Yancey County Humane Society

A Dedicated Haven for Local Animals

Our mission is to provide shelter and care for homeless, injured, and neglected animals through adoption, community outreach, and education. We envision a community where all companion animals live free from suffering, valued by responsible guardians.

Building a Better Future

The Yancey County Humane Society is a non-partisan, privately owned nonprofit dedicated to the welfare of our local animals. After dreaming of an on-site surgical space for years, we recently opened our own low-cost spay and neuter clinic to provide essential care for shelter animals and community pets alike.

Our Commitment to Care

Our staff and volunteers truly love the animals in our care, working daily to ensure our shelter environment remains clean, comfortable, and happy. We also utilize a foster program to support animals in need and manage a waitlist for personal pet relinquishment when we are at capacity. Every animal that enters our care is treated with compassion as we work to secure their health and wellbeing.

Finding Your Perfect Match

We take great care to match our dogs and cats with the right families because we want these connections to last a lifetime. Our adoption process is designed to be simple and transparent, ensuring that every pet finds a home suited to their specific temperament and needs. We are here to support you through the transition, offering guidance and resources to ensure your new family member thrives.

Join Our Mission

Whether you are looking to add a new member to your family, want to volunteer your time, or are interested in becoming a foster parent, there are many ways to get involved. Please visit our website to explore our currently available animals or contact us today to learn how you can make a lasting difference in the lives of Yancey County’s animals.

Trust Assessment
GoldRated Nov 4, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedPhysical FacilityOperating 40+ years
Finances
Online Review Highlights
  • Knowledgeable and kind staff
  • Affordable veterinary services
  • Inconsistent internal communication
Vetted byASPCAPETCO LOVE
How we assess
Coverage We Reviewed
WKYK

9/15 - Yancey Humane Pawty on the Town! Get Your Tickets Now

Join us for a fun evening at the Yancey County Humane Society’s Paw-ty on the Town Fall Fundraiser! Get ready for a lively night filled with mouthwatering local food catered by Pig & Grits and high-energy live music from Gypsy River. Guests

WKYK
Improves Trust

6/30 - Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Leaders Support Yancey Humane Society

Leaders from Blue Ridge Regional Hospital recently came together for a community service project benefiting the Yancey Humane Society, creating more than 400 homemade dog treats and rope toys for local shelter animals. The donated items will

Recent Videos

10/30 - Let’s find Burrito a family this weekend! We are open Friday 12-5, Saturday 12-4 Our velveteen hippo, Burrito, is still with us. Almost 3 months, that’s how long our sweet Burrito has been waiting for someone to fall in love with him. 🖤 Meet Burrito, our handsome black pittie with a big blocky head, an even bigger personality, and quite possibly the sweetest heart you’ll ever meet! Burrito is around 5 years old, and to know this boy is to absolutely LOVE him. He is the goofiest, sweetest beefcake there ever was! He loves other dogs, walks beautifully on a leash, and is always up for a good hike or a competitive game of tug-of-war. He is EXTREMELY food motivated, which makes him an absolute joy to work with! When he’s not playing or being his goofy self, you’ll probably find him stretched out in the sunshine, enjoying a good sunbathing session. But Burrito’s story hasn’t always been sunshine and happiness. He came to us as a stray, extremely underweight and unsure of the world around him. Over the last 70 days, we’ve watched this boy transform. He’s gained weight beautifully, learned to trust, and blossomed into the confident, playful, affectionate dog we know and adore today. Burrito has become a huge staff favorite, and while we absolutely love having him around, 70 days is far too long for a dog this wonderful to be without a family of his own. One of our favorite things about Burrito is that despite everything he’s been through, he has never lost his sweetness. Life hasn’t always been kind to this boy, but somehow, he still chooses to be kind to everyone he meets. And honestly, that sums up our big-headed, goofy, sunshine-loving beefcake perfectly. 🖤 Burrito deserves a life where he’s someone’s whole world, not just another dog waiting in a kennel. Please come meet our sweet boy. We promise he’s even more lovable in person. And if you can’t adopt, please share. After 70 days, we’re really hoping it’s finally Burrito’s turn. 🐾

