Where it All Began...

On September 11, 1922, the original charter for the creation of the Humane Society of Jefferson County was granted by the state. In the year 2007 we will celebrate 85 years of fulfilling our mission, which is “to provide for the lost, homeless, neglected and abused animals of Jefferson County”.

In the early days after the Depression the shelter occupied a Quonset hut just north of the city of Jefferson. The caretakers of the shelter, Fred and Helen, Lehman lived in a small house on the property and were paid $100.00 a month. The city also paid them $3.00 for each dog they took in as a stray.

Don Meske was appointed as humane officer in 1965 and took on the job of caring for the shelter and the animals until 1975. He and his family shared the animal care duties. Don said, “ It kept the kids busy and helped them grow up into good human beings.”

In the seventies the organization saw a tremendous increase in the number of animals needing assistance. The society re-examined its mission and assessed the future. The society decided to focus on rebuilding or remodeling the shelter, the care of the animals and making an effort to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.

Fifteen years later, the number of litters of puppies decreased because the public had begun to spay and neuter their dogs but the number of unwanted cats and kittens continued to rise.

In 1978 the shelter was moved to its current location on Kiesling Road in Jefferson. Originally a privately run kennel for dogs, the shelter was remodeled to house dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and the occasional farm animal. 

After almost thirty years the facility is experiencing growing pains and is in need of repairs and remodeling. Our goal within the next 3-5 years includes updates to the shelter so we can continue to provide excellent care for the homeless animals entrusted to our care.