Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Spinner.
Hi Scott, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2002, a small group of compassionate citizens came together out of concern for the grim conditions at Monroe County Animal Control, where nearly every stray and surrendered pet faced euthanasia. From that pivotal meeting, the Humane Society of Monroe County was born—and soon after, it earned its non-profit status.
What began with just a handful of foster homes and local adoption events slowly started to grow. Every animal rescued by the organization was placed in a loving foster home until adoption. By 2007, the organization leased its first small shelter just north of Red Bud, IL. The building quickly reached capacity within two months, housing 14 dog runs and space for 25 cats, in addition to animals in foster care.
In 2012, while legally retaining the name Humane Society of Monroe County, the organization rebranded as Helping Strays. This new name created a clearer identity, distinguishing it from other humane societies and emphasizing that the organization operates solely on donations—receiving no government funding at the federal, state, or local levels.
A major milestone came in July 2016 with the opening of Helping Strays’ new facility. The expanded space enabled the team to save more pets, increase adoptions, and serve as a community resource for animal welfare education.
Today, Helping Strays proudly facilitates over 1,000 adoptions each year, maintains a save rate above 98%, and has rescued and rehomed more than 11,500 pets since that first meeting in 2002. From humble beginnings to a thriving community shelter, our mission remains the same: to give every animal a chance at a better life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A constant struggle in our line of work is finding the balance between the heartfelt desire to save every animal and the difficult reality that not every animal can be saved. This truth is often painful and weighs heavily on those of us in animal welfare. There is always another homeless pet in need, another case of neglect or abuse, another irresponsible breeder contributing to the problem—so the work never truly ends. Each animal we encounter deserves a loving, responsible owner, and when they don’t get that chance, it can be incredibly hard to reconcile. The emotional toll of knowing we can’t help them all is something we carry with us, even as we continue doing everything we can for the ones we can save.
What keeps us going, even through the heartbreak, is the unwavering dedication and compassion of our volunteers and staff. Their commitment to the animals and to each other creates a supportive, uplifting environment where everyone pulls together, especially in the tough moments. Whether it’s celebrating a long-overdue adoption, comforting one another after a loss, or simply showing up day after day with love and purpose, their energy and positivity are contagious. That sense of unity and shared mission lifts our spirits and reminds us why we do this work. It’s that strength and support from within our team that allows us to keep moving forward, making a difference one life at a time.
As you know, we’re big fans of Helping Strays . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Helping Strays, our mission is to rescue, shelter, and rehabilitate homeless pets, find them loving homes, and promote responsible pet ownership. What makes Helping Strays truly unique is the level of care, commitment, and compassion we bring to every part of our mission. Each year, we adopt just over 1,000 dogs and cats into loving homes, and we do so with a focus on quality and long-term success. Visitors to our shelter often comment on the exceptional cleanliness of our facility—something we take great pride in. We are recognized as a No-Kill animal shelter, maintaining a save rate of over 98%, which ranks among the highest in the country.
Our experienced staff ensures that every animal receives excellent care during their stay with us, and our knowledgeable adoption counselors—our match-makers—work closely with families to find the pet that best fits their lifestyle. But our support doesn’t stop at adoption. We guide adopters through the entire process and follow up afterward to make sure both the pets and their new families are thriving. To help ensure a smooth transition, we even offer free training for newly adopted dogs. It’s this combination of compassion, professionalism, and ongoing support that sets us apart.
We also would like readers to know that we receive no federal, state, or local public funding. As such, we rely on private donations to keep our shelter open. We are incredibly grateful to our donors.
Pricing:
- As a non-profit rescue, we believe in making adoption affordable because everyone deserves the love of an animal. We do our best to keep adoption prices reasonable while relying on donations and adoption income to care for animals until we can place them in a loving home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://helpingstrays.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpingstrays4221/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingStrays4221
