The Jacksonville Humane Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need while engaging the hearts, hands and minds of our community to bring about an end to the killing of abandoned and orphaned shelter animals.

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) is a local, independent, 501c3 non-profit in Jacksonville, Florida. We care for nearly 11,000 dogs and cats each year and offer a wide range of community programs including pet adoption, support for pet owners, resources for lost and found animals, veterinary outreach programs, youth programs, and more.

JHS receives no government funding, and our work is only made possible by the support of friends like you. Please consider a gift to provide compassionate care to pets and the people who love them.

JHS Mission

JHS History

JHS was founded in 1885 to serve Jacksonville and outlying areas in an animal control capacity. In 2005, the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) became a no-kill organization, and both JHS and Animal Care & Protective Services (ACPS) sustained 90% or higher save rates in 2014 – 2017 and in 2019 – 2021, making Jacksonville a no-kill city in these time periods.

In 2018, 2022, and 2023, Jacksonville animal shelters recorded save rates lower than 90%. Animal shelters in Jacksonville and across the country began to see declining save rates during these years due to a variety of factors including challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an ever-increasing housing and eviction crisis.

Saves rates in 2018, 2022, and 2023:

2018: ACPS 87%, JHS 92%.

2022: ACPS 87%, JHS 93%

2023: ACPS 86%, JHS 92%

Our joint commitment to no-kill and helping all savable animals in Jacksonville remains strong and we are confident that by working together, and with the support of our community, Jacksonville shelters will achieve a 90% city-wide save rate again soon.

JHS first moved onto our Beach Boulevard property in 1920, and we have been operating in this location ever since. The land was originally donated to JHS as a gift from the Bowden family. Ms. Flora Genth Bowden, a local animal advocate, was one of the first founders and the Humane Society’s first President.

A fire in 2007 tragically destroyed most of the original property, but with the support of our community, donors and friends, we were able to open the doors to our new Adoption, Education & Pet Help Center in 2017.

Upon moving into our new building in 2017, JHS launched a number of community-focused programs including humane education for children, Troops & Tails volunteer opportunities for veterans and active-duty military members, and our on-the-road mobile veterinary clinic for under-resourced communities.

Thanks to a grant from Petco Love, JHS is also the founder of Florida Leaders in Lifesaving, a program that provides tailored training and mentorships to animal welfare organizations throughout Florida in an effort to increase lifesaving for dogs and cats in shelters.

Jacksonville Humane Society

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