A History of Care
On January 9, 1902, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton was created to promote the principles of humane care. When it was first created, it focused on the prevention of cruelty toward both animals and children. Many historic Dayton leaders provided guidance during the establishment of our organization, including John H. Patterson, Daisy Shaw Greene, Grace A. Greene, and R. G. Corwin. Later, leaders such as William G. Stroop and Frederick Stroop acted as directors for our organization.
Longstanding History
Since our establishment in 1902, we have been here to see many historic events. We were here when the Wright Brothers invented flight. We were here before Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska or Hawaii were officially states. We were here before women had the right to vote. We were here when man walked on the moon. We have been here, helping our community through more than a century, and will continue to do so!
Celebrating Pets
On September 17, 1924, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton hosted a pet parade to celebrate a new animal shelter building. According to Dayton Daily News archives, more than 1,500 pets with their “devoted boys and girls” came out to participate in the parade. Animals participating included those more common pets such as dogs, cats, and rabbits to the more rare pets such as lizards, fish, snakes, roosters, turtles, frogs, and alligators. The event was so successful, they held it again the following year and still had well over 1,000 people walking with their pets and floats, marching bands, and more.
Shelter in the Storm
After a historic tornado ravaged through Xenia on April 3, 1974, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton acted as a refuge for the stray animals separated from their owners. Many animals, including a monkey, were found after the devastation and were brought to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton to find shelter. Many of these animals were able to be reunited with their families.
It’s a Zoo Out There
The Humane Society of Greater Dayton has always been an organization helping all types of animals. In fact, in the mid-1970s, they were potentially going to create a children’s zoo to act as a sanctuary for animals, as well as an educational resource. Animals considered for this included a cougar, Shetland pony, ducks, raccoons, and more.
Adding the Purr-fect Touch
In 2008, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton expanded its services to include the MeowZa Cat Boutique. This storefront located inside the Dayton Mall contains adoptable cats and kittens from the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. It is run nearly all by volunteers and, to this day, continues to provide homes for hundreds of cats and kittens every year.
Continuing Lifesaving Work
In 2010, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton became a no-kill animal welfare agency. Since shifting to this, they now have an average save rate between 98 and 99 percent.
In October 2021, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton expanding their facilities to include:
- Dayton Humane Veterinary Hospital – a full-service, low-cost facility targeting the underserved pet owners in our community
- Dayton Humane Spay & Neuter Clinic – a high-volume clinic focused on battling overpopulation through humane spay and neuter surgeries
- Dayton Humane Rehabilitation Center – a barn structure used by our Cruelty and Neglect team to better house animals seized through cruelty and neglect cases. This structure also contained stalls making it easier to remove and house large-breed farm animals from harm.
Photos seen below are historical images from the Humane Society of Greater Dayton as well as archived images from the Dayton Daily News.
