The Connecticut Humane Society, founded in 1881, is the oldest animal welfare organization in the state. It runs three centers, in Newington, Waterford, and a new Wilton facility that opened in 2025, and operates a public veterinary clinic that charges below market rates. It places no time limit on a pet's stay. Here is how adoption, surrender, and its clinic work.
The Connecticut Humane Society places no time limit on how long a pet can stay, and it does not euthanize animals because of space, breed, age, or time. In 2024 its live release rate was 95.9 percent, counting pets placed with families or other rescues and excluding owner-requested euthanasia and animals that arrived already deceased.
It is selective about intake, reserving the right to accept or decline any pet offered for surrender, which is why it is best described as limited-admission rather than open-door. It takes no ongoing government funding and is not tied to any national animal welfare group.
Adoption fees are published and tiered by age. Every pet goes home spayed or neutered, treated for fleas and ticks, dewormed, vaccinated including rabies, and microchipped, with post-adoption behavior support. Dogs add a heartworm test when old enough, a collar and leash, and starter food; cats add FeLV and FIV testing and a carrier.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Puppy, 7 months or younger | $445 |
| Dog, 7 to 12 months | $275 |
| Dog, 1 to 7 years | $150 |
| Dog, 8 years and older | $100 |
| Kitten, 7 months or younger | $300 |
| Cat, 7 to 12 months | $200 |
| Cat, 1 to 7 years | $140 |
| Cat, 8 years and older | $80 |
| Small animals | $10 to $100 |
Adoption is in person. You fill out a questionnaire on site for a currently available pet, and questionnaires are processed in the order received. Adopters must be 18 or older with a photo ID, and household members and any resident dogs meet the pet. Newington and Waterford are open daily noon to 4:30 p.m.; Wilton is open Tuesday through Saturday.
The Fox Memorial Clinic in Newington is a donor-subsidized veterinary clinic open to the public by appointment, with prices typically 20 to 30 percent below other local clinics. It handles wellness exams, parasite control, microchips, vaccine clinics, limited surgery, lab work, and compassionate euthanasia, but not emergencies, boarding, or grooming.
Owner surrender, which the society calls pet rehoming, is by appointment with a standard request of $80 per pet, and financial hardship will not result in a refusal. Each intake includes a pet personality profile, a physical exam, and a temperament assessment, and animals with a bite history are not accepted.
Beyond intake, the society offers dog training classes, behavior consultations, and a pet food pantry to help owners keep their animals at home.
On-site volunteers must be 18 or older, and roles include fostering, in-shelter help, fundraising, and pet food drives. Fostering is handled through an online application, and current foster needs vary by location.
The wish list names specific brands and items, including Friskies and Blue Buffalo food, smooth peanut butter, clay cat litter, cardboard scratchers, and kitten maternity supplies. The Connecticut Humane Society's EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 06-0667605, and it publishes its operating statistics openly.
Dogs, cats, and small animals across Newington, Waterford, and Wilton.
Public, donor-subsidized vet care at 20 to 30 percent below market rates.
Surrender by appointment with hardship flexibility and full assessment.
Dog training classes and one-on-one behavior consultations.
Food assistance to help owners keep their pets at home.
Home-based care for animals not yet ready for adoption.
Sources: Connecticut Humane Society (cthumane.org) adoption, veterinary clinic, rehoming, and operating-statistics pages; reporting on its 2025 move from Westport to Wilton; Charity Navigator and IRS filings (EIN 06-0667605). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Connecticut Humane Society and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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