The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia said Thursday that the organization saw notable increases in operations and community outreach across 50 Georgia counties last year.
In 2023, the Humane Society took in 1,642 animals, compared to 1,536 intakes in 2022. Of the number of animals taken into the shelters, 1,522 were adopted over the year. The Humane Society saw 1,373 adoptions the year prior.
“Our annual impact reflects the consequences of pet overpopulation and subsequent homelessness, as well as the importance of accessible and affordable veterinary care,” Allison Mayfield, HSNEGA president and CEO, said. “Until adoptions can outpace the constant influx of animals in need, we will continue to assess how we can make a greater impact. Our mission this year is to reverse this trend through education, advocacy, and strengthened resources for pets and their owners. Together, we can reduce the number of animals in need and stop this devastating cycle.”
The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia also emphasized that it was able to serve 803 pets through outreach projects in 2023, as opposed to 580 pets served in 2022.
The organization noted that as the costs associated with pet ownership have increased in recent years, it has made an effort to alleviate the financial burden for pet owners by offering low-cost veterinary care at the Christian-Davide Healthy Pet Clinic. The onsite facility is open to the public and offers spay and neuter surgeries, annual preventative care, vaccinations, dental treatment, and other pet health services. The shelter also provides outreach in the communities it serves by offering free vaccinations and microchipping events throughout the year.
HSNEGA said in 2024, the organization will continue to expand its operations.
Planned for this year, the shelter will proceed with its establishment of a second facility in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society in Augusta. The organizations previously partnered to launch the Community Cat Program, created to reduce euthanasia among free-roaming cats in Augusta and was launched in June. The program has completed 392 spay and neuter surgeries since its debut. The planned expansion between the two organizations will include adoptions and an enhanced foster program.
The Humane Society is also in the formative phase of establishing a statewide coalition of shelters and animal welfare agencies to address Georgia’s overpopulation crisis, according to a release from the organization. The goal is to help other shelters achieve no-kill status by strengthening foster programs, promoting spay and neuter surgery, and enhancing community resources.
“While it’s a privilege to identify and lead new outreach opportunities throughout the state, our focus remains on the animals in our care and communities in which we operate,” Mayfield said. “Though the need was greater than ever in 2023, so was the support we received. Through your generosity and kindness, we were able to help more animals than ever this year. We are deeply appreciative of the community for allowing us to expand our mission in 2024.”
The shelter will also soon host a vaccinations and microchipping event on February 3 at St. Paul United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To learn more about the shelter’s mission, visit https://humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org.
