SHAWANO COUNTY, WI — As public attention turns toward how stray dogs are treated in the town of Richmond, the Shawano County Humane Society is highlighting its own success stories and available services in hopes of shifting the conversation toward compassion and solutions.
During a WTCH interview Monday, Operations Director Traci Hutchcraft shared that in 2024, the shelter took in 258 stray animals—15 were returned to their owners, and the rest were adopted. None were euthanized. So far in 2025, 26 strays have come in, with 8 reunified and the remainder already adopted.
“Stray dogs are typically scared, abandoned animals who just want love,” Hutchcraft said. “We’re really good at helping them find that.”
The shelter refuted claims made at a recent Richmond town board meeting that stray dogs in the area are dangerously aggressive—claims used to justify shooting the animals.
“We’ve never seen these wild, aggressive dogs the town claims,” Nowak stated. “Not in Richmond, not even on the reservation. We work closely with Keshena Rescue, and they don’t report this either.”
The Humane Society works with multiple partners, including Keshena, Oconto, Milwaukee, and Forest County, and regularly handles dogs from the Menominee Reservation.
They emphasized that fear and misinformation are fueling the narrative in Richmond. Nowak clarified that serious dog bite incidents in Shawano County have historically involved family-owned dogs, not strays. She also noted that rabies transmission from dogs to humans has never been documented in Wisconsin.
When it comes to owner surrenders, the shelter does charge a small fee ($30–$60), but assistance is available for those with financial hardship. For strays, intake is free, and the shelter handles everything—pickup, medical checks, chip scanning, and rehoming.
“We want to be a solution, not just a shelter,” said Nowak. “We are here, trained, staffed, and ready. Let us help.”
Residents are encouraged to reach out via phone at (715) 526-2606, visit www.shawanohumanesociety.com, or connect on Facebook. The biggest request right now?
“Show up,” said Nowak. “May 12, 7 PM at the Richmond Town Hall. Stand beside us. Be the voice for the voiceless.”
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