Community Resources - Wisconsin Humane Society

MORE Adoption Specials: find your new best friend at WHS!

Stray Animal Holding

The Wisconsin Humane Society is responsible for housing most stray/lost animals in Ozaukee, Door, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Brown, and Racine Counties. Per Wisconsin State Statute 173.21, WHS holds animals for a minimum of 4 days, plus 1 for the day of intake – at least 5 days total. During their stay with us, stray animals receive nourishing meals, medical attention, and daily enrichment. After the hold has lapsed, ownership of the animal is transferred to the Wisconsin Humane Society, and the animal can begin their journey to adoption.

To view all stray animals who are currently in our care, please visit our stray listings here.

To learn more about what to do if you’ve found a lost animal, who provides stray services in your area, how to adopt a stray you found, and much more, please review our stray animal FAQ’s.
Adoption Services
WHS offers a robust adoption program that pairs thousands of animals with loving families each year. With sheltering campuses in Milwaukee, Saukville, Mount Pleasant, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Kenosha, as well as off-site adoption centers and an incredible team of foster parents, we’re able to collaborate across locations, which benefits not only the animals in our care but also the eager families who walk through our doors.

Every animal in our adoption program has as long as it takes to find a home; there are no limits based on time or space. Adoptions occur on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as it’s a good fit, and in most cases, you’ll go home with your new addition the same day! Learn more about our adoption process here.

Adopter Profile

First, you’ll need to complete an Adopter Profile – this is not an application, but rather a starting point for discussion to help you find the right fit for your family. It will stay on file for 60 days.

submit an adopter profile
Featured Pets for Adoption

Find your new best friend at the Wisconsin Humane Society today!

On Deck

“Tasha”

4 months

Female

Kenosha Campus

On Deck

“Mystra”

4 months

Female

Kenosha Campus

Benji

4 years

Male

Kenosha Campus

Coming Soon

Prism

3 months

Female

Kenosha Campus

On Deck

Kalahari

1 year, 6 months

Female

Kenosha Campus

Working Cat

Blondie

1 year, 1 month

Female

Green Bay Campus

View More Animals
Home To Home Adoptions

If you haven’t found your match at WHS yet, we recommend visiting the Home To Home website to view local animals in need of new homes. This third-party website helps animals find new families while they’re still in their current homes, rather than surrendering them to a shelter or rescue group.

learn more
Animal-Friendly Housing Support

Page coming soon – stay tuned!
Behavior Video Library
Watch as our WHS behavior experts demonstrate how to handle many of the most common behavioral challenges and provide preventative tips to help set your pet up for success.

Video topics include:
Dog Video Demonstrations:

Decompression Walks

Modifying Leash Reactivity

The Trade Game

Resource Guarding Management

Behavior Modification for Barrier Reactivity

Using Barriers to Support Your Behavior Modification Plan

A Guide to Muzzle Training

Cat Video Demonstrations:

Teach Your Cat to Love Their Carrier

Introducing a Fearful Cat to Your Home

Introducing a New Cat to Your Resident Cat

Kitten Socialization
View Video library
Home to Home Adoption

Adopt Directly From an Owner

If you haven’t found your match at the Wisconsin Humane Society yet, we recommend visiting the Home To Home website to view local animals in need of new homes. This third-party website helps animals find new families while they’re still in their current homes, rather than surrendering them to a shelter or rescue group.

The pets on Home To Home are not animals in the care of the Wisconsin Humane Society, and WHS is not involved in the adoption process. Instead, this is a courtesy listing of animals out in the community who are remaining in their current homes until their guardians can find them new families. If you have questions or are interested in adopting any of the animals featured on the site, please click on their photo and send an inquiry to the current owner directly through their profile.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is not responsible for any health or behavioral concerns these animals may have.

View animals on home to home

Are you looking to list your animal on Home To Home? Visit our Virtual Rehoming page for more information on how to get started.
Behavior Tips Library

Whether your cat is avoiding the litterbox or your puppy won’t stop chewing your shoes, we’ve got resources to help you navigate a wide variety of common behavior challenges! Created by our behavior experts using science-based approaches, all of our resources utilize positive reinforcement and strengthen the bonds between humans and their companions.

