Mcminn Regional Humane Society

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS/PROMOTION OF HUMANE ANIMAL WELFARE PRACTICES

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE MRHS SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC CONTINUED WITH ALL ANIMALS ADOPTED FROM THE CITY OF ATHENS ANIMAL SHELTER, AS WELL AS MORE ANIMALS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, BEING STERILIZED AND GIVEN INITIAL SHOTS. MANY RECEIVED MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL CARE FROM OUR FACILITY AS WELL, ALTHOUGH THE SERVICES PROVIDED ARE LIMITED COMPARED TO A REGULAR VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE. MRHS CONTINUED TO OFFER ADOPTION SPECIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ENCOURAGE AND EDUCATE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SPAYING AND NEUTERING. THE CLINIC CONTINUED ITS SERVICES TO THE CITY SHELTER, AT NO COST TO THE CITY, OF PROVIDING SOME VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO ADOPTION (BORDETELLA VACCINES FOR ALL SHELTER DOGS), FLEA MEDICATIONS FOR ALL SHELTER ANIMALS, AND TREATMENT FOR ALL SICK ANIMALS. THE CLINIC VETERINARIAN MADE NEARLY DAILY ROUNDS AT THE SHELTER.

MRHS HAS PARTNERED WITH A LARGE AREA DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO RECEIVE PALLETS OF UNSALEABLE PET FOOD (RETURNED OR DAMAGED) ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS. THE FOOD IS STORED AT THE CITY SHELTER AND GIVEN OUT TO SHELTER CUSTOMERS ON AN "AS NEEDED" BASIS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PLACE A VALUE ON THESE DONATIONS AS EACH PALLET IS DIFFERENT IN AMOUNT AND QUALITY BUT AN ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF FOOD RECEIVED IN 2022 IS $3,000.

MANY MRHS VOLUNTEERS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ATHENS ANIMAL SHELTER, CONTINUED OUR MISSION TO SAVE LIVES THROUGH INCREASED ADOPTIONS AND RESCUES. MRHS CONTINUED TO ALIGN WITH MANY RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS TO OTHER STATES TO BE PLACED IN PERMANENT HOMES. OVERALL OUR ADOPTION AND RESCUE NUMBERS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, PLANS BEGAN TO RELOCATE THE SHELTER TO A LARGER AND IMPROVED FACILITY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. BY YEAR END, WORK HAD BEGUN ON RENOVATIONS TO A LARGER BUILDING PURCHASED BY THE CITY. AS OF THE 2022 YEAR END, MRHS HAD NO FINANCIAL STAKE IN THE BUILDING OR RENOVATIONS, BUT WAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FUNDS FOR RENOVATIONS SPECIFICALLY TO RELOCATE THE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC AT SOME POINT. BY YEAR END A PLAN FOR A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WAS IN THE WORKS TO RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.

SEVERAL MRHS VOLUNTEERS ALSO CONTINUED AND ENHANCED OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN AREA SCHOOLS AND BEGAN DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL LIBRARY AND YMCA. PLANS ARE BEING MADE TO POSSIBLY ADD A LIBRARY AND LEARNING SPACE AFTER THE SHELTER MOVES TO ITS NEW LOCATION. BOOKS PROMOTING ANIMAL ADOPTIONS AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THIS SPACE. IN ADDITION, POSSIBLE SUMMER PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS ARE BEING CONSIDERED. MRHS VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO OFFER CLINIC AND SHELTER CUSTOMERS INFORMATION ABOUT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THEIR PETS.