Dane County Humane Society says they’ll run out of cash to care for animals in August without more money from local government

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Funding for the Dane County Humane Society will likely run out by the end of August, according to leaders of the nonprofit. 

The Dane County Humane Society is not an arm of government. It’s a nonprofit that gets funding from Public Health Madison Dane County. 

Staff sent a letter to the mayor saying the money included in their contract won’t last the whole year. 

Humane Society leaders say they’ll spend $1.3 million providing services agreed upon with the health department serving people and animals in Dane County. However, they only get $390,000 in that contract with PHMDC. 

On top of that, the nonprofit also takes in animals from other areas when they have the ability and capacity. Those costs are not included in the figures above. 

Staff said their funding from local government has only increased .9% over the last 15 years. Leaders at DCHS estimate that compared to other shelter organizations with government contracts in the Midwest, they’re being underfunded by $2.5-3.5 million. 

DCHS gets the rest of its operating budget from private donations, grants, fundraisers and the two thrift stores they’ve got in Madison.