Humane Society of Jackson County, NC - ARF

09/04/2026

Forget the ice cream aisle. The sweet Cherry Garcia is waiting for a forever home!

Cherry is a 4-month-old, 25-pound hound mix who loves laps, being held, playing with the big dogs, and hanging out with her people. She’s sweet, social, submissive with other dogs, and has already discovered her hound voice.

Cherry is still a puppy, so she’ll need continued housetraining, socialization, and her remaining puppy vaccines. Her ideal adopter will have experience with puppies and hounds and be ready to help this sweet girl grow up right.

Ready to get the scoop?

Learn more about Cherry Garcia on Petfinder:
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/cherry-garcia-473adec3-0584-456b-8781-a6a843a9ed1a/nc/sylva/jackson-county-humane-society-arf-nc204/details/

Then complete our adoption application to schedule a meet and greet:
https://www.arfhumane.org/adoption-application

09/03/2026

Keep Your Pets Safe This Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend means cookouts, visitors, outdoor fun and, for our pets, plenty of chances to get into trouble.

A few simple reminders can help keep your four-legged family members safe:

• Watch the grill. Keep pets away from hot grills, grease, skewers and scraps that can upset their stomachs.

• Skip the table scraps. Fatty foods, bones, onions, grapes, chocolate and other people foods can be dangerous for dogs.

• Keep an eye on the door. With guests coming and going, make sure your pet can't slip outside unnoticed.

• Be careful around water. Not every dog is a natural swimmer. Keep pets supervised around pools, lakes and rivers.

• Keep pets away from fireworks. Even if your community isn't having a big fireworks display, unexpected booms can scare dogs into running away. Keep them safely indoors and make sure their ID tags and microchip information are up to date.

• Give them a quiet place to retreat. Parties can be exciting, but some pets would rather nap in a quiet room away from the crowd.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the long weekend with your furry family members. A little planning can help make sure everyone makes it safely to Tuesday!

From all of us at ARF, have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

09/03/2026

ARF's office will be closed on Monday, 9/7, for Labor Day. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!

08/31/2026

What a ride!

This past Saturday, the Southern Steel Sisterz hit the road for a beautiful ride through Jackson County, winding through Balsam and Tuckasegee. And they did it all to help local dogs.

Registration fees from the ride were donated to support ARF’s low-cost spay/neuter program, helping dog owners in Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties keep their pets healthy and prevent unwanted litters.

Thanks to the Southern Steel Sisterz, everyone who rode, and all who helped make this day such a success. We are so grateful for your support!

A special thank you to Dogs on Wheels for joining the fun and serving up some delicious treats for everyone!

ARF’s low-cost services:
• Spay/neuter: $20
• Rabies vaccination: $5
• Additional vaccines and services available

Every ride, every donation, and every spay or neuter helps make a difference for dogs and their people in our community.

Thank you, Southern Steel Sisterz, for putting your wheels in motion for a great cause!

08/27/2026

ARF, the Southern Steel Sisterz, and Dogsonwheels Sylva will be at Mark Watson park this Saturday from 10-12, before kicking off a 2 hour ride through beautiful WNC. Registration is $25 and all vehicles are welcome. The proceeds will go to support ARF's affordable spay/neuter program.

We hope to see you there!

Please come along to Mark Watson Park this Saturday 8/29 from 10-12 to see a whole bunch of cool bikes and grab a hotdog from Dogs on Wheels. You can pay to join the ride (car or motorcycle, all proceeds go to ARF) that leaves at 12, but to come and see the bikes and meet everyone before the ride sets off is completely free.

The forecast is great and we'll be right next to the playground and skate park, so bring the kids along for a fun couple of hours and some great photo opportunities ❤️🐶🏍️🌭

08/25/2026

Thinking About Fostering? Let ARF Handle the Rest.

When you foster with ARF, we cover the cost of food, supplies, veterinary care, medications, and anything else your foster dog needs. There is no cost to you.

And you won't be doing it alone. We'll get to know your household and help match you with a dog who is a good fit for your home. Then we'll be here to answer questions, troubleshoot the unexpected, and support you every step of the way.

You don't need to know everything about dogs. You don't need to have fostered before. You just need to be willing to open your home and give a dog a chance.

We'll provide the dog. We'll provide the supplies. We'll provide the support. You provide the love.

Ready to give fostering a try?

Learn more and apply at arfhumane.org/volunteer

08/24/2026

Rabies protection isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Rabies is a deadly disease, but it’s also preventable. Keeping your dog’s rabies vaccination current protects your dog, your family, and your community.

In North Carolina, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age and must wear a valid rabies vaccination tag when in public.

A few important reminders:
• Keep your dog’s rabies vaccination current.
• Make sure they wear their rabies tag when they’re out and about.
• Keep a copy of their vaccination record in a safe place.

Need an affordable way to get your dog vaccinated? We’ve got options:

Saturday, September 26
Jackson County Animal Shelter will host a low-cost vaccine clinic.

Saturday, October 17
ARF will host a low-cost vaccine clinic at Tuckasegee Trading in Cullowhee.

At both clinics, rabies and DAPPV vaccines are just $10 each.

Keeping your dog vaccinated is one of the simplest things you can do to protect them and your community. Don’t wait until you need that rabies tag. Get your dog covered!

More details about ARF’s programs and resources: arfhumane.org

08/20/2026

Ride for a Reason!

Rev up your engines and join the Southern Steel Sisterz for a beautiful ride through the Smoky Mountains, all while supporting local dogs!

Registration is Saturday, August 29, from 10 AM–12 PM at Mark Watson Park in Sylva. The $25 registration fee will be donated to support ARF’s low-cost community spay/neuter program.

The ride kicks off at noon for approximately two hours of gorgeous mountain roads and good company. Cars are welcome, too! Motorcycles will lead the ride, so grab your favorite wheels and come along.

And because every great ride needs great food, the fabulous folks from Dogs on Wheels will be serving up tasty hot dogs, walking tacos, and homemade lemonade!

Come ride, eat, and help make a difference for dogs in our community. We’ll see you there!

08/19/2026

Peaches is officially HOME!

We couldn't be happier to see this sweet girl begin her next chapter with her new family. Her new family has already welcomed her with open arms, and we have a feeling there are plenty of adventures, cuddles, and stuffed-toy shenanigans ahead.

Happy tails, Peaches! We can't wait to see all the wonderful memories you make together.