Behind the Scenes at the Wellington Humane Society

When people think of humane societies, they often picture wagging tails, cuddly cats, and families taking home new pets. 

Those moments are beautiful, and our staff loves moments like these. But most people don’t realize that they are only the final chapter of a much longer story. 

Come with us as we take you behind the scenes at our humane society and show you the part most people never see. 

The Day Starts Before the Doors Open

Before our doors open and visitors arrive, our kennel technicians are already working hard. At 7am, they arrive, greeting the animals. Some dogs bark morning greetings back, while some hang back, still unsure of where they are and who they can trust. Staff start letting the dogs outside to potty and start the washer and dryer, one of the many loads that will be done that day. 

Breakfast is served, and medicine is given before they begin the task of cleaning kennels and cat colonies. Bedding that is chewed or soiled is replaced with clean blankets and beds, litter boxes are scooped, and cages are sanitized (sometimes multiple times a day if we have puppies). Every space is reset with care and love. Volunteers assist with cleaning and walking dogs, which is a huge help to our staff. Our evening staff stay until 8pm, cleaning kennels and cages again, feeding dinner, giving evening medications, and power washing outside dog runs, among other things. 

It’s not glamorous work. It’s repetitive. It’s messy. It’s physical. 

It is one of the most important parts of keeping the animals healthy and happy. One simple act of love, over and over again, because a clean bed and full belly may be the first kindness some of these animals have known in a long time. 

Medical Care Never Stops 

There is often a steady flow through our vet area. A dog gets vaccines that help protect it against deadly illnesses like parvo. A cat who comes in skinny and weak gets fluids and small meals multiple times a day as staff carefully monitor them. An incision from spay surgery is checked and monitored as if it were our own pet–because, for now, they are. 

All of our animals receive:

• Vaccinations

• Spay/neuter surgeries

• Microchips

• Exams for injuries or illness

• Medications and treatments

When animals get adopted, they are healthy, but they don’t always come in like that. Some animals arrive underweight, scared, or have medical needs that result in weeks of care and recovery. Our staff work alongside our contracted veterinary team to ensure the animals get the care they need, no matter if it’s a few days or weeks. 

Behavior Work You Don’t Always See

Shelter animals need more than just food and a warm place to sleep. They need exercise and mental stimulation as well. Some animals enter our shelter unsure of people, nervous, and overwhelmed. Some growl out of fear while others may shut down completely. 

Our staff have to build trusting relationships with these animals, which may take weeks. A quiet voice, extra treats, giving space when space is needed, our staff work with each animal's needs. A simple “I love you” can make a big difference. Moments like these don’t always make our social media pages, but they matter. 

While we don’t fully train every single dog, we do try to provide some training when we can. We rely on our volunteers to help us spend time with the animals, especially the dogs. By teaching basic manners, helping build confidence in shy pets, providing enrichment such as toys or peanut butter lick mats, going on walks, or playing ball, we can help these animals adjust to the shelter. 

A calmer, happier animal is also more likely to succeed in a home, which we want, and that takes a lot of patience and daily effort on our part and that of the future adopter. 

The Phones, Emails, and Paperwork

While the kennel techs are busy caring for the animals, they are also helping the office assistant with the administrative side of things. Since we are a small staff, it’s all hands on deck! We also rely heavily on volunteers to help with office work. 

The phones ring. Emails come in. Families call about a lost pet. Someone needs help rehoming their pet. A foster parent has a medical question. An adoption application needs reviewing. A service needs scheduling. A family needs food from our pet pantry. A dog was found and needs to be scanned for a microchip. A fundraiser needs to be finalized and shared on social media. A new animal needs photos taken for their profile picture. 

It’s a constant balancing act between urgent needs and long-term planning–trying to help animals while also helping the people who love them. Humane work isn’t just about pets. It’s about community. 

Foster Homes: An Invisible Lifeline

Many of the most fragile animals aren’t even in the building. Bottle baby kittens, puppies that need extra care, timid dogs or cats that are shutting down in the shelter often go to foster homes. Our staff coordinates supplies, medical care, and check-ins to support these lifesavers who open their homes for these animals who need us most. 

Our fosters are an extension of the shelter’s heart, making room when the building can’t, because without our foster families, we wouldn’t be able to save so many lives. 

The Emotional Side

As much as we celebrate every recovery and adoption, we also carry the emotional weight of the hard moments. The animals that are scared, injured, or coming from bad situations are hard to see, but we know they need us more than ever. Our staff see things that stay with them a long time. 

But we also see healing. The trembling dog at the back of the kennel blossoms into a happy-go-lucky pup who finds his new loving family. The senior cat, who was grieving their owner, was learning to love and trust again. We see the second chances unfold in real time. 

The joy is real, but the heartbreak is too. 

And yet, we still show up day after day for these animals. 

Why It Matters

All of this unseen work has one goal: give every animal the best possible chance at a healthy, happy future. 

Behind the scenes may not always look like magic, but it is. 

• Turning fear into safety. 

• Hunger into comfort. 

• Loneliness into belonging. 

Our staff choose compassion, even when the work is hard and the days are long. 

Next time you see an adoption photo or visit the shelter, know that there are a dozen quiet tasks, caring hands, and people who show up every day because the animals need them.