The North Country Animal League is a limited access, 501(c) 3, non-profit humane society. This means that NCAL does not euthanize animals in its care to make room for incoming animals. NCAL also has extensive education and community outreach programs.

Last year we placed 791 homeless dogs and cats from over 40 Vermont towns and cities and also from out of state. People from 72 Vermont towns and from out of state adopted from NCAL last year. There is no charge for people to surrender an animal to us but a donation is welcome. We do not receive any state or federal funding, so we ask for an adoption fee to help us offset our costs. When an animal goes to his/her new home, they have been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, de-flead'd, nails clipped, and ears cleaned and treated for mites. The average stay in our shelter is three weeks. NCAL does its best to place each animal in the "right" home. We have an animal behaviorist on staff, and we temperament test to ensure appropriate placement.

NCAL visits school classrooms with Bite Prevention Workshops, Basic Animal Care, and our READ Project (a literacy-based project). These projects help promote compassionate and responsible relationships between people and animals. NCAL visits the elder communities in the surrounding area to bring the unconditional love of the animals to the aged. We also offer behavior classes at NCAL to help ensure that the relationships between adopted dogs and their new families are healthy and long lasting.

Adoption fees pay for only one seventh of the average cost (about $725) of housing and caring for the animals during their stay at NCAL. We depend on supporters and donors for the rest. (Click here to make a donation.)