• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

A Humane Move: South Mississippi's Rescued Animals Have a New Home

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 09:01 CDT

By Tracy Dash, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Apr. 3--GULFPORT -- The Humane Society of South Mississippi spent more than 50 years at its Washington Avenue location serving the area and caring for the thousands of pets that passed through the shelter.

Now, the HSSM wants to continue serving the Coast in its state-of-the-art shelter and clinic, with a goal of connecting cats and dogs with animal lovers. The staff of 50 moved into the new building on U.S. 49, just north of Pass Road, about a month ago and is eager to have the public see it.

The 41,000 square-foot shelter looks more like a pet store than a dog pound. Visitors entering the adoption area will notice a partition in the shape of an orange cat that sections off the retail area and a green reception area shaped like a dog. Bright, cheery colors cover the walls, including the one near the puppy area that is built to resemble a giant, red fire hydrant.

The comparisons between the old shelter, which was a World War II armory, and the new one are endless.

There are "get to know you rooms," where prospective pet owners can hold and play with the animals. One room is decorated in an outdoor setting, furnished with a swing and an artificial flower garden. The other room has a sofa and faux fireplace.

The dog cubicles are 4 feet by 6 feet. Dogs at the old shelter were in 3 feet by 4 feet cubicles. There are one to three dogs in a kennel, depending on their size. Plus, all the animals are inside, which was not the case at the old shelter.

On Friday, there were 263 cats and dogs. The maximum capacity is 200 animals if each animal has its own kennel.

The shelter's retail shop sells everything a pet owner needs to take their furry critter home.

Society spokeswoman Mollie Hillburn likens the new shelter to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.

"It's a place where people can come and enjoy it," she said. "It's an outing, not a chore."

The fun environment already has school groups wanting to take field trips to the shelter, Hillburn said.

However, since its move earlier this year, the number of adoptions are lower than last year at the same time and last month because few people know where the animal shelter is located. A sign is being made for the old building to direct people to the new one.

One of the goals is to be a no-kill shelter. That means the pet population must be controlled and animals brought in must be adopted. It also means saving sick or injured pets that can be healed, but who are not a danger to themselves or other animals.

The shelter saves 75 percent of the animals, three times the national average and the amount it destroyed until recently, Hillburn said.

Ginger, a 2-year-old golden retriever, likely would have been euthanized if the shelter didn't have its Chicken Soup fund. She had an eye disease, but an operation paid for with Chicken Soup funds saved her life.

The gentle dog, who is housebroken, went up for adoption Friday, the same day she got her purple stitches removed. Shelter officials said the surgery was a success.

"She loves to play fetch," said shelter worker Trina Lafferty. "There's not a mean bone in her body."

Donations needed

The Humane Society of South Mississippi has several accounts that benefit its operation and programs. The funds:

Chicken Soup fund: For injured or sick shelter animals that otherwise would have to be euthanized.

Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP): Allows the shelter to offer no- or low-cost spay and neuter procedures.

Love Train: Money used to transport unwanted animals from the Gulfport shelter to shelters across the country that can put them up for adoption.

Capital fund: Money used to repay the HSSM's $2 million loan for the new shelter.

Upcoming events

Critter Classic Golf Tournament: May 2.

New location grand opening: May 19- 20.

------------

Hours of operation

The Humane Society of South Mississippi recently moved into its new location on U.S. 49, just north of Pass Road. Currently, it spays and neuters both shelter and the public's animals at no cost. For information, call 863-4394 or visit www.hssm.org. The hours:

Adoption area: 7 days a week, noon-6 p.m.

Animal clinic: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

More News in this Category