FAQs

The HSHC was founded in 1967 with the mission of working to prevent cruelty to animals, relieve suffering of animals, promote the control of pet overpopulation, and provide public education in the humane care and treatment of animals in Harrison County, Texas. A number of educational programs are conducted at The Pet Place, with tours available for any classes in Harrison County schools. Civic groups also meet at and tour the facility. HSHC has grant funds to assist low-income Harrison County families with the spay or neuter of their pets to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Community projects with the help of local veterinarians are always popular, such as the free male cat neuters at Trim-A-Tom Day or the low-cost rabies vaccinations at the Drive-Through Shot Clinic. Community assistance for pets in need takes the form of dog houses, help with veterinary care when possible, and providing pet food to eligible seniors in the Meals on Wheels program. And, of course, homeless animals are always available for adoption at The Pet Place.

The HSHC is a private non-profit organization dedicated to homeless animal adoption, pet care education, and pet spay/neuter assistance. HSHC is funded only by donations, memberships, and fund-raising activities. The Marshall Animal Shelter is a tax-paid city department, charged with the responsibility of taking in stray and unwanted animals in Harrison County, picking up stray animals within the city limits of Marshall, and enforcing animal-related ordinances and laws within the city. Confusion about the two organizations is natural, since the HSHC built the original animal shelter 40 years ago and deeded it to the city. The HSHC worked out of the city shelter, providing funding, supplies, adoption and rescue services, and extra staff until 2007. Donation of land and services allowed the HSHC to build The Pet Place, which we moved into the second week of 2007. Along with other animal welfare and rescue groups the HSHC is an available resource for city employees to use in placing shelter animals. HSHC also delivers pet food on a daily basis to the city shelter and assists with publicity for shelter animals. A coordinated and supportive relationship between the HSHC and the City of Marshall will strengthen animal welfare programs throughout our area.

We always recommend that you surrender your pet only as your last option, and we can discuss any pet behavioral problems and possible solutions with you. Notify friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers that you need to find a new home for your pet. This type of networking can have very positive results. If you must surrender your pet, call the HSHC for information about space availability at The Pet Place. The surrender fee is $20 if your pet is spayed or neutered and current on all vaccinations and heartworm prevention. The fee is $50 if not. You will be asked important questions about why you must relinquish your animal. In addition, we will gather relevant information about the animal’s breed, characteristics, behavior and medical history. We will discuss with you our adoption policies. There is no guarantee your pet will be adopted. Once you have surrendered your pet, we are unable to release any information to you regarding the status of the animal.

If you are in the city of Marshall, call 903-935-4530 and ask for a Marshall Animal Control Officer. These officers respond to calls concerning dangerous animals, injured or dead animals, stray animals, abandoned animals, and animal cruelty. The officers may not go out of the city limits of Marshall. If Animal Control is not available, call the Marshall Police Department and they will either respond or contact Animal Control. You should call the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to report animal cruelty cases outside the city of Marshall (903-923-4000). The city of Waskom also has a very active Animal Control Officer who can be reached at 903-687-2293.

Adopting a pet is a personal, lifestyle decision, and all potential adopters are carefully guided by our Adoptions Volunteers to ensure that the pet and adopter are a good match. If you are considering adopting a pet as a gift for someone else, we recommend that you purchase an adoption gift certificate instead (or bring the recipient on a surprise visit to The Pet Place).

Not at this time. We work with local veterinarians to provide spay/neuter procedures for adopted animals, and treatment for sick or injured animals when possible. All local veterinarians are invited to inspect The Pet Place whenever they have the time, and give us suggestions on our procedures.

The Texas Dog Anti-tethering Bill – What it requires: The Texas Legislature passed a new law, effective September 1, 2007, related to the unlawful restraint of dogs. Chaining up dogs is inhumane for a number of reasons. Dogs are social creatures who need interaction with humans and other animals. Chained dogs can become neurotic and aggressive, and they do not make good guard dogs. Aggression is not the same as protectiveness. Too many tethered dogs have improperly fitted collars and short, heavy chains. It is not uncommon to see these dogs with sores or the collar actually embedded in their necks. For more information on why chaining is cruel, read some facts at www.unchainyourdog.org. The Texas Legislature began to address this problem by passing a law which, in the words of the Texas Humane Legislative Network, “prohibits an owner from using unsafe/dangerous collars or short tethers from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. or during extreme weather conditions.” Many dog owners, however, have been trying to give up or abandon their dogs because they don’t have complete information about what the law requires. Perhaps you aren’t in violation of the new law. You can read the bill for yourself at www.thln.com. WHAT IT REQUIRES * You may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog’s movement (1) between the hours of 10 at night to 6 in the morning, (2) in the case of extreme weather conditions, or (3) within 500 feet of school premises. * You will receive a written warning if you violate this law, and if you do not correct the condition within 24 hours, you can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. A restraint “unreasonably limits a dog’s movement” if * the collar is pinch-type, prong-type, or choke-type or is not properly fitted to the dog (measure the circumference of the dog’s neck plus at least one inch) * the restraint is not at least five times the length of the dog (tip of nose to base of tail) or 10 feet (whichever is the greater measurement) * the restraint is in an unsafe condition * the restraint causes injury to the dog There are exceptions to the requirements, including a dog restrained to “a running line, pulley, or trolley system and that is not restrained . . . by means of a pinch-type, prong-type, choke-type, or improperly fitted collar.” The city or county in which you live may have additional requirements. The City of Marshall, for example, has a very good ordinance against a restraint that weighs more than one-eighth of an animal’s weight. (You can read all of Marshall’s ordinances by going to www.municode.com. See Sec. 4-25.7 Animal Care for the full text of this requirement.) Other laws, both state and local, require an animal to have sufficient food and water, protection from the weather, and veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering. Not one of these laws and ordinances does more than set a bare minimum standard for the humane treatment of our pets. Use common sense and act with decency in the care of animals and you are unlikely to find yourself in trouble. If in doubt, find out. Our pets deserve no less.

Primarily, small breed dogs and young puppies are what our facility can safely support, given our size. Cats of various ages are also taken in.