Background on the organization of MHHS:

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   In the spring of 1972, an unusually high number of rabies cases in wild animals in East Tennessee prompted the city of Morristown to pass an ordinance quarantining all dogs and cats for three months.  In anticipation of an increase in abandoned animals which would likely occur as many pet owners would not, or could not comply appropriately with the quarantine ordinance, the city added 32 double deck concrete block cages under a tin shed roof to the west side of the city pound which consisted of 32 double-deck indoor cages.  One employee of the city street department served as the dogcatcher using a pick-up truck.  Hamblen County had no facility for housing abandoned animals, no employee designated to pick the up and no proper vehicle for transporting them.  A group of citizens long concerned with the obviously inadequate facilities for the care of unwanted animals saw the imperative need for an effort to prevent more than usual neglect and abuse of domestic pets by organizing a humane society which would publicize by radio and the local newspaper appropriate ways to confine pets, to avoid wild animals acting in uncharacteristic manners and to offer hands-on assistance as volunteers at the city pound.  An organizational meeting was held; publicity was good, a volunteer Board of directors was recruited; officers were elected.  A phone solicitation for memberships was successful.  A lawyer serving on the Board volunteered to draw up a charter for the proposed Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society, Inc. (The main goals of the society are to prevent suffering and to promote humane education.)

   In 1972, the MHHS received its charter as a non-profit agency from the State of Tennessee.  The City of Morristown and the Hamblen County Government entered into an agreement with the MHHS beginning March 1, 1973. The MHHS would provide county-wide enforcement of animal control ordinances, operate the city pound as the M-H Animal shelter, conduct cruelty investigations, present animal budget requests to the city and county and employ a humane officer and other Shelter personnel.  Donations to the MHHS would supplement city and county funds.  MHHS volunteers would oversee and assist in the day-to-day operation of the Animal Shelter.

   The MHHS immediately began a fund-raising drive to improve the existing pound by adding 16 runs, a restroom, an office, a telephone line with a 24-hour service and enclosing the cages which were located under the tin shed roof.  Sanitary cleaning procedures were initiated.  A newsletter Paw-Pads and Doo-Dads came into existence.  Through the last twenty-seven years Shelter staff has increased.  The facility has been greatly enlarged with funds provided by the MHHS from legacies, memorials, a variety of donations and memberships.  Currently the Animal shelter houses an average of 70-75 animals a day in appropriate cages and runs.

   Volunteers continue to be closely involved in Shelter operations.  MHHS volunteers are available to present programs to school classes, church groups, civic clubs, scout meetings and meetings of citizens in nearby counties trying to organize a humane society of operate animal shelters.  Volunteers take shelter animals to nursing homes and local retirement centers as they request.

   Shelter tours are also popular.  The community has been supportive of the MHHS.  Several grocery stores place food-collection boxes near the check-out lanes during the Christmas holidays.  Many groups collect food for the Shelter animals.  Sixty-nine teachers in Hamblen County schools with grades K-5 and six teachers in private schools in the Lakeway area have been “adopted” by the MHHS as KIND Club teachers; thus hundreds of young people receive monthly newspapers stressing kindness to animals, people and the environment.  Their teachers receive guidelines for activities that promote humane education.  The MHHS works cooperatively with all animal welfare groups in our area in nationally known humane education efforts and Programs promoting spaying and neutering of companion animals.