Moving adoptable pets to shelters with more space can improve outcomes

July 29, 2024 — Starkville, MS — Some five million pets enter shelters in the U.S. each year. Thanks to improved coordination between animal shelters across the nation, transporting homeless pets from shelters with fewer resources to those with higher demand or more space increases the chances for adoptable animals to find loving homes. Oktibbeha County Humane Society recently received a $25,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to support its pet transport program.

Transporting animals involves moving animals from areas of high pet overpopulation to those of high demand for adoptable pets. PetSmart Charities, the top funder of animal welfare in the U.S. and Oktibbeha County Humane Society know collaborations such as these will improve outcomes for animals in overpopulated shelters.

With more animals coming into our shelters in North Mississippi than there are adopters, animal relocation is critical to ensuring these animals get a second chance,” said Michele Anderson, Executive Director at OCHS. “OCHS transports more than 2,000 dogs and cats each year.  Not only does this impact the animals who get to go, but it also gives OCHS and our partners more resources to help those animals who remain. We are grateful to PetSmart Charities for its support of this life-saving program.”

  “As many communities grapple with animals staying longer in shelters and work to build out long-term solutions, partnerships with regions who have capacity to bring in animals is paramount to our collective lifesaving efforts,” said Heidi Marston, director of pet placement initiatives at PetSmart Charities.  “We’re proud to support OCHS and their work to ensure adoptable pets find their families as quickly as possible.”