Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Center
Our Mission
Homeward Bound, Addison County's Humane Society, is dedicated to supporting the human-animal bond through compassionate care, adoption, education, and advocacy. We strive to be a community-centered home for animals, ensuring they are treated as valued family members.
Our Commitment to Addison County
As a private, independent 501(c)(3) open admission shelter, we rely entirely on the generosity of our donors and volunteers rather than government funding. We serve over 2,000 animals annually, providing not just shelter, but also vital resources like our PetFIX and PetCORE programs to support pets and their owners throughout our community.
How We Care
Our dedicated staff and volunteers provide a nurturing environment for every animal in our care, offering compassionate, high-quality attention while they wait to find their forever homes. Because we do not have pre-established time limits for an animal's stay, we focus on providing each pet with the time, shelter, and medical care they need to thrive. Our facility in Middlebury serves as a hub of wellness and safety for animals in transition.
Your Next Best Friend
Adopting an animal is a wonderful, life-changing step for both you and your future companion. We believe that thoughtful, intentional matching is the secret to a successful, lifelong partnership. Our team is here to guide you through our process to help you find the pet that perfectly fits your family's lifestyle and home.
Join Our Mission
Are you ready to meet your new best friend or support the animals in our care? We invite you to view our adoptable animals online, fill out an adoption questionnaire, or contact us at 802-388-1100 to learn more. Together, we can ensure every animal in Addison County receives the love and security they deserve.
- Compassionate animal care
- Responsive and helpful staff
- Transparency regarding animal behavior/history
10/6 - Awesome adoption, fundraising updates
Our Forever Home series has been very busy over the last month or two. We have visited with all of the rescues and shelters we partner with, but we have also helped out with Central Vermont Humane …
10/2 - Pets with Potential: Meet Bebes, Jax, and Oakley
Homeward Bound in Addison County has several animals waiting for permanent homes.
8/20 - Pet Connection: Puppies and kittens, oh my!
A dog and several adorable cats are up for adoption in this week's Pet Connection.
5/21 - Pet Connection: Jax could be a wonderful companion to explore the great outdoors
In this week's Pet Connection, we're featuring a sweet boy named Jax who loves to explore as well as other wonderful pets in our region.
5/14 - Pet Connection: It would be a dog-gone shame not to check out these pets
Pet Connection has gone to the dogs! Check out these four pups in our area who need loving new homes.
11/4 - Who made the best biscuits? 🐾 #animalshelter #homewardboundanimals #adoptdontshop🐾 #sheltercats #catshelter
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11/3 - Ok, brace yourselves, we have epic levels of cuteness in Cat Land today! It’s a fantastic week to visit Homeward Bound to find your new family member, we have lots of friendly kittens and cool adults just waiting to meet you. If you see a picture of a cat you’re interested in, please visit our website and fill out an adoption application. You can also fill out an application when you arrive, our open hours are 11-3:30 from today through Saturday. Let’s find these kitties their new homes!! #adoptdontshop #kitten #homewardboundanimals #kittens #shelterkittens
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11/1 - It’s Alumni Sunday and we’ve got a fun one for you this week! Poppy, formerly Mozzarella, was adopted in May 2023 as a kitten. She had spent time in a foster home prior to adoption, and thus, she was very well socialized. As you can see, it paid off! Her family shares, “We always credit her Homeward Bound foster parents for making her the absolute chillest cat anyone has ever met!” #alumnisunday #adoptdontshop #homewardboundanimals #homesweethome #happilyeverafter
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10/29 - Spud and Yammy certainly know how to have fun! If you’re ready for a puppy, give us a call! We would love to host you for a meet and greet! #adoptdontshop #homewardboundanimals #hounddog #tugofwar #puppyplay
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10/27 - Happy #TinyTuesday from little miss Wednesday 🐈⬛🎃 Wednesday is a 1-year-old former stray available at Homeward Bound! If you bring this sweet pumpkin home, you're sure to enjoy Halloween joy all year round. Our open hours are 11 AM- 3:30PM Tuesday to Saturday, come on in! #catshelter #adoptable #adoptdontshop #catsofinstagram
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10/26 - Wearing a collar and walking on leash may seem like simple things, but for Tia (and her sister Tamara), these were foreign ideas when they arrived at the shelter! We are so proud of their progress! #shelterdog #germanshepherd #homewardboundanimals #shelterdogs #germanshepherds
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10/25 - It’s Alumni Sunday and today we have an update on Kitty (formerly Ariel), adopted in May 2013 at 9 months old! Her family shares, “Kitty is an absolute love and always has been! From napping with her human brother from the time he was an infant to 4 y.o., to letting me carry her around over my shoulder for hours, to laying on our laps almost every night while watching tv for lovin’s, to coming on camping trips with us and being close to her people and so much more! So glad she chose us so many years ago!” If you’d like us to feature YOUR Homeward Bound adoptee in a future Alumni Sunday post, please send an update and your favorite photos to development@homewardboundanimals.org. #alumnisunday #homesweethome #happilyeverafter #homewardboundanimals #foreverhome
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10/24 - 🐾 Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet? 🐱 Homeward Bound has an official YouTube channel! It's updated weekly with short videos featuring our wonderful shelter cats, and a great way to keep up with the animals... or maybe even spot your future best friend. We love getting to share these little moments with you! The YouTube channel link is among our links at the top of the profile! We're @HomewardBoundShelter. The kitten in the video is Salsa, who was adopted together with her mama in May 2026, and is among many featured on our channel. Come visit! #ShelterCats #AdoptDontShop #CatVideos #Reels #fyp
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10/24 - If you’re looking for Yammy and Spud this afternoon, you will likely find them napping! They hit the road this morning to meet as many potential families as possible in and around downtown Middlebury! #adoptdontshop #homewardboundanimals #houndpuppy #middleburyvt #shelterpuppy
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10/21 - Handsome, energetic and cuddly! That’s Bluey! At only 11 months, this boy is ready for a new adventure. He values his outdoor time, and you can often find him basking in the sun in his yard, even on colder days. We don’t know much about his past, but he’s lived with dogs and younger children. He loves dogs! Bluey is a fluffy guy and will require regular brushing and grooming. #adoptdontshop #shelterdog #homewardboundanimals #bluey #shelterdogs
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10/21 - Spend a day with our 15-year-old gentle orange hunk, Herman! He is available for adoption at Homeward Bound. Please visit our website at the top of our profile to learn more about him, or to submit an adoption application. #sheltercat #animalshelter #catshelter #adoptable #adoptdontshop🐾 #sheltercats #homewardbound #homewardboundanimals #supportlocalrescues #adoptme #seniorcat #seniorcats #seniorcatsrock #AdoptDontShop #adoptashelterpet #shelteranimals #shelteranimalsofinstagram #shelteranimalsofinsta #shelteranimalsrock
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10/19 - It’s Alumni Sunday, the day each week that we devote to Homeward Bound adoptees! Today we have an update on Sophie (formerly Tundra - black kitty) and Seamus (formerly Gunters). Their guardian writes, “These poor wee souls are living a rough life - three meals a day, many soft beds and blankies, a ludicrous number of toys, a companion to tear around with and, worst of all, a mum who absolutely adores them!” If you’d like is to feature YOUR Homeward Bound adoptee in an upcoming Alumni Sunday post, please send your update and photos to development@homewardboundanimals.org. #alumnisunday #homewardboundanimals #sheltercat #sheltercats #adoptdontshop
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