NC/GA Shelter Tour Wrap Up
Every shelter tour is a little bit different. I am always inspired by the people we meet and while we can’t pull dogs, I do carry many of them home in my heart. I’m still thinking about the Rottie mix…
animal control
One Woman Show at Lanier County Animal Shelter
Lanier County Animal Control & Shelter was started in 2022. Prior to that, there were no real animal services in the county. Jessica took the job at the shelter when it opened and has been the ACO/director/kennel tech and sole…
Habersham County Shelter’s Excellent Staff Find Ways to Make Open Intake Work
We found the Habersham County Animal Shelter tucked behind the county fairgrounds in the woods. They’ve been in the same small building for over 25 years and have clearly outgrown it. The bathroom doubles as the filing/storage room, and while…
Re-Opened Intake at this Georgia Shelter
Our first shelter visit in Georgia was at Murray County, Georgia Animal Shelter. It was a gorgeous day in North Georgia, and when we arrived, Julie (director/ACO) and Torie (ACO) were outside with Reece, a gentle and gorgeous German Shepherd.…
How to be a Successful Open-Intake Animal Shelter in a Rural County
Benton County Animal Shelter in Camden, Tennessee is the poster child for a successful open intake shelter in a rural county. Their secret is a vibrant volunteer program and engaging their entire community in the shelter’s mission – from children…
A Better Goal: Sustainable Animal Shelters that are Supported By and Serve Their Community
I’m tired of the No-kill debate. Yes, the tenets are great, and yes, they save lives. And yes, they have brought us sooooo far. But fixating on these words and the random 90% threshold for No-kill, is not moving us…
Saving (or Not Saving) Dogs at Memphis Animal Services Shelter
The challenges of saving (or not saving) dogs at Memphis Animal Services Shelter are vast. MAS is struggling for multiple reasons and is euthanizing for space every week. In fact, they euthanized dogs while we were visiting them in February…
What Will It Take to Change the Huntingdon Dog Pound to a More Humane Animal Shelter?
It’s been six years since I last visited this animal shelter in Tennessee, the Huntingdon Dog Pound. That was the day I found my darling pup, Miss Fanny Wiggles. She was emaciated and covered in poop. Now, she is a…
Maury County Animal Services is a Volunteer-Driven Shelter
The story at Maury County Animal Services in Columbia Tennessee, just southwest of Nashville is volunteers. Led by their new director, Kim, who started out as a volunteer at MCAS herself, they have transformed the shelter. Kim has been the…
Maybe the Most Resourceful Director in KY (Montgomery County Animal Shelter)
Adam, the ACO/dog warden/shelter director (and part-time deputy at the jail), just might be the most resourceful director in Kentucky. We visited Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Mount Sterling, Kentucky in fall of 2024. Adam has been the director for…