Video: Construction To Begin Soon On New Tupelo Lee County Humane Society Animal Shelter

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) –  In 2006, a study by the MSU Veterinarian School found the Tupelo Lee Humane Society’s headquarters ill equipped to handle the high volume of stray animals brought there every month.

Volunteers got to work on a capital campaign, that has raised $1.7 million for a new, 17,000 square foot shelter.  Although rainy weather brought the groundbreaking indoors, excitement among the animal lovers was at an all time high.

“The new shelter is designed to be an animal shelter, it’s laid out for efficiency and maintenance of the animals, if you think of what it entails of handling 300 to 350 pets, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, you really need a building that’s functional and operational and focused on taking care of the animals,” said Jay Quimby, president of the Tupelo Lee Humane Society.

The project is being touted as an example of what can happen when people work together with a common purpose and goal.

“I know it’s our four legged friends, but they are very important too and we have to take care of them, provide a place for them,” said Billy Joe Holland, president of the Lee County Board of Supervisors.

“There’s so many positives to it, the new facility, building in a location up and coming in the city of Tupelo as far as economic development , revitalization of south Gloster Street, just an all around win for city of Tupelo and Humane Society and our area,” said Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

The shelter will be built on a 9 acre tract of land near the intersection of Cliff Gookin and South Thomas.  Construction should be complete by the summer.

Organizers of the fundraising effort are still trying to get the final $300,000 pledged before the new shelter opens its doors.