About Us
Wallowa County Humane Society is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing a safe and loving environment for our rescue animals. Our aim is to improve the lives of cats and dogs through adoption and community partnerships. We have been serving the community since 1980.
Wallowa County Humane Society is an independent organization. While we cooperate with other organizations and agencies, we are not affiliated with other animal rescues or shelters.
We welcome your support! Our organization is funded primarily through tax-deductible donations. Your contributions of volunteer time and funding help to ensure that our community’s homeless animals receive the help that they need and deserve.
Letter from our president
To help our community understand how we operate, provide clarifications, and offer access to conversations and information, we invite you to read the outreach letter our president has written.
Meet our board of directors
Carol Vencill
President
Carol has been serving as WCHS President since February 2010, has been on the board of directors since 2007, and became a volunteer with WCHS over twenty years ago. She lives on a small farm outside Joseph with her husband, Stuart, and a wide variety of farm animals and pets.
Her interest in, and dedication to animals, has been ongoing since childhood. Carol has been a dog training instructor for over forty years , has thirty years pet sitting/care experience, and worked six years as a veterinary care technician . She served on the board of directors for the Kitsap Humane Society in Washington State for three years and was a volunteer with them for ten years. Carol has served in various officer positions, including president, for several dog clubs and organizations.
In addition to her tireless work on behalf of the Humane Society, Carol has also been active with the MidValley Theater Company, both on and off stage, and as a board member for many years.
Susan Gilstrap
Treasurer
Susan is the WCHS Treasurer, since 2013 and keeps the finances running smoothly. She has been a CPA since 2007. At her business office, in Enterprise, her constant companion, Duke, her little dog, is the official greeter. His Graduation Certificate, from obedience school, is proudly displayed on the wall. Susan gives so much of her time, to benefit the animals, as well as donating her efforts with other non-profits in Wallowa County. Susan and her husband Ron share their country home with 1 horse, 3 cats and of course Duke.
Carolyn Wisdom
Secretary
Carolyn has had a love of animals of all kinds since childhood. She enjoyed the companionship of a pomeranian, a boxer, and a land tortoise at her family’s home in Ardentes, France, and after the family moved back to the United States, cats, horses, guppies and the occasional bull snake. In college she majored in French and biology, acquiring a passion for ornithology, natural history, and the outdoors along the way. After graduation she worked for a nonprofit organization focused on environmental research, where she met her husband Max. Carolyn and Max relocated to Lake County, Oregon where Carolyn began a career in land management planning with the Fremont National Forest.
Carolyn’s work for the US Forest Service as a planner and district ranger in central and southern Oregon gave her the opportunity to apply her love of biology and natural history to managing habitats for numerous wildlife species. After 29 years with the Forest Service, Carolyn and Max relocated to Wallowa County in 2014 to enjoy this beautiful area and be closer to family as well.
In addition to serving on the WCHS Board, Carolyn enjoys restoring pollinator habitat on her rural acreage near Enterprise, as well as hiking, birding, buffing up her French, and serving as support staff to rescue cat Bob and spoiled but beautiful Belgian Tervuren Subi.
Amy Wolf
Board Member
Amy and husband Arion fell in love with Wallowa County years ago as they visited family and relaxed in the peaceful setting. Vacationing frequently with their various dogs, they discovered a place enjoyed by pets and their people and figured retirement would bring them here permanently. However, in 2017 Amy decided to leave her corporate job and make the move to Joseph. Amy and Arion opened a small unique business in Joseph catering to pets and their people and utilizing their years of experience in retail and restaurants.
With a degree in Communications and a career in Retail/Corporate Operations, Amy has spent the last 2 years in Medford OR. There she volunteered at the Jackson County animal shelter. Best days ever!! Prior to that, the Ponderay Animal Shelter in the Sandpoint, ID area was the go-to shelter. Now in Wallowa County, the opportunity to join the WCHS board is a great honor.
Adele Buttolph
Board Member
Adele has had an interest in helping animals for many years. She has taken in homeless cats, cared for many house cats, and provided food, water and shelter for several ferals. Her first volunteer effort with an animal rescue organization was in 1991 with the Lost Pet Project which was set up to help reunite pets who were lost during the Oakland Hills Fire with their owners.
Adele began volunteering with the Wallowa County Humane Society after the WCHS was so helpful with guidance, vaccinations, and spay/neuter of a litter of kittens that she found. While her and her husband's intent was to adopt the kittens out, they ended up being complete foster failures and adopted all six. Adele initially volunteered at the WCHS Center, then took up the role as webmaster. Presently, she is also volunteering at the Re-Tail Boutique and helping the WCHS in other ways as well.
Adele's other interests include photography, travel, and sourdough bread baking. She enjoys both domestic and international travel, including trips geared for photographers. She and husband Phil have lived in Wallowa County since 2005 and are presently owned by six rescue cats.
Address
119 E. Main Street
Enterprise, OR 97828
Opening Hours
Thu - Sat: 10am - 3pm
Sun-Wed: Closed
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