History
About HSIMC
The Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County held its first meeting September 26, 1979 in the Home Federal Building in Ukiah, under its former name, Domestic Animal Protection Society, Inc. (DAPS).
The articles of incorporation as a Humane Society were adopted and tax exempt status was obtained in 1980. Then beginning in 1981, DAPS ran the Rummage Room thrift store and office on Clara Avenue in Ukiah. At times, the early Humane Society operated out of people’s homes and held bake sales to maintain services.
DAPS focused on spay neuter assistance, fostering homeless animals, and education. Their efforts in public education included awareness of homeless animals being sold into research (pound seizure), and animal welfare in the food industry.
On April 5, 1988, DAPS members voted to change the name of the organization to Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, to recognize, in title, its status as a Humane Society (distinct from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society.) The newly renamed organization refocused its efforts on establishing a shelter for homeless animals, animal rights legislation, education, cruelty prevention, rescue and adoption, and the general welfare of homeless animals.
Part of DAPS formed a separate group, called Spay Neuter Assistance Program, S.N.A.P., in order to direct its efforts on spay neuter. They have since helped spay or neuter over 12,000 animals in the community in order to help reduce the overpopulation of domestic animals, (both pets and ferals,) and to prevent animal homelessness.
The Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, which had always been politically active, was instrumental in helping get AB 2863, which extends protections to feral domestic animals, passed in Sacramento in 1988.
Four volunteer State Humane Officers from HSIMC investigated animal cruelty for Mendocino County. At the time, the County’s Animal Control department, under the Agricultural Department, staffed animal control officers, whose primary function was to pick up strays.
In the early 1990s, the late Beatrice Breese, a local long time supporter of the Humane Society, funded the purchase of a property to open a shelter to serve the inland area of the County. The only restriction on her very generous gift was that the shelter be located south of Willits and north of Ukiah serving the inland area of Mendocino County.
With much help from many members of the community, HSIMC opened the shelter on Uva Drive in 1993.
Although the early years of running the shelter were challenging at times, the Humane Society has persevered and continues to serve the entire community as a member-voting and locally supported organization. Currently, HSIMC provides temporary shelter, and finds new homes for, between 50 and 100 dogs, and several hundred cats, annually. We continue to advocate for animal rights ,and to educate, providing information to the public, and hosting local school groups.
The Humane Society is celebrating nearly 30 years of serving the community and our animal population. Join HSIMC in taking our mission for animal welfare to the next level in the next 30 years. Opportunities abound in volunteering, membership, adopting, event attendance, and donating.