In 1942 a group of scrappy and caring teenagers formed what would become the Tri-Lakes Humane Society. Their primary concern continues to feed our purpose: the welfare of unwanted and stray animals in our communities. Their first real “animal shelter” was a simple doghouse surrounded by chicken wire, but most of the teens took rescued animals to their homes to care for them until a new home could be found. They called themselves the Adirondack Animal Welfare Society – and they used a bicycle with a special cart attached to it to transport animals to the local vet’s office for treatment.

Thirty years after the founding of the Adirondack Animal Welfare Society, we moved to Woodruff Street in Saranac Lake, where paperwork was completed, phone calls and messages recorded, and donations received.

During that year, the shelter was renamed "Tri-Lakes Humane Society" and a motto was created..."We speak for those who cannot." In 1975, with the help of Henry Uihlein and many generous donations, the shelter was able to purchase a building at 11 Mills Avenue in Saranac Lake and renovate the floors to become our first, real shelter building for animals.