Classes, Tours & Parties

Programs and Tours for Children

Our age-appropriate, on-site humane education programs are one to two hours long.

Programs feature:

  • A 30-45 minute behind-the-scenes tour of our state-of-the-art veterinary medical center and shelter at our Macklind Avenue Headquarters,
  • A shelter tour winding through our Cat Corner, Critter Corner and Adult Dog Wing,
  • The tour includes activities and plenty of hands-on time with shelter pets.
  • Weekday morning programs for kids in grades 3 and above include observation of surgery via a viewing window in our surgery suite.
    Our programs are taught by trained, volunteer teachers who are well-educated about a variety of animal-related topics and are familiar with age-appropriate learning styles.

Since your group will be visiting during business hours, we request that teachers, group leaders and parents be responsible for managing children’s behavior while visiting the Humane Society of Missouri.

Programs and Tours for Adults

We warmly welcome adults who wish to learn about animals and tour our facility.

Humane education program topics for adults include:

  • What we do to help animals
  • The therapeutic benefits of pets in our lives
  • Pet overpopulation and the importance of spaying and neutering
  • The adoption process – matching pets with families
  • Puppy mills/Pet stores
  • The plight of strays
  • Dogfighting and its impact on the community
  • The life of a chained animal
  • Exploring the differences between animal welfare and animal rights
  • The differences between open-admission and limited-admission shelters
  • Animal abuse/neglect – what you can do to help!
  • Issues affecting animals in our community
  • Animal rights issues – animals in the entertainment, food, clothing and testing industries
  • How to be an advocate for the animals
  • Any other topic that interests you

These programs also last approximately one to two hours and feature a 30-45 minute tour of the facility.

Ready to schedule your trip?

Program Fee

$5 per person, minimum $50 per presentation
Limited scholarships may be available. Please submit an Education Program request for additional information.

Please allow 4-6 weeks notice to ensure availability of the classroom, resources and a specially trained teacher.

NOTE: Completion of an Education Program request does not guarantee your selected field trip date. A representative of HSMO’s Education Department will contact you to make final arrangements and secure payment.

At this time, Education Programs are only available at HSMO’s Macklind Ave. Headquarters.
Click for map to 1201 Macklind Avenue in St. Louis.

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Pawrties with a Purrpose

Have your next birthday party at the Humane Society of Missouri

Your two-hour long party includes:

  • Animal-related games
  • Interactive activities
  • Animal encounters
  • A behind-the-scenes tour of the shelter
  • A behind-the-scenes tour of the vet med center
  • A shelter pet treasure hunt

This party will give your friends the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the animals by making toys for them to play with, decorating bandanas for them to wear and making colorful marketing cards to draw attention to their cages!

A party costs $200 and includes up to 15 children (max). All parties must take place at the 1201 Macklind location. The minimum age to participate is 6 years old.

Are you looking for a meaningful, memorable and fun party favor for your guests? For an additional $5/child, we can include a stuffed animal adoption activity where each child “adopts” a stuffed animal to take home. Leash, ID tag and adoption certificate are included.