High Plateau Humane Society is the only organization in Modoc County working specifically to prevent adoptable animals from being euthanized at the City and County shelters. Without them, dogs and cats that go unclaimed would have no path forward—neither the City nor the County has the staff or resources to run an adoption center, so HPHS fills that critical gap.

The organization pulls all adoptable dogs from both the City and County shelters, and they also take in cats that would otherwise face euthanasia. There’s no breed or age restrictions—they evaluate each animal individually to determine if it’s adoptable, then move forward with placement. Every animal that comes through their doors gets spayed or neutered before adoption, which is a significant commitment on top of daily care.

Once animals are ready, HPHS either finds them homes directly through their own adoption program or transfers them to other no-kill facilities and rescues across the region. This safety net means that a healthy, behaviorally sound dog or cat in Modoc County has a real chance at a second life, rather than being written off simply because the local shelters lack the capacity to manage them.

If you’re in the Alturas area and looking to adopt, visiting HPHS is worth your time. You’re supporting an organization that’s literally doing the work no one else in the county is positioned to do. The staff can tell you about each animal’s personality and needs, and you’ll know that adoption fees go directly back into rescue operations. Modoc County is remote enough that having a dedicated rescue operation here makes a genuine difference in the lives of local animals.