History was made in the fall of 1880 by Gertrude Lewis, a 19-year-old student from Hartford High School.

Outraged by animal abuse in Connecticut, Gertrude traveled to New Hampshire with her family to meet with George Angell, founder of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), to share what weighed heavily on her heart.

With determination beyond her years, Gertrude rallied Hartford’s residents. A letter of endorsement from her minister and family friend, Reverend J. H. Twitchell, opened doors and minds. Then, on November 14, 1880, more than 1,000 people packed Park Congregational Church to hear Mr. Angell speak. When the talk concluded, 200 people stayed behind, compelled to take action.

Fueled by an outpouring of compassion, Gertrude and this dedicated group of citizens took bold action – creating the Connecticut Humane Society. Within a few months of their first November gathering, the vision was launched when CHS was chartered as an independent nonprofit by the state legislature and founded on April 14, 1881.

The founding purpose was as powerful as it was humane: to prevent cruelty and to nurture kindness – not only toward animals but also toward people. From the outset, CHS offered protective services for children and vulnerable adults, alongside care for livestock, wildlife, pets, and even working animals. It was a bold, inclusive mission at a time when such compassion was rare.

The good people of Connecticut were dedicated to this cause, and people and animals were protected by CHS for many years. In 1965, the creation of the Department of Children and Families enabled CHS to shift its focus entirely toward animal welfare. The drive to protect, to serve, and to inspire kindness has never changed, but was now able to focus on 4-legged beings.

The early years put pressure on CHS as it adapted to meet the changing needs of the community. In 1902, the organization opened its first office in Hartford, enlarging its capacity for advocacy and action. By 1918, CHS was fighting for overworked animals statewide, while younger, stronger animals went overseas to aid in WWI efforts.

The Society expanded again in 1920, purchasing a grand mansion on Washington Street in Hartford for its headquarters. CHS was now a beacon of hope and compassion for Connecticut’s most vulnerable.

Silent film legend William S. Hart made a generous donation in honor of his sister, Mary Ellen Hart, enabling CHS to buy land on the Post Road in Westport. In 1952, a new shelter was built with bricks and heartfelt remembrance. Renovations in 1989 refreshed the facade. It served the community until its closure in July 2025.

Meanwhile, compassion for pets continued to grow in Greater Hartford. With expanded services came an expanded staff. A new headquarters opened in 1958 in Newington on eight acres with new kennels and office space. CHS focused on what it did best: healing, sheltering, and finding companion animals homes.

Expansion into New London County in 1971, brought services to the Quaker Hill community and surrounding towns. This shelter was replaced in 2011 with a new structure designed to focus on animal well-being and comfort, including cage-free cat areas, radiant-heated dog runs, and quiet spaces for all pets to heal and prepare for adoption.

Spay/neuter advocacy became a frontline strategy in the battle against pet overpopulation in the early 1980s. At first, CHS provided vouchers for spay/neuter at veterinary offices.

Eventually, this evolved into a proactive medical initiative: CHS brought veterinarians on staff to ensure every shelter pet received spay/neuter surgery before finding their forever homes.

In 1998, another heartfelt gift transformed the future of animal care. Lucille Fox Gottlieb envisioned a place where every pet could receive medical attention, regardless of their owner’s means. Her generosity led to the creation of the Fox Memorial Clinic, offering low-cost veterinary services to the community. CHS expanded its footprint with the construction of a 14,000‑square‑foot facility attached to the Clinic. The new space featured modern kennels and administrative offices, ensuring the organization could meet the growing needs of pets and their families.

In 2025, a transformative pet resource center opened in Wilton. Standing as a beacon of hope and healing, it is an innovative model of animal welfare, preparing pets for adoption and providing resources to keep pets with their families for a lifetime of love.

The shelter space provides quiet spaces and light-filled areas for each pet to find comfort upon arrival. A spacious veterinary clinic delivers affordable medical care for both community-owned pets and those in the shelter. With dedicated areas tailored to different treatment needs, every pet receives the specialized care they deserve.

This center is more than bricks and mortar. It is a promise. A promise that no one will ever have to choose between keeping a pet and affording essential care. A promise that each pet has a pathway to leading its best life. A promise for a future of love and care.

Over the past 15 years, CHS has expanded the way it serves Connecticut’s pets by bringing care directly into communities. While Pet Wellness and Adoption Centers remain an important part of the mission, CHS has shown that its work is about far more than a building. Pop-up veterinary clinics, Pet Food Pantries, the Dr. Bill Haines Special Assistance Fund, the Safe & Sheltered Crisis Foster Program, and partnerships with veterinary practices across the state have made it possible to reach more pets and the people who love them—wherever they’re needed most. These community-based programs reflect CHS’ continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of pets across Connecticut.

The best outcome for a pet in need is often never entering the shelter at all because preventing a surrender is just as lifesaving as adoption.

From a teenager’s act of courage, to a statewide network of care, CHS has stayed true to its mission: to protect, to prevent, and to provide for pets and the people who love them.

Programs are rooted in dignity, compassion, and the belief that families shouldn’t have to give up their pets when times get tough. Every day, CHS is keeping pets where they are happiest: at home. A pet who never has to leave their family already has the best outcome possible.