Gallery: Animal Advocacy
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Reports of animal advocacy in Hattiesburg date back to the city's earliest years. In 1909, (then) Humane Society president S. V. Robertson proposed a facility in which stray dogs could be cared for and, if necessary, euthanized in a painless, non-brutal fashion (Hattiesburg American: 7/27/1909). Subsequent newspaper articles announced periodic Humane Society meetings, though it's not clear that a physical shelter was ever actually constructed by this early group.
Forrest County Humane Society (FCHS)
Fast forward to 1952 when the city's only facility for strays was a dog pound located on New Orleans Street (Hattiesburg American: 1/25/1952). That same year, The Forrest County Humane Society (FCHS) was chartered, but plans for a shelter didn't get off the ground until 1972 when fundraising efforts began in earnest for the construction of a new 20x60 foot shelter at 1701 Alcorn St. The shelter formally opened in August of 1974 and accepted both cats and dogs; sick animals were treated by local vets (Hattiesburg American: 2/17/1972, 9/27/1973, 12/24/1975).
The city dog pound was no longer in operation by 1977, and the city's Animal Control unit brought animals directly to the shelter. Periodic renovations and expansions were required given the steady increase in the number of animals processed by the facility. By 1978, it became obvious that the Alcorn St. shelter was inadequate. The site was not readily visible to the public, and its location in a flood plain made for major problems during inclement weather. Planning began for a new 4,000 to 5,000 square foot roofed and heated shelter (Hattiesburg American: 11/19/1978, 6/22/1980).
Land at 1901 N 31st Ave was cleared and made ready for construction of a new shelter in 1982. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed facility was held on May 5, 1984. Periodic updates followed. For example, Company B of the 390th Engineer Battalion donated men and equipment to level the hill in front of the building. The work improved the shelter's visibility from the road and created a much-needed parking area (Hattiesburg American: 12/19/1982, 5/4/1984, 7/27/1991).
An electrical fire destroyed the shelter in 1995. While the building walls remained, office equipment, supplies and furnishings were lost. An even greater tragedy was seen in the loss of some 60 dogs and cats who were housed in the facility at the time of the blaze. One little mixed breed collie named Phoenix who survived, but was badly burned, became the society's symbol of determination to rebuild and continue the shelter's mission (Hattiesburg American: 5/3/1995).
Plans for a new building, now estimated at $350,000, followed guidelines for a modern facility which included a euthanasia room, dog run flooring with a bacterial inhibitor and fire and burglar alarms. The design would allow animals to be monitored in a sanitary, disease-free and easily maintained environment.
Monies generated from fundraising activities as well as insurance reimbursement from the old building were used as the basis for creating the new facility. Unfortunately, disputes between the contractor and the FCHS resulted in long construction delays (Hattiesburg American: 7/17/1998). HAHS was also unable to locate the rebuilt shelter's formal opening date.
FCHS becomes Southern Pines Animal Shelter (SPAS)
at 718 Bartur St.
2001 saw the FCHS name changed to The Southern Pines Animal Shelter. The new moniker more accurately reflected the facility's broad service area which extended well beyond Forrest County borders. The change also allowed participating counties to contribute to the shelter without obtaining state legislative approval, funding that was invaluable in both providing animal services and finishing up shelter buildings (Hattiesburg American: 12/27/2001).
Over the years that followed, fundraising efforts included the 2007 opening of The Southern Pines Second Chance Thrift Shop, currently located at 718 Bartur St.
Animal care services were expanded to include (Hattiesburg American: 4/10/2001, 5/5/2007, 2/1/2012, 9/24/2023):- 2001- microchipping pets;
- 2012- relocation of a new Spay & Neuter Clinic to 1304 Hardy St.;
- 2023- establishing a second pet clinic at 203C S40th Ave.
During that same time, tragedy once again struck when an arsonist set fire to the shelter's N 31st Ave. main office in 2009. Four pets were lost in the blaze. Being no stranger to such disaster, the Southern Pines staff immediately set to work preparing temporary facilities and implementing fundraising to restore the damaged office (Hattiesburg American: 12/22/2009, 12/29/2009).
Hub City Humane Society (HCHS)
2011 saw the resignation of most of the Southern Pines Animal Shelter staff and several board members over philosophical differences with the shelter's new executive director. The splinter group called itself The Hub City Humane Society, and members immediately began planning a new shelter facility (Hattiesburg American: 2/11/2011, 6/19/2014).
The group acquired 70 acres of land at 95 Jackson Road which straddles Hattiesburg and Lamar County. Presbyterian Christian School on Lincoln Road donated its portable buildings which were no longer needed given the schools move to its new location. The trailers were moved to the Jackson Road site, remodeled and used as the shelter's start-up facility (Hattiesburg American: 2/5/2013).
Prior to its 2013 opening, HCHS relied on Advanced Pet Care, area vet clinics and foster families to house animals. The shelter initally planned to follow an open admission policy (Hattiesburg American: 1/14/2013), though a limited admission approach is currently followed per the organization's website.
In the midst of providing services while fundraising and contracting with individual counties and municipalities, HCHS took the leadership role in PetSafe's "Bark for Your Park" competition in 2014. Active community participation on a variety of fronts resulted in a Hattiesburg prize of $25,000 for construction of a dog park. Phase I of the park opened in 2016 (Hattiesburg American: 8/9/2016).
The organization's creative fundraiser in 2016 paired furry animals with human models. The result was a "Hunks for Hounds" 
calendar featuring local men posing with either their own dogs or adoptable canines from the shelter. The calendars were so successful that "Pretties for Kitties" 
was launched in 2017 featuring local women posing with cute kittens (Hattiesburg American: 12/27/2017).
Postscript
The Southern Pines Animal Shelter
The Hub City Animal Shelter
This gallery has placed the spotlight on two local animal shelters that have served Hattiesburg and surrounding communities for many years. The chronology presented here, however, does not reflect the extensive time, talent and treasure expended by local residents, businesses, volunteers and veterinarians for the cause of animal protection.
Through their efforts, early municipal "pounds" which focused on confinement and euthanasia as the primary way of dealing with strays have given way to modern "shelter" models which emphasize care, rehabilitation and adoption.
Shelters have played a major role in creating public awareness of the importance of animal population control; spay and neuter services are currently available to pet owners at any number of convenient locations in the city. Additionally, animal identification, either in the form of collars or chip implants, is now routinely recommended as a means of reuniting individuals with their lost pets.
While our story ends here, our shelters continue to require support to meet the endless challenges of animal overpopulation and neglect. You can become a part of Hattiesburg's history of animal advocacy either through a donation or as a volunteer.
Help ensure a brighter future for our most vulnerable residents. Use the following links to learn more about Hattiesburg's animal shelters:
