Capital Campaign

The Humane Society of Walden (HSW), a cornerstone of animal welfare in the Hudson Valley since 1974, has officially launched a comprehensive Capital Campaign to renovate and modernize its aging facility. This initiative comes in response to both the shelter’s growing community needs and the upcoming requirements of the New York State Shelter Standards Law.

For over 50 years, HSW has provided lifesaving shelter, medical care, and adoption services to thousands of homeless animals. In 2024 alone, the organization successfully placed 500 animals into loving homes and served multiple towns under municipal animal control contracts. Programs such as Junior Advocacy Days, Rescue Readers, and the Community Kibble Food Pantry further HSW’s role as a compassionate community hub.

“Our current facility has served us well, but we’re simply out of space and out of time,” said Tracy Wilson, President of HSW. “To continue providing safe, high-quality care—and to remain compliant with new state regulations—we must act now.”

“The new law raises the bar for animal care across New York, and we welcome it,” said Wilson. “But it also requires real investment—something we cannot achieve without our community’s help.”

Campaign Goals and Urgent Needs

HSW’s multi-phase Capital Campaign will fund critical infrastructure improvements, including:

• A $40,000 HVAC and furnace system replacement in the canine kennel area
• Renovations to the Meet & Greet/Enrichment Room and Small Dog Room
• Major reconfiguration of the cat walk-around space to comply with new space-per-cat limits
• Structural repairs to aging kennel walls, canine isolation areas, and outdoor enclosures
• Creation of a new feline isolation room and upgrades to the canine kitchen and grooming station
• Roof Replacement – Addressing a major infrastructure need to protect animals and staff.
• New Isolation Rooms, Dog Kitchen, Grooming Station, and more.

Get Involved

Community members, businesses, and donors can contribute in a variety of ways, including direct donations, sponsorships, naming opportunities, and volunteer support. In-kind gifts of labor, supplies, and materials are also welcomed. Renovations are slated to begin in Summer 2025.

NOTE: All donations raised through our capital campaign will fund our renovations, beginning Summer 2025. In anticipation of Chapter 1 of our remodel, we are raising $40K for our furnace / HVAC upgrade.

We’ve broken our capital campaign into manageable chapters, each focused on a specific project or space. Once a chapter goal is met, any additional funds raised will roll into the next chapter, allowing momentum and donor generosity to directly support the next urgent need.