Mission Statement – The Potsdam Humane Society operates a not-for-profit animal shelter, which provides care and protection to animals in need, including the returning of lost pets to their homes, giving proper medical attention and/or arranging for their quality adoption after spaying and neutering.

     The Potsdam Humane Society aspires to be a shelter where an adoptable animal will never lose its life due to lack of space or cost of care, to educate the public regarding New York State animal cruelty laws and the humane treatment of animals emphasizing the importance of spaying and neutering, and to decrease the numbers of those unwanted and abandoned.

Management and Staff – The dedicated and caring individuals who are employed at the Potsdam Animal Shelter always put the welfare of the animals in their care above all else. Feel free to contact them at any time, though you will get their voice-mail message before public public hours (see left) or when they are busy. They will return your call during public hours as promptly as possible.

Anne E. Smith, Interim Director/Animal Behavior Specialist
Justine Smith, Licensed Vet Tech/Animal Care Manager
Alysia Wells, Licensed Vet Tech

Board of Directors - The concerns, direction, and management of the affairs of the Potsdam Humane Society are vested in the Board of Directors. The current Board of Directors consists of:

Bonnie Boyd, President (email: bboyd@northnet.org)
Carrie Tuttle, Secretary
Helen Hollinger, Receiving Treasurer
Irene Hargrave, Dispersing Treasurer
Jane Amelotte
Tony Beane
Linda Caamano
Cindy Dusharm
Ruth Huckle
Rob Jewett
John Lancaster
Amber Lindsey
Jackie Pinover
Lucille Waterson

Communities We Contract* With:

Clifton
Colton
Hopkinton
Lawrence
Lisbon
Norfolk
Parishville
Pierrepont
Potsdam/Norwood
Stockholm

        *for animal/dog control services

Tattoos for Tracking: All dogs leave the shelter tattooed with the letter "P" and a number. Female cats are tattooed with just the letter "P" tattoo in order to identify them as spayed.

Puppies and Kittens – We have a 100% adoption rate for puppies or kittens between six and eight weeks old. Contact Shelter staff to make sure we have room on the day you wish to bring in any animal.

Surrendering Animals – Situations may require a pet owner to make the difficult decision that s/he can no longer keep an animal. Bringing it to the Shelter is the responsible thing to do. Staff members will do all they can to find a loving, permanent home. There is a $30 fee to help cover shelter costs if you do not live in one of the townships contracted by PHS for animal control (see Stray Animals below). There is a $5.00 fee for all cats that are dropped off - whether you live in a contracted township or not. Though there is no fee for surrendering an animal (other than cats) from contracted townships, donations are greatly appreciated.

Stray Animals: PHS contracts with the Townships of Potsdam, Clifton, Colton, Norfolk, Hopkinton, Parishville, Lawrence, Pierrepont, and Lisbon to provide animal control and investigate reports of animal cruelty. If you have a stray animal or if you suspect neglect or cruelty of an animal, please contact your local shelter, the animal control officer for your town, or a law enforcement agency. If a stray animal has wandered into your world, please contact the shelter immediately. By law, an individual becomes the owner as soon as he/she provides food and water for a stray animal.