About Us
Founded in 1915 by Woodstock, Vermont businessman Frank Mackenzie in memory of his wife, Lucy, the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society is one of the oldest continuously operating humane societies in the United States. "Lucy Mac," as we have come to be known, moved to its new home on Route 44 in West Windsor, Vermont in 2007.
Today, the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society lives up to its motto of "improving the lives of people and pets." Each year hundreds of abandoned, neglected, mistreated and stray animals find their way to our shelter. Once here, our caring staff and volunteers make every effort to ensure that the animals are healthy, well adjusted, and ready to be matched with a home that will cherish their pet for the rest of its life -- a life all pets deserve.
As part of its mission of enhancing the bonds of animals and people, Lucy Mackenzie is committed to educating people of all ages about the care of pets, the training of pets and their place and that of other domesticated animals in a humane community. In addition to dog training programs offered on site at Lucy Mackenzie, we will soon be offering programs in humane education directed to young people both in schools and at the shelter. Longer term we hope to offer educational programs directed to animal care professionals.
We serve many communities in Windsor County, Vermont, and also communities in the nearby Upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.
What We Do
Tucked on a hillside of woods and fields in West Windsor, Vermont, the Lucy MacKenzie Humane Society provides care and housing to homeless cats and dogs. LMHS takes in and seeks homes for animals. Some animals stay at the facility for weeks or even months until they are adopted. The shelter does not euthanize animals unless there is a strong medical or behavioral reason to do so. Healthy animals that are good candidates for successful placement stay at the shelter until they find a home. Animals come to the Lucy MacKenzie Humane Society for a number of reasons: accidental separation from their owners, surrendered because the owner no longer can care for them, abandonment, and, occasionally, cruelty rescue cases. Animals are quarantined when they first arrive at the shelter, giving the staff time to assess their health before introducing them to other shelter animals.
The dogs are housed in a kennel with individual runs and get to play in an outdoor yard. Volunteers take them on walks in the woods. The cat rooms include living room furniture and access to a fenced yard.
“We keep notes on every animal,” says Heidi Edmunds, Shelter Director. “We pay attention to their habits and personalities, like whether a dog knows how to heel or how it gets along with other animals. For the cats, we might notice if they like to be held or if they are loners. Our goal is to match our animals with loving, responsible, life-long homes.”
Prospective adopters fill out an application form. The shelter staff then takes a few days to verify the information. This typically includes confirming landlord’s permission (for renters), checking with a veterinarian to make sure that other pets have been properly cared for, or calling the town clerk to see if applicants have licensed their dogs, if applicable.