Rural Humane

Rural Humane exists to support animal welfare organizations working in rural communities.

Rural shelters, rescues, and animal control agencies face challenges that are often very different from those in urban areas: limited funding, small or nonexistent staff, large geographic service areas, fewer veterinary resources, and communities where animal welfare systems are still developing. Despite this, rural organizations are doing essential, life-saving work every day.

What We Do

• Connect rural organizations to resources
  • We share funding opportunities and tools designed with rural realities in mind, including access to a centralized grant database.
• Build connections between rural and national organizations
  • We help bridge the gap between rural animal welfare organizations and national partners, funders, and support organizations. By increasing visibility and connection, we work to ensure rural needs, challenges, and successes are better understood and supported at a national level.
• Create a space for peer learning and support
  • This community is  a place to  ask questions, share experiences, and learn directly from other rural organizations who understand the challenges of this work. 
• Center rural voices
  • Rural communities know their needs best. This space prioritizes shared knowledge, lived experience, and approachees that respect local context and capacity.

Who This Space Is For

• Rural and remote animal shelters
• Rescue organizations serving rural communities
• Animal control and field services
• Volunteers and advocates supporting rural animal welfare

Our Goal

Our goal is to strengthen rural animal welfare by increasing access to resources, reducing isolation, and building a supportive network where organizations can learn from one another and grow more resilient together.