The Humane Society of the Ozarks is a private, non-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals in Northwest Arkansas. Funded through contributions from area individuals and businesses, grants, special fundraising events and the annual dues paid by members of the Society. Founded in 1946 by Fayetteville citizens intent upon ending the city's cruel practices of animal control, these humanitarians worked closely with a veterinarian, developed and active adoption program and instituted humane treatment of wild, lost and abandoned animals.

The HSO played a major role in establishing, funding and upgrading the Fayetteville Animal Shelter, which is now funded by the City of Fayetteville. This shelter is considered by many to be of the finest such facilities in the State of Arkansas.

The HSO's mission is "to promote the humane treatment of all animals". Supporting this mission, the HSO maintains that humans have a moral and legal responsibility to care for animals.

Additionally, the HSO actively promotes the spaying and neutering of companion animals and works cooperatively with other agencies to find long-term solutions to problems affecting animals in Northwest Arkansas.


Programs and Services

Low-cost Spay and Neuter Program
With the help of participating veterinarians, the HSO is proud to offer a spay and neuter program open to any pet owner that resides in Northwest Arkansas. Typically, these vouchers are given out to dogs that have been adopted from shelters or rescues or is a stray that has been taken in. Vouchers and additional program information are available at the HSO office.

Emergency Outreach
Financial assistance is available to low-income pet owners needing help with pet medical emergencies and other special needs.

Shelter and Rescue Outreach
Grant funding is available to area shelters and rescues for projects and special needs that may fall outside of their annual budgets.

Education Program
The KIND News newsletter is delivered to over 30 elementary school libraries in Northwest Arkansas. This monthly newsletter teaches children the importance of treating people, animals and the environment with respect.

Cruelty Prevention
The HSO monitors animal cruelty cases in close partnership with city and county Animal Control Officers and provides educational presentations for children and adult audiences about combating animal cruelty. We do employ a certified cruelty investigator

Adoption Awareness
The HSO promotes the adoption of animals from all of the local shelter and rescue groups.

Legislation Felony animal cruelty legislation is long overdue in Arkansas and we have come one step closer to making this important legislation a reality for Arkansans and their pets. In February of 2007 Senator Sue Madison (D-Fayetteville) today introduced SB 777 which would make aggravated cruelty to dogs, cats, and horses a felony. Representative Pam Adcock (D-Little Rock) is the lead House sponsor.

Unfortunately, SB 777 failed to get out of the House Agriculture. We had a great opportunity to present the bill, we had excellent testimony, and we had an excellent turnout from all of you supporters out there. Unfortunately, it was not enough. We did receive 5 "yes" votes, but we needed 11 to get out of the Committee. We are already gearing up for the 2009 legislative session and to pass felony animal cruelty in the State of Arkansas.

The bill takes the most serious animal abuse against dogs, cats, and horses – torture, depraved killings, neglect that results in prolonged suffering or death, and abuse in front of a child – and calls it what it is: A FELONY.

The bill exempts activities that are obviously lawful: self-defense or defense of others, protecting livestock and poultry, lawful veterinary purposes, Good Samaritan acts for animals in distress, bona fide animal research activities, euthanizing animals, and humanely killing sick animals.

The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Jimmy Jeffress (D-Crossett), Mary Anne Salmon (D-North Little Rock), Ruth Whitaker (R-Cedarville), and Robert Thompson (D-Paragould) and Representatives Kathy Webb (D-Little Rock), Rick Saunders (D-Hot Springs), Shirley Walters (R-Greenwood), Will Bond (D-Little Rock), and Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville). We were very grateful for their early support.

To make this important legislation a reality during the 2009 legislative session, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

     What You Can Do:

• Contact your State Representative and your State Senator (see tips below).
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper (see tips below).
• Forward this email to friends, family members, and co-workers in Arkansas who you believe are interested in having a felony animal cruelty law

     Reasons to Support SB 777: 42 states have felony animal cruelty laws. Only Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah lack felony cruelty provisions. Notably, every Southern agricultural state has a felony cruelty law, except for Arkansas and Mississippi.

There is a strong connection between domestic abuse and animal abuse. Nearly three-quarters of families with school-age children have at least one companion animal. Unfortunately, abusive family members may threaten, injure, or kill pets, often as a way of threatening or controlling others in the family. In fact, a 1997 study revealed that animals are abused in 88% of families where children are abused.

Cruelty toward animals can be the first sign of a violent pathology that includes human victims. Notorious serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Albert DeSalvo (the "Boston Strangler"), David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam"), and Dennis Rader (the "BTK" killer) all tortured animals before they started hurting people. Columbine students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold and D.C.-area sniper Lee Boyd Malvo also tortured animals before becoming teenaged killers. Studies of prison inmates reveal that as many as 75% of violent offenders had early records of animal cruelty.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association's National Pet Owner Survey, 74 percent of pet owners say that they would be willing to go into debt in order to provide for their animal's well-being. It's time the law valued our pets as much as we do. It's not "just a dog," "just a cat," or "just a horse," it's our Max, our Maggie, or our Buddy.


Membership Matters! We Need You!
Your tax-deductible membership dues entitle you to receive InPrint, the HSO's quarterly newsletter which is sent by email to reduce the amount of paper used by our office. All members are invited to attend our Annual Membership Meeting which is usually held the first of the year and are welcome to participate in all HSO activities. Members can take pride in belonging to the HSO, an organization with a long and distinguished history of achievement in helping the animals in our area.