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10/29 - Our velveteen hippo, Burrito, is still with us. Almost 3 months, that’s how long our sweet Burrito has been waiting for someone to fall in love with him. 🖤 Meet Burrito, our handsome black pittie with a big blocky head, an even bigger personality, and quite possibly the sweetest heart you’ll ever meet! Burrito is around 5 years old, and to know this boy is to absolutely LOVE him. He is the goofiest, sweetest beefcake there ever was! He loves other dogs, walks beautifully on a leash, and is always up for a good hike or a competitive game of tug-of-war. He is EXTREMELY food motivated, which makes him an absolute joy to work with! When he’s not playing or being his goofy self, you’ll probably find him stretched out in the sunshine, enjoying a good sunbathing session. But Burrito’s story hasn’t always been sunshine and happiness. He came to us as a stray, extremely underweight and unsure of the world around him. Over the last 70 days, we’ve watched this boy transform. He’s gained weight beautifully, learned to trust, and blossomed into the confident, playful, affectionate dog we know and adore today. Burrito has become a huge staff favorite, and while we absolutely love having him around, 70 days is far too long for a dog this wonderful to be without a family of his own. One of our favorite things about Burrito is that despite everything he’s been through, he has never lost his sweetness. Life hasn’t always been kind to this boy, but somehow, he still chooses to be kind to everyone he meets. And honestly, that sums up our big-headed, goofy, sunshine-loving beefcake perfectly. 🖤 Burrito deserves a life where he’s someone’s whole world, not just another dog waiting in a kennel. Please come meet our sweet boy. We promise he’s even more lovable in person. And if you can’t adopt, please share. After 70 days, we’re really hoping it’s finally Burrito’s turn. 🐾

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10/27 - Meet Burrito. 70 DAYS. That’s how long our sweet Burrito has been waiting for someone to fall in love with him. 🖤 Meet Burrito, our handsome black pittie with a big blocky head, an even bigger personality, and quite possibly the sweetest heart you’ll ever meet! Burrito is around 5 years old, and to know this boy is to absolutely LOVE him. He is the goofiest, sweetest beefcake there ever was! He loves other dogs, walks beautifully on a leash, and is always up for a good hike or a competitive game of tug-of-war. He is EXTREMELY food motivated, which makes him an absolute joy to work with! When he’s not playing or being his goofy self, you’ll probably find him stretched out in the sunshine, enjoying a good sunbathing session. But Burrito’s story hasn’t always been sunshine and happiness. He came to us as a stray, extremely underweight and unsure of the world around him. Over the last 70 days, we’ve watched this boy transform. He’s gained weight beautifully, learned to trust, and blossomed into the confident, playful, affectionate dog we know and adore today. Burrito has become a huge staff favorite, and while we absolutely love having him around, 70 days is far too long for a dog this wonderful to be without a family of his own. One of our favorite things about Burrito is that despite everything he’s been through, he has never lost his sweetness. Life hasn’t always been kind to this boy, but somehow, he still chooses to be kind to everyone he meets. And honestly, that sums up our big-headed, goofy, sunshine-loving beefcake perfectly. 🖤 Burrito deserves a life where he’s someone’s whole world, not just another dog waiting in a kennel. Please come meet our sweet boy. We promise he’s even more lovable in person. And if you can’t adopt, please share. After 70 days, we’re really hoping it’s finally Burrito’s turn. 🐾

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10/22 - Meet Boone, (aka Bodie.) A sweet boy who is absolutely breaking our hearts. 💔 Boone is almost 7 years old and was adopted from us back in 2023. Unfortunately, after struggling to adjust to a move to Florida, he has found himself back in our care. And guys, he is NOT doing well. Some dogs adjust to shelter life. They learn the routine, enjoy their enrichment, make friends, and eventually settle in while they wait for their forever families. Boone is not one of those dogs. He is completely overwhelmed by the noise, the unfamiliar faces, and the constant activity around him. He spends his days pacing his kennel, howling, and desperately trying to make sense of where he is and why he’s here. Our enrichment activities that normally bring comfort to our dogs? He has absolutely no interest. Even during playgroups, surrounded by other dogs, Boone spends most of his time staring out into the parking lot, searching for a familiar face. And that is what breaks our hearts the most. He is still looking for his people. Boone doesn’t understand what happened. He doesn’t understand why the life he knew is suddenly gone. All he knows is that he’s somewhere unfamiliar, and the people he loved aren’t there. Despite everything, this boy is SO incredibly sweet. He loves people, bonds quickly, and wants nothing more than to be close to someone who makes him feel safe. He does well with other dogs and truly is such a good boy. We are watching him regress in his kennel, and we desperately need to get him out before his mental well-being deteriorates further. Boone has already spent years being someone’s dog. He knows what having a home feels like, and we want nothing more than to give that back to him. He doesn’t need anything extravagant. He just needs someone patient, loving, and committed to making sure the next home he walks into is the one he gets to stay in for the rest of his life. Boone’s adoption fee is COMPLETELY WAIVED. Please, if you’ve been considering adopting, come meet this sweet boy. He deserves so much more than spending his days pacing a kennel, waiting for someone who isn’t coming back. He has already lost his home once. Let’s make sure he never has to experience that heartbreak again. And if you can’t adopt, PLEASE share Boone’s story. Somewhere out there is someone who could change this boy’s entire world. ❤️

