Mississippi animal shelter celebrates 10 years of no-kill

In the southeastern corner of Mississippi, the city of Hattiesburg is home to a small but mighty animal shelter that has made a lifesaving difference for pets like Linus. Linus first arrived at Southern Pines Animal Shelter, a Best Friends Network Partner, in 2017 as a 3-month-old puppy with severe congenital conditions affecting his bones and joints. He could not walk. The English bulldog pup had spent his earliest weeks confined to a small crate, without the opportunity to move freely or build strength.

The shelter placed him in a foster home, where Linus spent the next six months learning how to navigate the world. His caregivers helped him strengthen his legs, and eventually he got a wheelchair, which he embraced with the enthusiasm only a resilient puppy can muster. By 9 months old, he was adopted into a loving home.

Seven years later, due to unexpected life changes, his adopter could no longer keep him. He landed back at Southern Pines, where the team was just as committed as they were when he was a puppy to giving him all the love and care he needed. They even fitted him for a new wheelchair. And soon after, Linus was adopted again — this time by a man who had been on his way to Florida to purchase a puppy from a breeder but instead chose Linus.

Linus could have become a statistic each time he ended up in a shelter, especially if that shelter were full and struggling to save healthy dogs and cats. But Southern Pines has consistently demonstrated that, with a focused mindset and robust community engagement, animal services organizations of any size can make lifesaving a priority.

Since first reaching the no-kill benchmark in 2016 — meaning it saves at least 90% of the dogs and cats it takes in — Southern Pines has shown what’s possible even in regions with modest resources. In 2025, the shelter achieved an impressive 97.5% save rate for cats and dogs.

The key to Southern Pines’ success lies in a combination of data-informed strategies, accessible support for pets and their families, and an involved community. The shelter's low-cost spay and neuter clinic, launched in 2009, remains one of their most impactful programs. Spay/neuter surgeries for cats are just $25, making the service accessible to more people in the community.

Education is central to the shelter’s communications and marketing approach. During kitten season (the warmer months of the year when more kittens are born outside), their clever Stop, Drop, and Roll on Outta There campaign reminded the community not to “kit-nap” healthy kittens who still need their mother’s care. The campaign went viral on social media, creating a ripple effect of understanding that the best place for very young kittens is with their mother.

What is kitten season?

Making adoptions more accessible is also a major focus. A long-running partnership between Southern Pines and a local PetSmart store has been especially successful, with up to half of all cat adoptions occurring off-site, greatly expanding the shelter’s reach and visibility.

In 2010, Southern Pines was a very different place. Its save rate for cats and dogs was barely 20%. The shelter was under-resourced, dealing with policy restrictions, and struggling to meet the needs of the community.

Amanda Paris, who now serves as shelter director, started as a part-time kennel technician. Working alongside the team, she has been instrumental in transforming both operations and culture in the organization. “We didn’t even know there was a larger movement out there when we began,” she says. “But once we came to understand what was possible, we focused on learning and improving every step of the way for the pets, the staff, and the community.”

In 2025, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared January as Mississippi Loves Shelter Animals Month, recognizing the positive impact of shelters like Southern Pines. “Shelters across Mississippi are doing great work finding safe and loving homes for animals,” he said at the time. “I encourage Mississippians to consider adopting the next time they want to bring home a new pet.”

The governor also praised Southern Pines’ leadership, adding, “I’m proud of the great work Amanda Paris and her staff have done to improve animal services in their community. Mississippians are known for coming up with innovative solutions, and this is just further proof of that.”

A major turning point came in 2014, when a grant from the Rachael Ray $100K Challenge helped the team refine their data and expand their goals. Soon after, the shelter joined PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’ program, launching them into the world of pet transport programs — moving pets from shelters that are stretched thin to organizations with more space and opportunities for adoption.

In 2016, Southern Pines created its own transport program, EmBark. With PetSmart Charities’ support, the shelter purchased a vehicle and began moving thousands of animals to shelters and rescue groups that could find homes for them. This program also allowed Southern Pines to support under-resourced shelters nearby. In 2024 alone, they took in 1,181 animals from partner shelters and gave rides to 1,005 animals to groups that would find them new homes.

How this struggling animal shelter in the Deep South turned into one of the best

“Transport changed everything,” Amanda says. “It expanded our impact and reinforced the importance of partnerships.”

Policy reform has also played a critical role in saving more animals’ lives. One key change involved stopping shelter admissions of healthy cats living outdoors. Most of these cats were never claimed by anyone once they entered the shelter, and most also were unlikely to be adopted because they weren’t used to living with people. So in the shelter, their lives were at risk.

To keep these cats healthy and happy in their outdoor homes, Southern Pines now emphasizes education, resources, and good-neighbor solutions. When people understand the reasons behind the policies, Amanda says, “they often become our biggest champions, helping spread accurate information across the community.”

In 2015, Southern Pines began offering trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for cats who live outdoors. By 2019, with strong support from city leadership, TNVR became official policy — freeing up shelter space and saving more cats’ lives.

Though privately operated, Southern Pines serves as the municipal shelter for Hattiesburg and holds a contract with the city of Petal to provide animal sheltering services. When possible, the shelter also assists animals across the state, particularly during emergencies such as cruelty cases, hoarding situations, or natural disasters.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Pines prioritized keeping pets in their homes, offering support services that reduced the number of animals coming into the shelter, and strengthened community trust.

Amanda emphasizes that none of this would be possible without staff, volunteers, adopters, foster caregivers, and municipal leaders working together with shared purpose.

“Lifesaving at this scale doesn’t happen because of one person or one program,” she says. “It happens because a team and a community commit to doing better together.”

Southern Pines Animal Shelter has gone from crisis to national leader. With strong partnerships, clear policies, and a commitment to innovation and compassion, they’ve proven that lifesaving isn’t about having more; it’s about using what you have strategically, creatively, and with heart.

No-kill is inevitable — the Magnolia State is showing us how

Their journey offers a blueprint for any community looking to create real, lasting change for pets and for the people who love them. For dogs like Linus, and for the countless others whose stories may never be widely known, that commitment makes all the difference.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.