Mission
The Lemhi County Humane Society (LCHS) owns and operates the Salmon Animal Shelter, where we provide high quality sheltering services for homeless companion animals from Lemhi County. The LCHS also provides funds for public spay and neuter programs in an attempt to decrease the number of dogs and cats entering our shelter. We are also the first line of defense against animal abuse and neglect, and work closely with law enforcement officials to ensure that all animals in Lemhi County are treated in a kind and humane manner.
You can help – donate today!
The Lemhi County Humane Society is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization Fed ID# 82-0327764. We depend on donations to help fund our operating costs, and are grateful for donations of any size. If you wish to help by making a tax-deductible contribution, you may donate online:
If you’re not comfortable donating online, send a check the old-fashioned way to:
Lemhi County Humane Society
PO Box 1918 Salmon, ID 83467
History of the Lemhi County Humane Society
The Lemhi County Humane Society got its start when, in the early 1970’s, a local high school student voiced his concerns regarding the state of the local city animal pound to his teacher, Kay Stone. She listened and shared his concerns with other citizens of Lemhi County. Several locals then joined together to form the Lemhi County Humane Society (L.C.H.S.), which was incorporated in 1977.
Initially there was a drive to raise funds but it was quickly recognized that there needed to be a continuous flow of income in order to run the Society’s animal shelter. It was decided that a thrift store would be a good money maker. A contest was held to name the thrift store, and it was a high school senior who suggested the winning name: Rags & Wags. Originally located in a shack on Shoup Street, the board of L.C.H.S. soon realized that a better structure was warranted. The board purchased a more suitable building closer to the downtown area, known as Old Blue, which is where Rags & Wags was located until recently. In the fall of 2009 L.C.H.S. entered into an agreement with the Odd Fellows Rocky Mountain Lodge #5 to purchase their Main Street building to serve as the new home of Rags & Wags.
The Odd Fellows building is approximately 110 years old and has an interesting history of its own. It was built by men from the mining town of Leesburg, who would descend to the Salmon Valley on weekends to work on the building and then return to their mining jobs during the week. Construction began in 1897 and was completed in 1902. The original title on the building dates from a time when Idaho was still a territory. The Odd Fellow Building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1980’s, L.C.H.S. and the City of Salmon entered into an agreement allowing the Society to build a shelter on city property. The Society leases the land from the city for $1 per year, but the shelter building and surrounding outbuildings are owned by the Society. As each year passes, additions have been made to improve the lives of the animals while in the care of the L.C.H.S. In recent years, a large Bark Park was built for the dogs and – thanks to a generous benefactor – a major renovation to expand the office and cat area was completed in the fall of 2010.
There are always opportunities to enhance the lives of animals under the care of the L.C.H.S. We invite you to share your ideas for improvements, and to give generously so that we can continue to grow and expand both our infrastructure and our services.
Staff – Management
Executive Director - Haley Robinson
Haley moved to Salmon in 2024 with her partner, Derek, and is originally from eastern Idaho. She brings a background in marketing, fundraising, events, and communications, and is passionate about building support for animals in the community. At LCHS, she focuses on growing fundraising efforts and helping more animals find their way home.
Outside of work, Haley enjoys traveling, reading, working out at Lat45 with friends, and spending time with her partner and their three adopted pets: Indy, Newton, and Spooky.
Shelter Manager - Paige Smutzler
Paige is the Shelter Manager at LCHS and a steady, compassionate leader for both animals and staff. She brings patience, care, and a deep commitment to helping animals feel safe, build trust, and find their second chance.
A strong advocate for animal welfare, Paige works closely with adopters and the community to create better outcomes for animals across Lemhi County. Her dedication and leadership make a lasting impact on our shelter and every animal who comes through our doors.
Rags & Wags Manager - Rebecca Anderson
Rebecca (Becky) Anderson is the Manager of Rags & Wags and has been a dedicated part of the team for over 13 years. She keeps the store running smoothly, from managing staff and organizing donations to making sure everything stays on track behind the scenes.
Becky is known for her strong connection to the community and her willingness to help wherever she’s needed. With a great sense of humor and a ready smile, she creates a welcoming environment for customers, staff, and volunteers alike.
Assistant Shelter Manager - Emily Raudman
Emily Raudman is the Assistant Shelter Manager at Lemhi County Humane Society and a key part of the day-to-day operations of the shelter. She is known for her positive energy, strong organizational skills, and her ability to connect with people.
Emily leads much of the shelter’s volunteer coordination, helping create a welcoming and supportive environment for those giving their time. Always cheerful and ready to help, she goes above and beyond to support both the team and the animals in our care.
Board Members
President - Sandy Kollenberg
Inspired by her Dad’s lifelong love of animals, Sandy champions the life-changing power of the human-animal bond. When not helping to further the organization’s mission, you can find her sneaking cuddles with shelter cats, walking shelter dogs, brainstorming new ways to raise awareness, or convincing friends that “just one more foster” is always a good idea.
Vice President - Dana Cotton
Dana has lived in Lemhi County since 2017 with her family, including two dogs, two cats, and nine chickens, and is proud to serve on the LCHS board. When she’s not playing outside with her trusty sidekicks, she is a faculty member and department chair at the College of Eastern Idaho.
Secretary - Hannah Alverson
Hannah Alverson moved to Salmon in 2017 and joined the LCHS board early in 2025. Hannah enjoys reading books, trail running, and hiking with her husband and their two dogs, who are both former LCHS shelter residents.
Treasurer - Kenn Roberts
Kenn grew up on ranches and has a lifelong passion for animals. He was active in 4-H and volunteered with animal rescues. Since relocating to Lemhi County 13 years ago, Kenn has adopted a cat from the shelter, cares for three rescue dogs, and is currently taming two feral cats. He has a strong background in biology and zoology from his first degree in Pre-Med—knowledge that serves him well working with animals.
Britnee Miller
Britnee is a dedicated educator with over 15 years of teaching experience and a passionate advocate for animal welfare. A longtime supporter of the local humane society, she has adopted four dogs—two directly from the organization—and remains deeply committed to its mission. In addition to serving on the board, Britnee is a certified yoga instructor of more than 10 years and volunteers time to lead “kitten yoga” classes, helping raise funds and awareness for animal care and adoption efforts. She shares a home with two beloved bulldog mixes (Keena and Rosco) and her spouse, Kellen Miller, and is proud to support initiatives that improve the lives of animals in the community.
Becca Aceto
You can usually find Becca outside, almost always with her dog by her side. Becca and her partner moved to Salmon in 2020 and since then, she has found a lot of joy bringing shelter dogs along on hikes as a regular LCHS volunteer. She joined the Board in 2026 and is honored to support the organization’s mission in this role.
Louise Bruce
Louise has four decades of experience with nonprofits, including arts, conservation, and community organizations. She moved to Salmon in 2016 after living in Dillon, Montana for 30 years. When not working in the nonprofit sector she ran a catering company and managed the Univ. of Montana Western’s outdoor education center and spent many years supervising 50 college students at the Univ. of Montana Western’s Dining Services. She has rescued many mammals, birds and reptiles throughout her life, and is especially good at grabbing feral kittens before they escape into narrow openings. She and her husband Jim keep busy hiking, fishing, running, and biking when they aren’t trying to keep up with several horses, two puppies and their fearless cat Fireball.