Our Stories

Enrichment is crucial for our pets’ well-being

As the colder months draw near, many of us tend to spend more time indoors. While we can easily find activities to occupy ourselves, our furry and scaly companions may struggle with the lack of stimulation. Pets often become bored and restless when confined indoors....

Pet cat missing? Check the shelter

If your cat has been missing for a day or two, we would encourage you to visit the Humane Society of the Black Hills and see if your furry friend is here waiting for you. Considering the numbers of cats that come through the doors every day, it’s a possibility. In the...

Holiday Dogs: Shelter dogs find a home for Christmas

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Humane Society of the Black Hills is embarking on the first Holiday Dogs program to put 10 shelter dogs into temporary holiday homes for Christmas. Ten families who meet the criteria will welcome a Humane Society shelter dog into their homes...

After hours? Don’t leave animal unattended

The Humane Society of the Black Hills took in more than 500 surrendered and 1,000 stray dogs in the past year. Most of the time, the animals are brought in through the front door during regular receiving hours or brought in after hours by the Rapid City Police...

Provide the right shelter for pets this winter

Winter weather is approaching, and all our officers at the Animal Services and Enforcement department will be tasked with doing welfare checks to make sure animals have proper shelter from the winter weather, including the cold, wind, and snow. Are you in compliance?...

Long Range Rescue

It was a long trip for 12 pit bulls - 3 days and 1,700 miles from North Carolina to Rapid City, SD - but their journey started long before getting to the Humane Society of the Black Hills on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. These dogs were rescued in Georgia, transported to the...

Be aware of snakes to stay safe this summer

Rattlesnakes strike when threatened or deliberately provoked, but given room they will retreat. Most snake bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing. In the Rapid City area, Animals Services & Enforcement has...

Puppypalooza is just another Tuesday

Twenty-four dogs were brought to the Humane Society of the Black Hills on Thursday, Dec. 21 – eight adults and 16 puppies from the Eagle Butte shelter. The hallway outside the medical exam room was filled with puppies - some too young to move much, but others were...

The Bob Lemmon Memorial Cat Sanctuary

Barbara Lemmon has made something good of a terrible situation by creating The Bob Lemmon Memorial Cat Sanctuary in the room her husband once studied and worked in at their Rapid City home. Barb’s husband, Robert, passed away in April and left Barb alone in a...

Our Stories

Enrichment is crucial for our pets’ well-being

As the colder months draw near, many of us tend to spend more time indoors. While we can easily find activities to occupy ourselves, our furry and scaly companions may struggle with the lack of stimulation. Pets often become bored and restless when confined indoors....

Enrichment is crucial for our pets’ well-being

As the colder months draw near, many of us tend to spend more time indoors. While we can easily find activities to occupy ourselves, our furry and scaly companions may struggle with the lack of stimulation. Pets often become bored and restless when confined indoors....

Looking ahead to 2024

Community support is what makes it possible for the Humane Society of the Black Hills to take in nearly 4,500 animals each year. The Humane Society is a non-profit, open admission animal shelter serving western South Dakota. An open admission shelter is an animal...

Halloween fun can be Halloween fright for pets

Halloween is a globally cherished holiday among children, marked by the excitement of wearing creative costumes and filling their bags with delicious candy of their dreams. For pet owners, including their furry four-legged companions in the festivities is a delightful...

Summer Hazards: Fleas & Ticks

As summer is in full swing, many people are heading outdoors to enjoy fun and adventurous activities. However, it's not just humans who are active during this time. Fleas and ticks are also in full swing, eagerly awaiting a potential host to pass by. While it's...

Traveling with Your Pets

The travel season is upon us, and many people are planning their summer vacations with their furry pets. However, traveling with pets requires a little more planning than simply letting them hop up into the seat. Ensuring your pet's safety while driving is essential,...

Assisting an animal in need is an incredibly fulfilling experience, and fostering is just one of many ways you can do this. Animal shelters rely heavers rely heavily on their foster programs every year to give these animals a better chance at life. Fostering not only...

Protect Your Pet from Poisonous Plants

Spring marks the busy season for most nurseries and flower shops as everyone is excited to start planting. One of the most common early spring flowers to either plant, or purchase, is the Easter Lily. While beautiful in sight and smell, lilies are toxic and even...

Why spaying and neutering your pet matters

We love animals at the Humane Society of the Black Hills and, last year, we saw more than four thousand come through our front door. You can imagine that with so many animals, there are plenty of puppies and kittens. We’ll admit it – puppies and kittens are awfully...

New year, new challenges

I want to sincerely thank those who have supported the Humane Society of the Black Hills with financial support, donations of blankets and toys, supply drives, adoptions, or care for an animal in foster. And I won’t forget our generous media friends, veterinarians,...

Pet cat missing? Check the shelter

If your cat has been missing for a day or two, we would encourage you to visit the Humane Society of the Black Hills and see if your furry friend is here waiting for you. Considering the numbers of cats that come through the doors every day, it’s a possibility. In the...