Tupelo-Lee Humane Society Achieves No-Kill Status Amid Ongoing Stray Pet Crisis in Mississippi

TUPELO, Miss. – The Tupelo-Lee Humane Society (TLHS) has officially achieved no-kill status, saving more than 90 percent of the pets that entered its shelter in 2024. The milestone, recognized by Best Friends Animal Society, marks a historic achievement for the local nonprofit that has worked tirelessly for years to reduce euthanasia rates.

“This accomplishment is thanks to our incredible staff, volunteers, fosters, rescue partners, and our community,” TLHS said in a statement. “Every adoption, every donation, and every act of support has brought us closer to a no-kill nation.”

Maintaining no-kill status is no small feat in Mississippi, where the problem of abandoned and stray animals has reached epidemic levels. Statewide, thousands of dogs and cats enter shelters every year, many of them strays picked up from rural roadsides or animals surrendered due to financial hardship. Mississippi consistently ranks among the states with some of the highest rates of shelter intake and euthanasia, largely due to lack of resources, low spay/neuter rates, and the challenges of covering vast rural areas.

Animal advocates say TLHS’s achievement proves what can be done when a community rallies together. “Reaching no-kill is a beacon of hope, but it also highlights the urgent need for more adoptions, fosters, and accessible spay/neuter programs statewide,” said one regional animal welfare organizer.

TLHS encourages the community to continue its support by adopting, fostering, donating, or volunteering. With shelters across Mississippi often filled beyond capacity, every effort counts.

For more information on adoption, fostering, or ways to help, visit the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society’s official website or stop by their shelter in Tupelo.