Humane Society of Fremont County Inc.
The Humane Society of Fremont County is an independent, private, and non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential animal services to the cities of Cañon City and Florence, the towns of Coal Creek, Westcliffe, and Silver Cliff and to Custer County, Colorado. Our open-admission animal shelter welcomes all animals in need, regardless of their background, breed or medical condition, and our mission is to provide them with the best possible care, compassion, and love.
As an independent and private organization, we operate separately from the Fremont County government or the city of Cañon City. We are not affiliated with the National Humane Society of the United States and do not receive any funding from them. We are an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a dedicated board of directors. This means that we are a non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Our independence allows us to provide specialized and tailored care for our animals in a compassionate and loving environment. We are committed to providing the best possible care for the animals in our shelter and to serving our community in a transparent, honest, and accountable way.
Open-Admission Animal Shelter
As an open-admission animal shelter, we are dedicated to helping every animal in need. We never turn away an animal, and we work tirelessly to provide them with a safe and loving home until they find their forever home. We believe that every animal deserves a chance at happiness, and we are committed to making a difference in their lives.
Our dedicated board of directors provides us with leadership and guidance, ensuring that we remain true to our mission and values. We are committed to transparency and accountability, and we welcome feedback from our community to improve our services and operations.
We take great pride in being an independent, private, and non-profit organization. It allows us to put the welfare of our animals first and to provide them with the care, compassion, and love they deserve. It also allows us to remain true to our mission and values, and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the animals and our community.
A Little History
Since 1950
Incorporated on December 26, 1950 by Cañon City businessman and animal advocate, Ralph J. Wann, his wife Hazel, and close friend Grace Green, the Humane Society of Fremont County (aka Cañon City Humane Society) was established as an independent, nonprofit organization with a mission to "provide refuge for the hurt and homeless, to prevent neglect and cruelty, to promote humane education and, by doing so, to enrich our own lives."
Thanks to the generous support provided by Mr. Wann during his lifetime, and later through the Ralph J. Wann Foundation, the Humane Society of Fremont County has been able to provide shelter and care to thousands of homeless and stray animals since 1950.
The shelter was founded in memory of Mr. Wann's dog, Tippy, who lived to be 21. Tippy became depressed and refused to eat during a trip Mr. Wann took to Europe. Distressed, Mr. Wann cut short his trip and returned home. The idea to build an animal shelter took root during that time frame.