Press release from the Sequoia Humane Society:

Sequoia Humane Society remains focused and steadfast on our mission to provide humane care, responsible placement, and pathways to safe and loving homes for homeless animals within our community.

As a small independent nonprofit shelter originally established more than 50 years ago in a former California Highway Patrol building, our facility was designed to humanely house approximately 25 to 30 dogs under 30 pounds, six kennels for dogs over 30 pounds, and communal cattery space for adult cats and 8 litters of kittens in our nursery. These capacity limitations have a direct impact on how we responsibly manage humane care standards, medical oversight, staffing resources, and animal welfare.

Sequoia Humane Society is an independent nonprofit organization, governed with oversight from a volunteer board of directors, and does not operate under a mandatory county animal control contract requiring unlimited intake capacity. Our priority has always been to serve local animals in need through adoption, foster placement, and humane sheltering.

When space allows, we collaborate with trusted shelter and rescue partners throughout California and parts of the Pacific Northwest to help relieve overcrowding and create additional pathways to adoption for animals at risk. All transfer partners must align with Sequoia Humane Society’s mission, humane care standards, operational capabilities, and compliance practices prior to any approved transfer relationship.

Sequoia Humane Society does not currently maintain and has not maintained an active transfer partnership or ongoing transfer relationship with Miranda’s Rescue.

We maintain detailed records for all animals accepted into our care, including local surrenders, foster placements, adoptions, and approved shelter transfers. Transfer agreements include transfer of ownership, medical records, behavioral information, and microchip documentation.

The majority of animals placed through Sequoia Humane Society are adopted directly onsite at our shelter facility, with some approved placements occurring through community mobile adoption events. Every adoption is documented within our shelter management system, a platform commonly used throughout the animal welfare community, and includes adoption agreements, vaccination records, medical history, and microchip documentation. All animals adopted through Sequoia Humane Society are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and provided rabies vaccinations in accordance with California law prior to adoption unless medically exempt under veterinary guidance.

Our 2025 and 2026 records reflect documented adoption outcomes across both dogs and cats, demonstrating our continued commitment to responsible placement and humane care. One of our most successful programs is Foster to Adopt, which allows families and animals time to adjust prior to final adoption. If an executed adoption agreement is not the right fit, animals may safely return to our care and be placed again into appropriate homes. Placement records are maintained long term because animals may return to our shelter at any point during their lifetime.

While we value transparency and regularly celebrate adoption and foster success stories publicly when permitted, we also have a responsibility to protect the privacy and trust of adopters, foster families, and surrendered animal owners. Personal identifying information and adopter details remain confidential and are not publicly disclosed. However, outcomes and placement records are maintained internally and may be reviewed through appropriate legal, regulatory, or organizational processes when required.

Like many communities throughout California, Humboldt County continues to experience challenges related to homeless animals, particularly larger breed dogs that often require additional placement resources and behavioral support. Because our facility was not designed to house large numbers of large breed dogs, our intake capacity for those animals remains limited. When space is available, we continue collaborating with local municipalities, shelters, rescues, and transfer partners to help where responsibly possible.

As a nonprofit organization, Sequoia Humane Society relies heavily on community donations and local adoption support to sustain humane animal care. The actual cost of caring for animals often exceeds adoption fees or any medical cost-sharing assistance associated with vaccinations, spay and neuter services, behavioral support, food, housing, staffing, and ongoing care. Community support has a direct impact on our ability to provide the care animals need.

Any discussions regarding cost assistance are intended only to help offset a portion of required medical and humane animal care expenses associated with California compliance standards and responsible sheltering practices. These discussions support humane care and medical treatment and are never intended to generate profit.

Currently, Sequoia Humane Society has not charged transfer fees to or from approved transfer partners.

Serving homeless and at-risk animals throughout Humboldt County remains our priority, and we remain committed to working alongside community partners to help address local animal welfare needs while operating within humane care and facility capacity standards.

Adoption outcomes have significantly increased compared to the previous year thanks to the incredible support of the Humboldt County community, including fosters, volunteers, adopters, and donors who continue opening their homes and hearts to animals in need.

We understand the concern many community members have regarding ongoing animal welfare investigations within California. While Sequoia Humane Society is not involved in those investigations and cannot comment on allegations, we support transparency, accountability, and humane standards of care within the animal welfare community.

We also recognize that the long-term solution for Humboldt County’s growing animal welfare needs requires expanded infrastructure, regional collaboration, and sustainable community investment. Sequoia Humane Society has been actively working over the last several years toward future facility expansion planning that would allow us to humanely increase intake capacity, particularly for larger breed dogs and animals requiring specialized placement support.

With building design, planning, and permitting efforts already underway, Sequoia Humane Society is positioned to break ground on a future expanded facility once funding goals are achieved. The future facility is designed to better serve the evolving needs of our community and the animals who depend on us.

Future expansion plans include expanded medical and wellness services, as well as a humane education and training center designed to strengthen animal welfare engagement within our community and improve access to humane care resources throughout our region, keeping animals safe within our community.

We would also like to recognize and sincerely thank the veterinary professionals, veterinary partners, shelter partners, rescue organizations, municipalities, fosters, volunteers, and animal welfare advocates who continue supporting humane care efforts throughout our region and the state. Their collaboration, trust, medical support, shared resources, and commitment to animal welfare help create lifesaving opportunities for animals both locally and throughout the broader animal welfare community.

Sequoia Humane Society remains grateful for the trusted partnerships and collaborative relationships that support our shared mission of protecting animals and improving animal welfare outcomes for the communities we collectively serve.

We invite donors, community partners, businesses, foundations, and supporters to help us Build a Humane Future for Generations through expanded sheltering capacity, humane education, medical and wellness services, and lifesaving programs for local animals in our community.

To donate or learn more about supporting Sequoia Humane Society’s future growth and community impact, please contact Executive Director Angela Duncan at (707) 442-1782 or emailExecutive@sequoiahumane.org.

For additional information regarding Sequoia Humane Society’s programs, operations, adoptions, foster opportunities, or community partnerships, please contact:

Angela Duncan
Executive Director
Sequoia Humane Society
Eureka, California
(707) 442-1782

To adopt an animal, donate, volunteer, foster, or learn more about our mission to help homeless animals at risk, please visit: www.sequoiahumane.org

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Sequoia Humane Society’s mission is to be a community leader in promoting the humane treatment of all animals and ending pet overpopulation by providing a high standard of care through programs such as pet adoption, spay and neuter services, foster care, and community education.

Sequoia Humane Society is a charitable nonprofit organization operating under IRS Section 501(c)(3). Our ability to provide humane care, medical treatment, sheltering, foster support, and adoption services depends greatly on the support, trust, volunteerism, and generosity of our community.