The Wayne County Humane Society was chartered by the State of Ohio on February 27, 1973. The first board of directors started a serious fund raising campaign to build an animal shelter to house stray and abandoned dogs and cats in Wayne County. Initially, the old Smith Dairy building on Madison Avenue was rented for a temporary shelter to house stray dogs. Volunteers managed the shelter as well as fostered some of the animals in their homes.

In 1976, the board of directors was approached by the mayor of Wooster to contract the humane society for animal control within the city. An agreement was signed and the city of Wooster arranged to lease property to the humane society for the purpose of building an animal shelter. The shelter was later built for $40,000.00.

In March of 1980, the Wayne County Commissioners contracted with the humane society to house and care for all dogs picked up by the Wayne County Dog Warden's Office. This contract remains today.

In 1995, the Wayne County Humane Society animal shelter was over-crowded and desperately needed to grow. Another crucial fund raising campaign resulted in the renovation of the old shelter and a new building. The animals were moved into the new building on September 1, 1996.

The renovations and new building were paid for by private donations, totalling over $600,000.00. The shelter remains today and is staffed by full and part-time employees, as well as numerous irreplacable volunteers.

All of the efforts of the past and present staff, volunteers, and board members are done to benefit the homeless animals in Wayne County and to secure the mission of the Wayne County Humane Society.

Written by: Mary Ickes - Retired Wayne County Dog Warden, former employee of WCHS.