well as our community as a whole, in every aspect of the work we do and will not knowingly place animals who are dangerous to people or other animals back into our community. Because of this commitment, Seattle Humane does euthanize animals when mental and/or medical suffering is too advanced to overcome or when an animal’s behavior poses a risk to people or other animals in the community.
Seattle Humane is committed to providing the highest standard of care and treatment to all animals through our intake, animal care, behavior and veterinary services. There are no limits placed on pets in our care for space or time. We believe no healthy, behaviorally sound animal should be euthanized.
Five Domains
Animal welfare science tells us that the welfare of an animal includes both their physical and mental state. At Seattle Humane we follow the Five Domains, an internationally accepted framework for considering the lived experience of animals in humans’ care. The Five Domains framework is a way of thinking about animal welfare–going beyond just eliminating or minimizing negative experiences to achieve a neutral state of animal welfare. Instead, we encourage positive experiences in four functional domains, which affect the fifth domain, the animal’s mental state. To determine an animal’s well-being the following should be considered.
Find Out More
Our Leadership Team
At Seattle Humane, our leadership team reflects the values we embrace. We are dedicated to providing quality compassionate service to animals and our community. Meet our leaders.
Financials & Statistics
Seattle Humane is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our funding comes from the generosity of individuals and local businesses, and your donations are tax deductible. Read more about our financials and statistics.
Careers
We are always looking for great people to join our team! Learn more about careers at Seattle Humane.
Contact Us
Visit our Contact Us page for general inquiries as well as contact information for various departments.
Location & Hours
Visit our Location & Hours page for our address and hours for our Adoption Center, Schuler Family Medical Center, Intake, Donor Services and Pet Resource Center.
Press Kit
Find information about Seattle Humane, plus photos and logos here.
Seattle Humane – At a Glance [PDF]
Media Contact
Brandon Macz
PR and Social Media Specialist
brandon@seattlehumane.org Phone: (425) 274-1501