Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2022

COAST NOTE
story and photos by HSSM
The foundation of sustainable and healthy animal welfare communities is rooted in understanding how animal welfare is equated to larger systematic challenges for people, pets, and public accountability.
The Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) is taking a comprehensive, long-term approach
to addressing the lack of access to pet resources for people through community outreach, educational programs,
and by providing pet owner support. HSSM strives to do everything in their power to help keep pets and families together. The organization operates a community pet food pantry and assists pet owners in need with resources, such as vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchips, preventatives, proper
pet shelter, pet supplies, fencing, and even pet deposits for those struggling financially. HSSM also hosts multiple free pet clinics throughout the year in targeted areas of the community.
With additional lifesaving programs added over the past six years, such as HSSM’s Pet Resource Department, public Wellness Clinic, and shelter behavior modification and enrichment, HSSM achieved a milestone goal in 2020 that they had been working on since incorporation. The national percentage
22 | April 2022
to be considered a “No Kill” shelter is 90 percent and HSSM’s current save rate
is 91.5 percent. To sustain this PAWsitive progress, HSSM focuses on the areas of people, pets, and public accountability.
People
People must be met where they are
with education and resources necessary to provide adequate care to their pets. Simultaneously, pet owners must be held accountable to ensure irresponsible pet ownership is not enabled. Quality of
life is a priority. Historically, HSSM has spent most of their resources on reactive programs. These financial appropriations are not sustainable and will not create long term change. Proactive and cost- effective programs, such as HSSM’s
pet retention program, that allow the reallocation of resources to assist families with keeping their pets healthy and properly cared for will render a long- term return on investment.
Pets
Adopt, don’t shop! When adopting an animal from your local animal shelter, you are not only saving that pet’s life, but you’re also making space in the shelter for another animal to come in and receive the care they need. Surprisingly, during the height of the COVID pandemic, HSSM reached their highest adoption rate in over 10 years. HSSM attributes this to individuals having
the time to spend with a pet that they normally would not have. The tertiary effect of this is that pets gave people a sense of purpose and affection during a very challenging time.
For these reasons, it is paramount
that animal welfare advocates seize
this opportunity to highlight just how important companion pets are and
how we must do the best by them
as a community. Recent research by
the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that nearly 60 percent of documented American households own a pet. Pets are not disposable; they are a lifetime commitment.
Always remember “The Three Threes” when bringing a new pet into your family: The first three days are the initial “detox period” as the pet transitions from the shelter to your home. These first few days require an immense amount of patience on your part, but they will eventually settle in if you give them the time and patience. After three weeks, your pet is probably getting used to your comings and goings, learning the daily routine, and starting to figure out when the next meal is coming. You’ll start to see more of
their true personality and less of their initial response – whether that was fear, excitement, stress, or a combination of all three. At three months, most pets know they are “home.”
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Ghandi
If you can’t commit to adopting a www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
People, Pets,
Public Accountability