Milestone Reached for Oconee County Pet Shelter

Oconee Humane Society and Oconee County Animal Shelter announced, for the first time in the long history of sheltering homeless pets, they achieved a monthly status of a no-kill shelter in January 2021.

No-kill is defined by national animal organizations as not euthanizing adoptable animals for
time and space (overcrowding), and reaching a 90 percent “save rate,” or having pets leave the shelter through adoption, rescue groups or return to owner. Only animals that are a danger to the public or are unable to recover from health challenges are euthanized.

“It has truly been a team effort to achieve this milestone.” said OHS Operations Manager,
Shawn Pearson. “While we support the no-kill philosophy of saving every animal who can be saved, we are often faced with more dogs and cats coming into the shelter than there are available, loving homes.”

Pearson said the non-profit group is fortunate to have a true partnership with Oconee County Animal Control Services and they work side-by-side each day to save as many dogs and cats as possible.

Rodney Long, Oconee County Animal Control Director, echoed this sentiment. “Keeping or
getting pets into homes where they are responsibly cared for is always our goal,” said Long. “This takes continual work as 3,227 dogs and cats came into the shelter in 2020. We value the efforts of OHS to rehome stray or surrendered pets.”

The team goes beyond the OHS and OCAC staff, according to Pearson. “From the people who open their hearts and homes to our dogs and cats to our amazing rescue partners across the country to a terrific group of volunteers, we have a crew dedicated to saving lives,” she said. “And we could not do any of our work without being blessed with a caring community of generous donors.”

With one month under its belt, the Oconee team hopes to continue this trend. Programs that help propel the shelter in that direction include dog and cat adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter vouchers available to any Oconee County resident, and continued volunteer and donor support.

To view adoptable pets or learn more about OHS, visit oconeehumane.org.