The New Nodaway Humane Society (NNHS) is a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter and rescue located at 829 South Depot Street in Maryville, Missouri. [1, 2]
Founding and Early History
- Establishment: By-laws were officially filed on May 15, 1985, at 7:30 p.m. in the office of Frank Strong.
- Original Officers: Martha Johnson served as President, Tom Carneal as Vice President, and Marjo Nocks as Secretary–Treasurer.
- Initial Board Members: Dolores Albertini, Martha Blacketer, Mary Jackson, and Jill Wittwer.
- The “New” Prefix: The word “New” was added to the organization’s name to separate it from the older, former Nodaway Humane Society. [1]
Facility Development
- Current Building: Construction on the current shelter building finished in 2003, and the organization moved into the space in 2004. [1]
- Facility Specs: The shelter spans 7,488 square feet and includes dedicated nurseries, quarantine rooms, and separate quarters for dogs and cats. [1]
- Fire and Recovery: On December 19, 2023, an electrical fire broke out in the dog storage area. Staff and animals were safely evacuated and placed in temporary foster homes, and repairs began immediately. [1]
Programs and Community Partnerships
- Puppies for Parole: Partnered with the Maryville Treatment Center to let carefully screened inmates train and socialize rescue dogs over an eight-week program. [1]
- University Ties: Collaborates with students from Northwest Missouri State University (such as through Knactive marketing projects and Greek Week volunteer efforts). [1, 2]
- Funding Model: Roughly 20% to 25% of operating funds come from local animal control contracts, while the remaining 75% to 80% relies strictly on community donations, fundraisers, and volunteers.
Name Change from Nodaway Humane Society
The “New Nodaway Humane Society” (NNHS) is not a separate or newly founded organization; it is the same 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter formed in 1985 in Maryville, Missouri, [operating under a refreshed brand identity rather than a change in core ownership or mission.1, 2]
The differences lie in the updated branding and internal operations:
- Name and Branding: The organization updated its public identity to the “New Nodaway Humane Society” (while retaining the historical NNHS acronym) and introduced a new logo featuring a heart-filled paw. [1, 2]
- Marketing and Outreach: The rebrand was developed in partnership with Knacktive, a student-run digital media marketing agency program at Northwest Missouri State University, designed to modernize community engagement and expand access to shelter resources. [1, 2]
- Internal Operations: