About Us

Heartland Humane Society began in 1994 as a small group to address the lack of options available for the large number of unwanted animals in the community. Under the direction of founder, Jean Sporer, a board of trustees was established and they developed a foster program and adoption opportunities. Incorporation came the following year, and by 1996 the first shelter was opened. The shelter was in a former pet store located along the highway between Ottumwa and Agency. As a non-profit, no-kill shelter, funds received through adoption fees, fundraisers and private donations. The financial status remains today, as HHS receives no federal, state, or local funding on a regular basis. We started writing and receiving some money from a few grants. We soon outgrew the first building and were forced to seek larger quarters for the expanding number of dogs and cats coming in locally as well as from surrounding communities. Through the benevolence of a dear friend, we were able to purchase our present building on Fox and Sauk Road in Ottumwa in 2003… a former sanitation building, which presented challenges in the efforts required to convert it to s shelter for animals. As we were able, a staff of paid workers and management was added and the scope of operations grew to include educational outreach in the schools, pet therapy sessions in the hospital and local residential facilities, Spay/Neuter programs, shelter animal outings at various community functions, public information outreach via radio and TV broadcasts, a quarterly newsletter, and the list keeps growing. In 2009, we became part of the Rescue Waggin’ Program sponsored by PetSmart Charities, in which dogs found eligible through extensive evaluation and screening, are transported to shelters in other northern Midwestern states, where there is a low population of adoptable dogs. This arrangement allows shelters like Heartland, to keep openings for the steady stream of dogs without homes, and assures a large number of dogs are ready for adoption. To date, we have sent hundreds of dogs to new homes and new lives. Our board of trustees is an active mix of passionate and dedicated individuals who work hard to further the mission and operation of the shelter and its related disciplines.