About
Humane World for Animals — known until recently as the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International — is one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 53-0225390) works to end animal cruelty and suffering in all its forms, from puppy mills and animal fighting in the United States to the dog and cat meat trade and trophy hunting abroad.
Mission
The organization states its mission simply: "Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change." Rather than focusing only on rescuing individual animals, it targets the systems that cause suffering at scale — laws, industries, and consumer practices — while also operating direct care and rescue programs.
What they do
- Animal rescue and response, deploying teams to help animals in crisis
- Ending puppy mills, including support for local pet-store sales bans
- Farmed animal welfare advocacy and promotion of plant-based eating
- Wildlife protection, including campaigns against trophy hunting and the fur trade
- Fighting the dog and cat meat trade in Asia
- Combating animal fighting and improving equine protection
- Reducing animal testing and research on animals
- Access to Care programs connecting pet owners with veterinary resources
- Animal sanctuary operations and care for captive wildlife
History
The organization was founded in 1954; it notes that "Since 1954, we have helped pass thousands of local and national laws" protecting animals. It operated for decades as the Humane Society of the United States, with Humane Society International carrying its work abroad, before the two unified under the single global name Humane World for Animals.
Scale and impact
Humane World for Animals works across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Canada, the United States, and Australia, with country programs including India, South Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Impact figures the organization publishes include:
- More than 2,700 dogs rescued through its work against South Korea's dog meat trade
- More than 480 localities that have enacted bans on puppy-mill-sourced sales in pet stores
- An estimated 1.1 million animals saved annually through its promotion of plant-based eating
- More than one million pets connected with needed resources through access-to-care work
Financials
According to its most recent Form 990 on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (fiscal year 2025), the organization reported total revenue of $216,548,337, total expenses of $204,118,009, and total assets of $543,169,847. Its federal tax exemption was issued in January 1956.
Governance
Kitty Block serves as President and CEO. The organization is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 53-0225390.