Today, the Humane Society of Missouri is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the United States, rescuing and finding second chances for thousands of pets each year. But did you know it all began with a horse?
In the late 1800s, St. Louis was a thriving industrial hub, where goods arrived daily by boat, rail, and wagon. Horses powered the city’s economy, hauling lumber, bricks, tools and supplies across miles of growing streets. Yet many of these animals were overworked, abused, and discarded when they could no longer perform.
In 1870, a group of compassionate St. Louisans decided this cruelty could not continue. Determined to protect animals from neglect and abuse, they formed what would become the Humane Society of Missouri, now one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organizations in the United States.
In 1988, HSMO expanded its reach to large animals with the opening of Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, Missouri. Set on 165 acres, the ranch rehabilitates abused and neglected horses, pigs, goats, and other farm animals while also serving as an educational destination for children who might never experience farm life.
That mission—giving animals in need the second chance they deserve—continues today. Funded solely by private donations and never receiving any taxpayer funding or support from national organizations, HSMO has always believed that animals deserve not only food, shelter, and medical care but also compassion, patience, and love.
The Animal Cruelty Task Force
Since the 1940s, the Animal Cruelty Task Force has rescued thousands of animals from abuse, starvation, abandonment, and neglect. Often working alongside law enforcement, the task force investigates cruelty cases, removes animals from danger, and helps ensure abusers are held accountable.
Missouri has long struggled with substandard dog breeding operations, commonly known as “puppy mills.” HSMO has been at the forefront of efforts to combat these conditions, working closely with the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation to strengthen the laws that protect animals and provide legal pathways to prosecute those who abuse animals in our state.
The Animal Cruelty Task Force also responds to natural disasters across the country, providing emergency rescue, shelter, and care for animals large and small in dangerous and unpredictable conditions.
Veterinary Care & Adoption Services
Since 1923, veterinary care has played a critical role in HSMO’s work. Over the decades, the organization has led innovations in animal medicine, including early adoption of rabies vaccines.
Animal Medical Center of Mid-America is the largest veterinary practice in Missouri, with two locations, more than 30,000 annual clinic visits, and approximately 17,000 surgeries each year.
The center is also home to one of the state’s few integrated pain management and rehabilitation programs. One of the most influential figures was Dr. Suzanne Saueressig, Missouri’s first female veterinarian, who dedicated more than 50 years to improving animal health and welfare at the HSMO.
Recognizing that pet overpopulation causes a proliferation of unhoused and unwanted pets, HSMO launched a major spay and neuter initiative in the early 2000s called Operation SNIP. The Spay Neuter Incentive program provides sterilization for all adoptable animals before placement and free or low-cost surgeries to reduce pet overpopulation.
Since tracking began, HSMO has performed more than 400,000 spay and neuter procedures, preventing an estimated 1 billion unwanted animals from entering shelters.
Over its 156-year history, HSMO is probably best known for finding forever homes for hundreds of thousands of animals that once suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment, or were just surrendered through no fault of their own. Each adoption represents healing, building trust, and a second chance for an animal in need.
Education & Community Events
Education has long been a cornerstone of the organization. Each year, nearly 30,000 students participate in HSMO programs, including field trips, summer camps, and school visits.
Its innovative Shelter Buddies Reading Program, which will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2026, pairs children with shelter dogs, building confidence as they wait for their forever families to adopt them. Further, the program teaches empathy and improves children’s literacy.
Another area of pioneering work for animals in the community includes events that support, educate, and honor pets and their families. Bark in the Park, held each May in Tower Grove Park, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The event features a 5k run for people and their dogs, an agility course for dogs, veterinarians who will do a dental assessment and check for ID chips, and fun activities for the whole family.
How to Support the Humane Society of Missouri
Every child who holds a kitten for the first time, every family welcoming a senior dog for a few more years of companionship, and every individual who gives love and compassion to an animal through adoption shares a belief that has guided HSMO since 1870: Animals in need deserve a second chance. Thanks to community support, that belief continues to shape the Humane Society of Missouri’s work today—and will for generations to come.
Because HSMO is funded entirely through donations from the public, it is crucial for the St. Louis community to support the program in the same way that it supports St. Louis. With that in mind, February 10 marks the organization’s fifth annual Day of Giving, when HSMO honors stories of animals that were given a second chance. Last year, HSMO celebrated more than 100 rescues in commemoration of donors who helped make that happen.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of the Humane Society of Missouri. Learn more about the Day of Giving and discover other ways you can support by visiting hsmo.org/DOG.
