Humane Society of Missouri

The Humane Society of Missouri — HSMO — was founded in 1870, making it one of the oldest humane societies in the United States and the second-oldest west of the Mississippi (after the Minnesota Humane Society in Minneapolis). The organization has grown over its 155 years into one of the most operationally complete humane societies in the country, with multiple campuses across Missouri and one of the largest equine rescue operations in the American Midwest.

The main St. Louis campus on Macklind Avenue houses adoption operations, a full veterinary medical center, and the organization's headquarters. Additional locations include the Maryland Heights and Chesterfield Valley adoption centers, the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, Missouri (for horses, farm animals, and large rescues), and a network of partner sites.

How they work

HSMO adoptions begin online or in person at any of the campuses. The application is short, the interview is conversational, and meet-and-greets happen for animals that look like a fit.

Adoption fees vary by animal and time of year. Fees include spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and a starter pack.

The shelter operates as no-kill in current practice. Animals are not euthanized for space, time, or treatable conditions.

Beyond standard adoptions, the organization runs:

• Animal Cruelty Task Force — one of the largest cruelty investigation arms of any American humane society. HSMO Task Force officers have statewide authority across Missouri and have led some of the largest organized rescue operations in U.S. history, including the 2009 rescue of over 500 dogs from a Missouri puppy mill operation that remains one of the largest single-event animal rescues in the country.
• Longmeadow Rescue Ranch — a 165-acre equine and farm-animal rescue facility in Union, Missouri, that handles hundreds of large-animal cases annually.
• A full-service veterinary medical center at the Macklind Avenue campus.
• Pet retention programs including food assistance, behavior support, and resource referrals.
• Foster networks spanning multiple campuses.
• Behavior and training programs including public dog training classes.
• Humane education programs across Missouri.

The institutional depth

The Humane Society of Missouri's 155 years of operation puts it in a category with the very oldest American humane societies — the ASPCA (1866), the MSPCA (1868), the SF SPCA (1868), and a handful of others. The organization has been involved in shaping Missouri animal welfare law throughout that period.

The Animal Cruelty Task Force is worth a specific note. Few American humane societies operate cruelty investigation arms at HSMO's scale. The Task Force handles thousands of cases annually, including some of the largest organized rescue operations in U.S. history. The 2009 Missouri puppy mill rescue — coordinated by HSMO in cooperation with several other organizations — became a defining case in the broader American conversation about puppy mill regulation.

The Macklind Avenue campus has, over its many years, become a fixture of south-central St. Louis. The volunteer dog-walker rotation passes through the surrounding neighborhoods. The annual Bark in the Park fundraising event at Forest Park draws thousands of participants and dogs.

You can support HSMO in the standard ways:

• Adopt from any of the campuses; available animals are listed online by location.
• Foster — the foster network is one of the largest in Missouri.
• Volunteer — dog walking, cat socializing, medical clinic support, equine ranch work, event support.
• Donate — HSMO publishes detailed financials annually.

Field & Era at the Humane Society of Missouri

The Macklind Avenue coordinates appear in Companion Edition orders shipped throughout the St. Louis metro and across Missouri. If you adopted from the Humane Society of Missouri and want the address set on archival paper, see the Companion Edition. 10% of every Companion order supports a rescue partner.

Last verified May 29, 2026. Facts about hours, intake policies, and adoption fees can change. Confirm with Humane Society of Missouri directly before visiting.