View behavior tips Library

If you’ve already combed through the resources library and still need further support with a challenge, you can reach our behavior team at behavior@wihumane.org or 414-431-6173.
Pet Loss Support
We offer quarterly group Pet Loss and Grief Seminars at the WHS Milwaukee Campus, open to all who are grieving the loss of a companion animal. Led by WHS volunteer and licensed psychologist Dr. Douglas Higbie, this free 1.5-hour seminar will cover the following topics, as well as offer the opportunity to share about your beloved pet:
- Review the stages of loss
- Defining quality of life
- Factors to consider about humane euthanasia
- Ways to survive and cope with your loss
- Options to consider for memorializing your pet
- Decision-making around welcoming home a new pet
- Helping children cope
- Opportunity to ask questions
Attendance is limited, so we ask that you kindly RSVP.

View our events gallery for upcoming dates and to reserve your spot.
Cremation Services

WHS offers dignified cremation services to the public at all of our sheltering locations. This can occur after utilizing our humane euthanasia services or as a standalone resource after your pet has already passed away.

Service Options

Communal Cremation | Your pet will be cremated alongside other animals, and their remains will not be returned to you.

Private Cremation | Your pet will be cremated separately, and their ashes will be returned to you in a secure container.

Scheduling Your Services

If you do not require euthanasia services, walk-in visits are welcome for cremation services. If possible, please use the relevant location information below to call ahead so we can prepare for your arrival and offer our assistance.
Virtual Rehoming
Home To Home is a third-party website that helps animals find new families while they’re still in their current homes, rather than surrendering them to a shelter or rescue group.

View animals to adopt

rehome your pet

Rehome Your Pet

When it comes to finding a new home for your animal, their best resource is often you! Since you know all their preferences, habits, and routines, your insight can be incredibly helpful in finding them a great match. Plus, through virtual rehoming, your animal gets to stay in a familiar environment (your home) while you search for an adopter or foster home, rather than coming to a shelter.

Home To Home is a direct-to-adopter online tool for pet guardians looking to rehome their animals:
- All species are welcome on the site, as long as they are legal to have as pets in Wisconsin.
- All listings are reviewed and approved by a Wisconsin Humane Society volunteer to dissuade any misuse of the site. Once your listing is live, you will work one-on-one with potential adopters to determine who is the best match for your animal and complete the adoption yourself. Check out our Rehoming Guide for more info, support, and questions to ask potential adopters.
- WHS is not responsible for the medical or behavioral condition of the animals listed, nor the outcomes of your conversations with potential adopters or foster parents.
List an animal on home to home

Adopt an Animal

If you haven’t found your match at the Wisconsin Humane Society yet, we recommend visiting the Home To Home website to view local animals in need of new homes.

The pets on Home To Home are not animals in the care of the Wisconsin Humane Society, and WHS is not involved in the adoption process. Instead, this is a courtesy listing of animals out in the community who are remaining in their current homes until their guardians can find them new families. If you have questions or are interested in adopting any of the animals featured on the site, please click on their photo and send an inquiry to the current owner directly through their profile.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is not responsible for any health or behavioral concerns these animals may have.

View animals on home to home
Pets for Life

The Wisconsin Humane Society’s Pets for Life program reaches animals and families in underserved Milwaukee neighborhoods with little to no access to pet care resources. We maintain a consistent community presence and build relationships through door-to-door outreach, provide free pet care services, and remove barriers like transportation and cost so families can provide important care to the animals they love.

Our Pets for Life program serves people and animals in Milwaukee’s 53206 and 53205 zip codes and Amani, Franklin Heights, Halyard Park, Harambee, Metcalfe Park, Midtown, and Walnut Hill neighborhoods, where not a single veterinary clinic currently exists. Through door-to-door outreach, our team provides free spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, and other resources while building trust and relationships with community members.

Support the Program

You can make a contribution to support our Pets for Life program using our secure donation form. Your gift of any size directly helps us keep pets in the homes where they’re loved and leaves more room in our shelters for animals who don’t already have an advocate. Thank you for your support!

donate here

We are tremendously grateful to the following donors for their support:

Humane World for Animals
Laura J. Niles Foundation
Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust
Ralph Evinrude Foundation
Anon Charitable Trust
Old National Bank
James E. Dutton Foundation
Athletes 4 Animals