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10/19 - UPDATE: he has been adopted! 🥹🥹♥️

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10/19 - Well, our sweet senior, Apex, didn’t get adopted this weekend 😔 Please share his story. He’s become our longest term dog here and he deserves to spend his golden years curled up on someone’s couch getting belly rubs. Apex was adopted but returned after a short stay at no fault of his own. He is eager to find his forever home and has patiently been waiting for 3 months now. This old man is ready to retire! Apex is around 8 years old. He is one of those dogs who could slide into just about any lifestyle. He’s chill, sweet, easygoing, affectionate, and basically all the BEST parts of owning a hound. Now, does he have an inner voice? Absolutely not. 😂 When Apex gets excited, the entire county may hear about it but that’s just part of his hound-dog charm! Please consider giving one of our longest residents a chance. He has watched so many other dogs walk out those doors with their families while he continues to wait. It’s his turn. ❤️🐾

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10/17 - 🌧️🐾 Rain or shine, enrichment time is ALWAYS a good time! 🐾🌧️ Well, today’s weather was absolutely GROSS, as you all know! 😅 Our dogs get their outdoor time whether it’s rain, snow, or sunshine, but on days like today, having enrichment activities to keep their minds busy and their bodies relaxed is especially important! We want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has purchased items from our enrichment wish list! ❤️ We have been putting every single donation to use DAILY, and the improvement we’re already seeing in our dogs during kennel time is so noticeable! Less boredom, more mental stimulation, and happier pups during those long hours in their kennels. 🥹🐶 It might seem like something small, but to our shelter dogs, these little things make a BIG difference. Thank you for helping us make their time here as comfortable and enriching as possible while they wait for their forever homes! ❤️🐾

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10/16 - Let’s get our sweet senior, Apex, adopted this weekend! Please share his story! He’s become our longest term dog here and he deserves to spend his golden years curled up on someone’s couch getting belly rubs. Apex was adopted but returned after a short stay at no fault of his own. He is eager to find his forever home and has patiently been waiting for almost 3 months now. This old man is ready to retire! Apex is around 8 years old. He is one of those dogs who could slide into just about any lifestyle. He’s chill, sweet, easygoing, affectionate, and basically all the BEST parts of owning a hound. Now, does he have an inner voice? Absolutely not. 😂 When Apex gets excited, the entire county may hear about it but that’s just part of his hound-dog charm! Please consider giving one of our longest residents a chance. He has watched so many other dogs walk out those doors with their families while he continues to wait. It’s his turn. ❤️🐾

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10/15 - Apex was adopted but returned after a short stay no fault of his own. He is eager to find his forever home and has patiently been waiting for almost 3 months now. This old man is ready to retire! Apex is around 8 years old. He is one of those dogs who could slide into just about any lifestyle. He’s chill, sweet, easygoing, affectionate, and basically all the BEST parts of owning a hound. Now, does he have an inner voice? Absolutely not. 😂 When Apex gets excited, the entire county may hear about it but that’s just part of his hound-dog charm! Please consider giving one of our longest residents a chance. He has watched so many other dogs walk out those doors with their families while he continues to wait. It’s his turn. ❤️🐾

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10/12 - The sweetest brother duo🥹

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Visit Us At

211 Kind Hearts Wy, Burnsville, NC 28714

info@yanceyhumanesociety.com
828-682-9510
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