Humane Society of Atchison seeks help amid financial strain

The Humane Society of Atchison says rising veterinary bills, utilities and daily operating costs are putting pressure on a shelter that has served Atchison County since November 1991. The nonprofit, which cares for unwanted animals and places stray dogs and cats in permanent homes, is asking for community help to keep its doors open and its no-kill mission intact.

Public nonprofit records show the organization had 11 employees in its most recent filing and reported $304,981 in total revenues in fiscal 2024, against $270,764 in expenses. It listed $513,885 in total assets for the year. Recent grants included $15,000 from the Evah C Cray Residuary Charitable Trust, $13,179 from Network for Good and $13,000 from The Cloud L Cray and Sara J Cray Family Foundation, but the shelter says those streams have not been enough to offset the pressure of higher costs.

The Humane Society of Atchison provides ongoing care and shelter for animals that need a place to go, along with rescues, adoptions and low-fee spay/neuter and immunization programs for the public. Its website says donations are used to increase shelter care, owner education and adoption recruitment services, all of which are being limited by budget constraints. The shelter has also said it is often low on funds and makes frequent trips to veterinary clinics.

One shelter post said the COVID-19 pandemic made yearly fundraising events difficult and that an auction became the main fundraiser for the year, underscoring how dependent the organization remains on local giving. Another post said it takes about $500 to care for each animal that comes through the doors, a figure that helps explain how quickly the shelter’s costs can grow when intake rises or medical care is needed.

Rachel Kelley, a volunteer with the shelter, is among those speaking to the strain the organization is under. The Atchison Foundation also maintains a designated Humane Society of Atchison Fund to support homeless, abandoned and vulnerable animals with shelter, medical care and permanent homes.

If donations do not improve, the shelter’s most basic services, including animal care, adoptions and low-cost preventive care, could remain constrained. That would leave more stray and unwanted animals in Atchison County with fewer local options and place added pressure on the community’s broader animal-welfare network.