West End Shelter for Animals is a nonprofit, no-kill placement and adoption center. Pets remain with us indefinately until they find a home. We receive no government funding and depend exclusively 0n grants, fundraisers, adoption fees, our low cost vaccination clinic and your generosity to fund our work. We are a 501(c)3 organization.
Mission Statement
- The mission of the Humane Society of the Chaffey Community, Incorporated, DBA West End Shelter For Animals is to…provide a non kill alternative to owners for pet housing and adoption of their pets when they must relinquish their animals for various reasons.
- Offer regular scheduled low cost vaccination clinics to help reduce suffering, disease and death.
- Promote the spaying or neutering of pets to reduce the number of unwanted surplus animals.
WEST END SHELTER FOR ANIMALS is a non-profit, no kill center for pet placement and adoption located in Ontario, California. Last year we found homes for more than 800 pets. Through referrals, our internet website, and other outreach programs, we have had great success finding new homes for pets all over Southern California.
The West End Shelter for Animals is located at 1010 East Mission Boulevard, in Ontario, California. The Shelter was organized in 1954 by a group of local residents as the Humane Society of Chaffee Community. It eventually became a no kill, non-profit organization well over a decade ago. Today we call it a pet placement and adoptioncenter where sociable homeless dogs and cats await placement. These animals are surrendered by owners who can no longer keep them for one reason or another. We also rescue a number of them from County shelters where they await euthanasia due to pet overpopulation. All animals are spayed and neutered, current on shots, dewormed and flea treated before adoption. Cats are tested for FELV and FIV. The shelter can provide temporary homes for up to 200 dogs and cats.
The shelter has 6 paid employees, 5 directors and a number of regular and occasional volunteers. Our regular volunteers see to it that our pets receive socialization such as going out in our large pens to be with other dogs and taking those much needed walks with people. Our Volunteers let the cats run free in the cat building while their rooms are cleaned. They can socialize and wonder outside in our outdoor area enclosed by a Purr…fect Fence, donated by that company. The cat building houses 38 individual feline flats, each with a window that make up this unique cat oasis, complete with furnishings such as cat trees, beds, and toys while they await adoption. Most Shelters cannot offer this much attention.
The dog runs and kennels at the West End Animal Shelter provide ample dog runs around the property for exercise during the day. And shade covers for sunny weather. Most dogs have a companion to play with. The Shelter has a total of 40 indoor kennels and each dog has his very own space.
The Shelter primarily serves Ontario, Chino, Chino Hills, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont and Pomona. Because of our ever growing internet presence at www.westendshelter.com and www.westendshelter.org, and our page on www.petfinder.com we are reaching a much broader audience. People from all parts of the world can now view our dogs and cats. We now accept donations via the internet using Pay-Pal which is a nationally known and trusted way to make internet credit card payments. This is a small but growing part of our income stream.
Our main function as a no kill shelter continues to be accepting adoptable pets from owners who must give them up. The reasons vary, but typically involve personal or economic reasons. Sometimes a new residence will not allow pets. Divorce is a factor for many pet owners. Sometimes the fault lies with the pet itself due to behavioral problems. Additionally, we rescue pets from other shelters to keep them from being put down. We are able to intervene especially in the case of young, healthy, sociable, and ultimately desirable dogs and cats. Rescuing them provides additional inventory for the shelter as adoptions are part of the revenue stream. This continues to be a “win-win” situation for the animals, the shelter and the community. Occasionally it is necessary to refuse pets due to temperament or space.
On the outgoing side, we adopt pets to responsible people. We ask them to fill out an application, which can now be done on line as well. There is an application for both dogs and cats, but also for people….if you would like to be a volunteer at the Shelter. To be a volunteer requires a certain amount of training from the Shelter staff to ensure a safe environment for our pets, guests at the shelter, and ultimately the volunteer. Applicants for pet adoption are interviewed and a “house check” is occasionally warranted. The applications check for pet and owner safety, landlord concerns, fencing, allergies, children issues, and other related topics.
One of our major commitments to the community is the promotion of spaying/neutering of all pets. Any pet that is adopted from the shelter is spayed or neutered. We can also refer clients to low-cost spay/neuter locations. We also offer the public referrals to other shelters and various breed rescues. We can recommend emergency clinics, goomers, trainers, and pet sitters.
One of the Shelter’s best success stories is the low cost shot clinic. This service is administered by a Veterinarian and operates every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning, both as a highly regarded service to the local community here in Ontario, and as a revenue source of the shelter. It is one of the lowest price services available to provide necessary immunizations to dogs and cats. Shots other than rabies can be provided during the week during office hours. The Tuesday evening shot clinic generally offers bonus products to its patrons, sometimes pet food or pet accessories usually provided free with a paid immunization. This is well received by the local community.
West end Shelter for Animals promotes the human/animal bond benefits by hosting student and group tours, and providing information on pet care and pet ownership. This is a growing part of what we do at the Shelter, and future plans will provide additional facilities for this. We speak at schools and organized events. We try to place older pets with less active seniors to enhance the quality of their lives. Many Boy Scouts have provided community service hours to the shelter, including Eagle Scout Projects.
In the end, our goals are to provide a temporary home where owners can turn over their pet for adoption knowing that it will be well cared for until a new home is found….not killed in a few days. We have become a place where people can come to find a sociable companion pet, chosen from a wide assortment of dogs and cats. We are a center for public education about pet services, pet behavior and population control. We are successful in providing low cost
services and referrals to the community.
