As winter temperatures drop in Hattiesburg, animals without permanent homes are facing increased risks, and local animal shelters are struggling to keep up with the growing need for care and protection.
Cold weather can be especially dangerous for stray and abandoned animals, increasing the risk of hypothermia and injury. At the Hub City Humane Society, shelter staff say freezing temperatures often lead to an influx of calls from community members reporting animals left outside or litters of puppies in need of help.
Shelter Director Tamara Huff said the recent cold weather has created new challenges.
“This weekend we are going to see cold weather that I don’t know we’ve ever seen in Mississippi,” Huff said.
The Hub City Humane Society works to provide shelter, medical care and adoption services for animals throughout the Hattiesburg area. However, Huff said the shelter’s ability to go out and help these animals is limited because it is at capacity.
“We don’t euthanize animals for space,” Huff said. “We try to help as many people in the community as we can and help as many animals as possible, but we are constantly at capacity.”
Cold weather often brings an increase in intake requests, particularly for young animals that are more vulnerable to low temperatures. Huff said the shelter frequently receives calls from residents who find litters of puppies or injured animals, but staff are not always able to provide immediate assistance. They also have to think about the animals they already have and can not risk them getting sick.
“We have faced so many obstacles,” Huff said. “A lot of it is people calling, saying they have found litters of puppies, and we are just not in the position to help immediately. And it is heartbreaking.”
They also faced other problems during extreme weather, such as bursting water pipes at the shelter. According to animal welfare experts, winter months can strain shelters due to higher operating costs and increased demand for services. Animals require extra bedding, heating and medical care, while overcrowding can lead to stress and illness among shelter populations. Limited staffing and volunteer availability during holidays and severe weather can further complicate operations.
Huff spoke on the emotional toll of turning people away and trying to keep the shelter up and going during the freezing temps.
“It has been a hard week, not only for us but for the animals,” she said. “Trying to keep them safe, I have cried so many times this week.”
When adoption is not immediately possible, fostering plays a critical role in helping shelters manage capacity and protect animals from dangerous conditions. Foster homes provide animals with a safe place to stay. It also increases the chances of adoption. “Most of these animals have never seen the inside of a home” said Huff. “Fostering also help us to learn the dogs personality which helps with the unrealistic expectation people get with adopting puppies.”
In addition to fostering, donations and volunteers help the Hub City Humane Society continue its work during challenging times. Commonly needed items include pet food, blankets, towels, cleaning supplies and financial donations to cover veterinary and operational expenses. Volunteers assist with daily animal care, enrichment and facility maintenance.
Shelter officials also encourage pet owners to take precautions during cold weather by bringing animals indoors when possible. If you are not able to bring them in, you can help by providing an insulated shelter like straw in a box. Community members who encounter stray animals are encouraged to contact the shelter for guidance.
As winter weather continues, Huff said community support is essential to ensuring animals receive the care they need.
Those interested in helping can visit the Hub City Humane Society’s Facebook page or call (601) 596-2206 to learn more about fostering, adopting, volunteering or donating.
For shelter staff, every act of support, no matter how small, helps protect animals during one of the most difficult times of the year.
