About Us

Our Mission

It is the mission of the Coconino Humane Association to operate a humane and caring shelter that will give aid to unwanted, abandoned, and mistreated animals in Flagstaff and across northern Arizona.

It is our goal to provide exemplary animal care, save animal lives, disseminate information regarding the humane treatment of animals, and wherever possible to foster humane education throughout the northern Arizona area.

We pride ourselves on being a voice for dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals in Coconino County.

Nicholas Gabriel III
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a nearly five decade supporter of the Coconino Humane Association on October 16, 2022. Nick Gabriel was our night security in the 1970’s, a Board Member throughout the 80’s and 90’s and President of our Board of Directors for many years through the 2000’s. Under his direction, tutelage, and support he helped the Coconino Humane Association not only survive lean times but to continue grow and expand needed programs for our community’s pets. Our hearts and prayers are with the Gabriel family. We can never fully express how much we valued and appreciated Nick’s contributions of the time, knowledge and guidance that he gave to our organization.

Our History

The Coconino Humane Association was founded in 1955 by a group of concerned and dedicated people who felt there needed to be a change in the way animals were being treated in our community.

The shelter was built with donations from businesses, service organizations, and a few very dedicated individuals. The Forest Service leased five acres to the Humane Shelter, located in the area where Interstate 40 and Butler Avenue now intersect.

Even with these contributions, it took three years to complete the project. Through the work of the founders and many other concerned and dedicated people in the community, Northern Arizona received its first Animal Shelter in 1958.

In the early 1970’s, due to the construction of I-40 and the growth of Flagstaff, the Forest Service did not renew the lease on the land that the shelter was built upon. The Humane Society was faced with finding a new location.

Again with the help of residents, local businesses, and matching funds from the Bois Dubois Foundation, in 1972, the Coconino Humane Association started the construction of a new facility to care for the homeless and unwanted animals in Northern Arizona. The shelter is located in the area of Fourth Street and Butler Avenue, where it remains today.

Until 2018, the shelter operated under a contract with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to provide shelter services to the community.

2019 was a year of positive change for our shelter and we could not be happier with the direction that we are heading! None of this would have been possible without your support.

On January 1st, 2019, we began our transition from a municipal contracted animal shelter to a no-kill humane society after nearly 50 years of contracting with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County.

What does that mean for our community? Stray animals are now held at a newly formed contracted shelter and we can now provide more time, space, and care to the animals that really need it! Instead of having up to 5,000-6,000 animals coming through the shelter each year, we are able to maintain our populations at a stable number of approximately 2,500 and eliminate unnecessary euthanasia.

The Coconino Humane Association continues to provide vital animal services to the residents of Flagstaff and Coconino County by:

Providing animal sheltering services for owner surrendered pets
Pet adoption services
Low cost spay/neuter and vaccine programs
Community service and volunteer programs
Kids Camp
Emergency sheltering during times of disaster.

Currently, we are funded primarily through community grants and donations from businesses and individuals. If you’d like to help support our work rescuing and rehabilitating animals across Northern Arizona, click below.