Central Missouri Humane Society — Attraction in Columbia

My experience with surrendering an animal to this “humane” society (or actually, being unable to) was extremely infuriating. I had scheduled an appointment to bring in an injured stray kitten, but due to my unpredictable job on hospital staff I had to bring him in at a different time. I called and said that I had a kitten who needed help, and was bleeding from his back. I was simply told that my appointment was not for another few hours, and my only choice was to wait. I insisted on getting help for this poor little guy, who had a gash on his back and has been trying to find shade in the 96 degree weather. I begged the woman on the phone to find someone who could help me, but was met with short and impatient responses. She said that I would have to somehow keep this injured, bleeding stray for the next two hours until my appointment because my cat was “not the only one injured.” When I finally said that I would need to seek help elsewhere and asked if she knew any other places who would accept this pet, she hung up on me immediately. Never have I been so disappointed by the service at an establishment accredited with being the #1 in animal care. The standards must not be high.

In response to your reply: I do recall needing to reschedule appointments, as the kitten was not always in the same spot. You may not know this, but most stray cats don't follow appointment schedules. I am not sure what your phone operator told you, but I was not the one who ended the call. It was dropped, or I was hung up on, in the midst of me asking for advice on another location that could care for the cat. I was also told that the soonest I could be helped was in two hours, not one (which is not ideal when I have a bleeding stray in my hands). Several animal hospitals recommended that I bring the cat to you rather than to an emergency clinic, so I will be sure to let them know that you do not recommend your own services in these instances. If animal care were your top priority, maybe the injured kitten could have been helped. Because scheduling is your top...

Update 12May2019: No changing stars. Complaints below still valid years later. Main note is that any operational shelter deserves at least three stars. Interestingly, more pets in my life yet still only one adoption from this Humane Society location. Review stands.

Barely passes. I generally don't cats dogs there. Unless I've literally found on road. Have a day to spare just to look? OK. But don't put your hopes up for a find! I've adopted strays & abandoned sans CMHS. My girlfriend needed one & the "background check" paperwork was too much. A newspaper ad (farm) kitty for her.

For kittens, I now refer to other sources.

Once went to adopt a kitten /cat. They had an open preview & play area. My son (who doesn't talk—autism) began crying. On the way out, I did too. We've had 6 or more cats... Apparently there'd been a cat fight? Whatever, it was a strong reaction.

Of 7 (or 12 ) pets, I've adopted one (1) there. I don't go by there anymore. It's poorly laid out facility & the staff...shallow friendly or very untrained unfamiliar. They do go out of their way not to euthanize —that I know.

Once I went to walk thru some hall I had 1000 times before & they about tackled me. The door to the facility SLAMS and has done so FOR YEARS. I took two cats in for "free" chipping "oh! That was only the 1st 50!" My carrier is damaged from that door &that day, I was allowed to use restroom after my cat clawed me for putting him back into cage. But empty yer bladder because normally you can't use restroom there—only if you're bleeding!

Low cost services, yes. But shots are $20, for $22-24 a vet will + open a file for them. Spays are slightly cheaper too—so long as there's no complications. Overall, I strongly recommend paying a few $ extra & see your vet.

The CMHS ERRATICALLY does low cost chip days. PetCo drive thru vets do them for $15. ($5 more). Worth it. Not treated like a number & I see my cat(s) 100% thru. (haven't had to chip any dogs yet, but they'll be seeing...

I applied for a pet online and was called about my application within two hours! Unfortunately that was the best part of my experience, the employee who called me needed permission to bring the dog onto my property (as she was a foster dog not staying at the facility) from the owner of my property, since I could not give that permission immediately because of extenuating circumstances the employee said that we couldn't start the application process till they had permission, but I was the FIRST applicant, and curtly ended the conversation as it was a weekend and they were understandably busy.

After I thought about it I called them back and had to leave a message asking if I could first meet the dog at the humane society, NO one called me back. Then when they obtained permission from the owner over the phone the employee informed said property owner that my application still needed to be approved (four days after I sent it in) but still implied that someone would call me the next day to set up a meeting!

So the next day my sister was at the humane society looking for a second dog for her family and noticed that someone was meeting with the dog I applied for at the humane society, an option NOT given to me. The dog was adopted a day after I was informed I could meet her. They took her off the adoptable dogs page of the site and I never received any phone calls, not in response to my message, and not the call to meet the dog.

I am very happy that the dog has a home but not over-joyed in the way I was strung along, being told I was the first applicant, then being told I could meet the dog when clearly another appointment had been set up. Information that was neve supplied to me by the humane society, I only know about all of...