Humane Shelter
About Us
Compassion.
Community
Care.
We shelter, heal, and rehome animals while inspiring compassion across our community.
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WHO WE ARE
Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter (TSCHS) is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals and people in our community.
In 2007, a group of teachers, students, and various animal advocates decided to replace the previous pound, whose conditions were deplorable. They worked together to solicit government funding and private donations. After years of planning, building, and fundraising, the shelter opened its doors in 2013. The shelter continues to run with government and community support, with 1/3 of the shelter funding from the city, 1/3 from the county, and 1/3 through donations, fundraising, adoption fees, and grants.
To this day our mission is to improve the lives of animals, alleviate their suffering, and elevate their status in the community. We safeguard, rescue, shelter, heal, adopt, and advocate for animals in need, while inspiring community action and compassion on their behalf. We are focused on lowering animal overpopulation and preventing animal abuse.
SHELTER STATISTICS
To understand our shelter statistics, you first need to understand the terms Open Intake Shelter and Live Release Rate.
What is an Open Intake Shelter?
An Open Intake Shelter means that we cannot say no to most of the animals that enter our shelter.
TSCHS is contracted to the city and county to take in all stray animals, which means we cannot stop the flow of animals into the shelter, even if we are full.
We then legally have to make room to meet the animal’s housing standards for the duration of their 5-day stray hold.
As with any organization, our space and resources are finite and when we reach those limits our only option is euthanasia. This is our last resort after exhausting adoption and transport options.
What is a Live Release Rate?
A Live-Release-Rate (LRR) is the percentage of animals that leave the shelter and have a positive or LIVE outcome. This includes animals that are adopted, reclaimed, or transferred to a rescue.
A 90% LRR qualifies a shelter as “No-Kill”. It is much easier for limited intake shelters that do not deal with strays and can say no when they are full to achieve this title.
We achieved a no-kill status from 2019-2022. However, the decreased adoptions and increased intakes have put a strain on the shelter and have caused our live-release rate to drop below 90%.
CURRENT TRENDS
Decrease in Adoptions
Increase in Intakes
Especially Strays
Increase in Transports
ANNUAL INTAKE, ADOPTIONS & TRANSPORTS
INTAKE BREAKDOWN
LIVE-RELEASE RATE (LRR)
YEARLY SUMMARY
Swipe left to view the full table.
| Year | Intake | Adoptions | Transports | Return to Owner | Live Release Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2101 | 766 | 812 | 153 | 83% |
| 2024 | 1574 | 787 | 465 | 117 | 87% |
| 2023 | 1392 | 832 | 144 | 116 | 85% |
| 2022 | 1396 | 1022 | 171 | 109 | 95% |
| 2021 | 1622 | 1022 | 171 | 109 | 95% |
| 2020 | 1220 | 714 | 354 | 89 | 93% |
| 2019 | 1746 | 771 | 697 | 91 | 90% |
| 2018 | 1635 | 704 | 497 | 89 | 78% |
HUMANE SHELTER
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the helpless.
Tuesday - Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Sunday & Monday