Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Since 1950, the Blue Ridge Humane Society has been committed to helping pets in Henderson County. We are dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring communities through adoption, outreach, and education. As we continue to grow and evolve, we realize that we cannot fully meet the needs of the animals in our community by only working on one side of the leash.  

To fully support pets, we need to ensure we are supporting humans as well. Whether it’s a pet owner reaching out for assistance, a customer at our thrift store, or someone donating to our organization; the following is true. We must be proactive in creating programs that support and protect the human-animal bond, while also maintaining inclusivity throughout the community. To do this, we are committed to cultivating a welcoming environment that strives for social awareness and understanding. We realize and accept we must help both ends of the leash to truly succeed in our mission.  

We acknowledge that systemic injustices perpetuate poverty and health disparities. People experiencing these injustices are also pet owners. To ensure we are protecting the human-animal bond, Blue Ridge Humane Society is committed to working towards a more inclusive organization for all pets and people. We support antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion as organizational values. We are dedicated to co-creating a community where all people and pets are treated equitably, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, immigration, education status, abilities, or age.