Who We Are
Every year, The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth
helps thousands of pets to find - and stay with - loving families.
How We Started
The Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society began serving the community in 1927. The Stratford Perth Humane Society began as a branch of the Ontario SPCA in 1973 until ownership was transferred to us in 2012.
Today, we are known as one organization - The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth - and are one of the largest animal welfare charities in Ontario. We operate an Animal Centre in Kitchener and an Animal Centre in Stratford. Together, we service all municipalities in Waterloo Region (except Cambridge) and Perth County, as well as the Township of Zorra.
How we Are today
While we formed to help homeless and abandoned pets, today we are far more than just animal shelters. We still adopt pets and find loving homes, but we are also contracted for animal services for 13 municipalities, provide education and learning opportunities both in schools and in centres for youth and adults, we offer a wide variety of low-cost veterinary services to support people and pets, and we have growing outreach services to help pet owners in crisis with emergency boarding and pet food resources.
How We are Funded
The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth is a registered charity that is self-funded and self-governed. Outside of contracts for animal control services, we receive no government funding. We rely on the generosity of our donors to help people and pets within our communities and to provide animal welfare focused community education and outreach.
MISSION
We are leaders in animal welfare in our communities and committed to promoting the human-animal bond, while focusing on the responsible treatment of animals through education, collaboration, compliance, advocacy and care.
VISION
Communities that value and respect animals.
VALUES
- Serving communities
- Humane treatment of animals
- Innovation and learning
- Compassion and dedication
- Leadership and collaboration
- Accountability
Our History
The Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society was founded in 1927 to look after the welfare of animals in Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding communities. The Stratford Perth Humane Society was formerly established in 1973 as a branch of the Ontario SPCA. In 2012, we assumed ownership and became one organization, now known as The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth (HSKWSP).
Today, HSKWSP is one of the largest humane societies in Ontario.