January 2, 2011 After being closed for three weeks, the Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) will begin accepting animals on Tuesday, January 3rd by appointment only. HSSM was forced to halt intake temporarily in the wake of a fire in their facility December 12 which damaged its intake areas.
Repairs are nearly complete to the intake areas of HSSM’s facility caused by the December 12 fire in which no animals or humans were harmed. HSSM halted intake of animals for three weeks due to the damage, but will now re-open to South Mississippi’s needy animals. Intake will be by appointment only in an effort to manage the number of animals coming in at one time.
“We want to be able to provide the best possible service to the people and pets of our community and too many animals coming in too fast is a recipe for frustration for the people bringing pets in and inferior service for the pets entrusted to our care” says Tara High, Executive Director.
Anyone who has found a stray animal or who is needing to surrender their animal will need to call 228-863-3354 ext. 603 to book an Intake Appointment. HSSM is implementing this appointment schedule in an effort to avoid a deluge of animals overcrowding the shelter.
HSSM is currently housing less than 40 animals, but expects to be back at full capacity of 300 or more animals in less than a week’s time. HSSM encourages anyone looking to add a pet to their home to visit the Gulfport animal campus to adopt a homeless pet.
“The repairs to our facility are complete and we have seen much support in the past few weeks in the wake of this near catastrophe,” said Tara High, HSSM Executive Director, “But we are going to be depending on our community in the next few weeks to help us regulate our intake and increase our adoptions so that we can save the lives of the animals that come through our doors.”
Intake Appointments will be required until further notice for any animals coming into HSSM. If you have found a stray animal or you need to surrender an animal, please call 228-863-3354 ext. 603 to book an Intake Appointment.
