The Humane Society for Southwest Washington announced Monday it will acquire the Humane Society of Cowlitz County.
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington will maintain operations at its current location, 1100 N.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver, while expanding to manage the Cowlitz County shelter in Longview, 909 Columbia Blvd. Once the acquisition is finalized in January 2025, the Cowlitz County shelter will take on the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s brand.
“What’s most exciting to me is that we can really leverage resources and provide the best care for animals throughout Southwest Washington,” said Andrea Bruno, president of Humane Society for Southwest Washington. “Whether an animal comes to Vancouver or Longview, we can use both locations to find the right outcome for that animal. It just opens up more possibilities for more animals and families.”
The expansion will allow the nonprofit to provide more resources to both the Vancouver and Longview communities, without duplicating efforts, Bruno said. Services and programs may vary by location and will be based on the needs of each community.
“The HSCC board sees this as the best opportunity to provide the support our community needs,” said Cindy Nordstrom, Humane Society of Cowlitz County board president. “We can tap into the resources and strengths of their organization and do even more for pets in need.”
The two organizations decided to proceed with the acquisition after leadership from the Humane Society of Cowlitz County initiated discussions in early 2024 about the best course for animal welfare. Over the years, the two organizations have worked together as transport partners and to coordinate animal adoption events.
The integration process may continue for several years after the acquisition is completed and will include facility upgrades to the Cowlitz County shelter.
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington will provide updates to the community through its newsletter, website and social media accounts.
Bruno said the organization has not determined what staffing will look like at the Cowlitz County shelter yet, but it will announce a new staffing plan around mid-November.
“That’s the next step,” Bruno said. “We will be able to do some more assessment of what the needs of the community and the needs of the facility will be.”
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s current board will govern both locations once the acquisition is completed, Bruno said. The nonprofit will also develop a community resource committee to stay connected to the community in Cowlitz County.
“My goal is that when you walk into the Vancouver shelter or the Longview shelter, over time, that you have the same experience,” Bruno said. “The care of the animals is going to be the same in terms of how we approach sheltering, animal care and best practices.”
