Our Shelter Community Blog

Get behind-the-scenes stories from our shelter tours, discover practical resources and expert advice for rescue professionals, and read inspiring updates from organizations working to save homeless dogs"

Through our travels to shelters and rescues across the southern states, we've witnessed incredible innovation, heartbreaking challenges, and inspiring success stories. Our blog shares these real-world experiences alongside practical resources, grant opportunities, and insights that can help rescue organizations operate more effectively. Whether you're a shelter professional, volunteer, or advocate, you'll find stories and solutions that matter to the work of saving homeless dogs.

Shelter Tours, Mississippi, Nonprofit cara achterberg Shelter Tours, Mississippi, Nonprofit cara achterberg

CARES: Shelter Saving Lives Through Transparency, Kindness, and the Power of Social Media

CARES Clarksdale Animal Rescue Effort and Shelter is aptly named, as it is a shelter that truly cares. When asked what they are doing that is driving their success, tabi and Anita talked about three things. First, transparency about their debt, their intakes, and their problems. “They see what we see,” Gabi told us. The shelter belongs to the community, and they trust that community with the truth about the situation. The second thing they are always be kind and receptive. “People need to be heard. They need to know someone cares.” The staff responds to every request for help, every inquiry, every call. And the third thing is harnessing the power of social media. Anita posts on all the platforms with stories, requests, information, pictures, and videos. This enables them to find help not just in Clarksdale, but beyond.

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Shelter Tours, Arkansas, Nonprofit cara achterberg Shelter Tours, Arkansas, Nonprofit cara achterberg

Catch 22 in Clark County: No-kill Multiplies Stray Population

In Clark County, Arkansas, they have a lot of dogs, but they also have a lot of good people who care. The sheriff and his deputies keep dog food in their cars so they can feed the strays. The Humane Society of Clark County in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is a nonprofit shelter that has been in their current downtown location since 2005.  The worn-out building has flooded twice. They are currently full with more than 80 dogs in a space that could more comfortably house 30. HSCC is committed to not euthanizing for anything except extreme medical situations, but that creates a catch-22. They can’t bring dogs in because they are overfull, but leaving them to roam will only lead to the dogs multiplying, thus compounding the problem. It’s a familiar scenario all over the south.

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