Humane Society of Williamson County

To provide innovative programs and services to eliminate pet overpopulation and to improve the lives of pets and people in Williamson County.

High volume adoption
Low-cost spay/neuter
Pet retention services

On March 1, 2007, the HSWC implemented a "No-Kill" sheltering model. With the opening of the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter - the new municipally-operated facility to house all stray and owner-released animals in the area - we have refocused our life-saving efforts towards community services and programs that will enable Williamson County to become a safe place where no adoptable pet is euthanized simply because it cannot find a home. HSWC remains committed to serving the needs of all types of pets, but limits the number of animals that are cared for at the shelter at any one time.

With more clearly focused programs to support our mission, we can achieve more to move our community toward a No-Kill community. The combination of high volume adoptions, accessible and affordable spay/neuter services along with programs to help families keep their pets are the keys to building a No-Kill community.

There are no good guys or bad guys in the animal sheltering world. Both "No-Kill" and open-door organizations want euthanasia to end. You can help reduce euthanasia rates by spaying or neutering your pets, adopting from a shelter, and supporting your local animal shelter with monetary donations or volunteer time.

Volunteers founded the Humane Society of Williamson County in 1979 in response to the growing need for a full-service intake and adoption shelter in a county with a rapidly increasing pet population. The volunteers that created HSWC did so with goals that included preventing cruelty to animals, promoting responsible pet ownership, and instilling the concept of pets as permanent family members as opposed to disposable accessories.

Initially HSWC began with a foster home program and the first adoption day was held at Highland Mall in June of 1981. The first real office space was leased from the McCleod Animal Clinic in 1985 and the first staff members were hired. In 1987 a warehouse on Industrial Road in Round Rock became the first kennel facility where as many as 1,000 animals were adopted each year.

In 1992 HSWC moved to a 7,000 sq. ft. facility in Round Rock and in 1998 local Animal Control Officers or the public brought in over 7,000 animals. This facility provided office space for HSWC staff, animal control officers and kennel space for our animals. There was also a small surgical area to spay or neuter adopted animals. In October of 1999 HSWC realized an important dream and purchased 22 acres in Leander that included a house and horse barn. This move was necessitated by the growth in population of Williamson County and the expansion of the programs and services HSWC provided.

As the facilities and operations have expanded, so too have our goals. In addition to offering temporary shelter for homeless dogs and cats, we conduct adoptions, provide foster care, run a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to decrease the unwanted animal population in Williamson County, run a once a month low-cost vaccination clinic for the public on the 4th Saturday of each month, and give educational tours and presentations to area schools and community groups.