The Charles Smithgall Humane Society is situated approximately halfway between the towns of Alpine Helen and Cleveland, in White County, Georgia. We are adjacent to Smithgall Woods Conservation Park, a Georgia State Park Heritage Preserve. This beautiful area in the North Georgia Mountains is at the base of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
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Smithgall Woods State Park
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The Humane Society came into being in the early 90’s, by a group of citizens concerned about the growing number of strays and abandoned animals in the county. By 1994, enough spaghetti dinners, yard sales and fund raisers were done to raise money & formally submit the group to be incorporated, and the White County Humane Society received its 501(c) 3 status, in April 1994. The Humane Society members then petitioned the citizens of White County to get enough signatures to put a vote on the ballot for Animal Control to be added to county government, as well. The vote was approved resoundingly.
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Charles Smithgall was a North Georgia businessman and philanthropist who agreed to donate a portion of the land he gave to Smithgall Woods Conservation Park, for use by the Humane Society, to run an animal shelter. He also donated a huge portion of the funds needed to build the building and kennels. With appreciation to, and in honor of, Mr. Smithgall, the Humane Society was renamed the Charles Smithgall Humane Society. In 1996, the Animal Adoption Center for dogs and cats was built. It had one kennel with 17 runs, and quickly became full, so by a generous donation again by Mr. Smithgall, funds for a second kennel were raised and a 2nd kennel was built in 1997 with 18 runs, with 4 more added in 2007. Our 39 kennels have indoor and outdoor runs. Our building proper also houses cat/kitten cages, as well as puppy pens.
We are funded 100% by donations. We also could not exist without the generosity of time & funds of our volunteers, members and donors.
We are a no-kill humane society, meaning we don't euthanize animals for space. We try to get pets adopted through the adoption center, offsite adoption booths, listings on this website and Petfinder.com. We also foster animals, so we can keep space for new animals brought in by owner release or abandonment.
We do not have staff veterinarian services; therefore, we are limited in the treatment we can give. It is through the gifts of our donors that specify their donations toward medical treatments that we are able to help some pets we otherwise would not be able to treat. Our special medical fund, set up just to donate towards the medical treatments of our animals in need, is called "
Rocky's Fund". And our
Guardian Angels program has also helped in this area.
And we are thankful to our local vets who oftentimes give their time and services for discounted rates. Foster parents are also wonderful, donating their time and funds to care for the pets they take in. This is a program we are currently expanding, so if you are interested, please fill out our
Volunteer Form, and someone will call you to discuss details, or e-mail us through the link below, indicating your interest in the Foster Program. Check out our
Pets for Adoption page to learn more about Adoption Center!
While the core of our Humane Society is the
Animal Adoption Center, we have many programs for the community, including Educational Programs and Pet Therapy, & are working hard to expand those programs. We are limited only by the number of volunteers we have, so please check out our
Volunteers Corner, and consider signing up for an area that might interest you!
From Gainesville: Take 129 north through Cleveland, turn right at the Ingles intersection towards Helen, (Hwy. 75), and we're about 4-5 miles down on the left -- It's a white building, & we have a large sign & fence, so you can't miss us!
From Atlanta I-85: Take 85N until it turns into 985N and continue as it turns into Hwy. 365N. That will go about 12-15 miles until you see Hayes Car Dealer on your right. Go past that , and at light, look for Hwy. 384 to the left. (Sign should say "To Helen"). Take 2-lane Hwy. 384, (also called Duncan Bridge Rd.), until it ends, approx. 11-12 miles. That will dead end into Hwy. 75, and turn left on that, and we're up on the right about 1/2 mile or less.
From Atlanta GA-400: Take GA400 until it turns into a 2-lane, and then will keep going on 2-lane a few miles until you get to a stoplight. That will be Hwy. 52/115, and turn right. Continue on 115 when 52 splits off, and go to city square in Cleveland. Turn left onto Hwy. 129, (goes around courthouse), and continue to light where Ingles Supermarket, Rite Aid Drugstore, & Huddle House are. Turn right onto Hwy. 75 and go a few miles until you'll see us on your left!
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Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia – Between Helen and Cleveland in White County
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