Student uses skills to assist local humane society

Published 12:00 pm Friday, November 13, 2015

By Lynecia Christion

news@oxfordeagle.com

Chandler Morgan, 20, first became involved with the Humane Society in her home state, Georgia. After moving to Oxford to enroll at the University of Mississippi, she became involved with the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society.

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Morgan, who is studying broadcast journalism, public relations and German, handles OLHS’ social media, including event and animal adoption promotions, writing news releases, advocating awareness about spay and neuter procedures and more.

Morgan said a volunteer is “someone who gives up their time and pursues better opportunities for a cause or program, rather than putting themselves first.”

Indiana native Jenn Petermann, 43, has been the executive director of OLHS for more than two years. She manages workers and volunteers, the animals that come into the facility, animal adoptions and more.

Petermann said OLHS is always seeking volunteers like Morgan.

“Giving of yourself, selflessly” is how she defines the way volunteers should be when working with any organization.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, about 7.6 million animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year.

Records from ASPCA indicate there are about 13,600 community animals shelters nationwide that are independent and have no national organization monitoring them.

OLHS is one of those community animal shelters and is located at 413 McElroy Drive. The facility accepts, shelters and cares for about 4,500 animals each year, including cats, dogs, pigs, reptiles and more.