Municipal Shelter Innovation: No-Kill Success in Small-Town Mississippi

“I envision Horn Lake being the hub of North Mississippi when it comes to animal welfare. I want my animal shelter to be the place that people model their strategies after.”

Listen to episode #626 now, featuring Glen Andrews, Director, Horn Lake Animal Shelter.

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants.

In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Glen Andrews, Director of the Horn Lake Animal Shelter in North Mississippi. With over two decades in animal welfare and experience in virtually every shelter role imaginable—from event coordinator to veterinary assistant to director—Glen brings a unique “Renaissance rescuer” perspective to municipal animal services. His journey from Manhattan’s urban animal control to rural Mississippi’s challenges offers valuable insights into adapting shelter practices across different regional cultures and community needs.

Glen shares how he transformed a small, antiquated municipal shelter into a thriving no-kill facility while simultaneously doubling intake numbers. The conversation covers his innovative approaches to community engagement, including low-cost spay/neuter programs, pet food pantries, youth volunteer corps, and strategic community cat management. Glen discusses the importance of removing the enforcement stigma from municipal shelters and positioning them as community resources that help people keep their pets rather than judging pet owners in crisis.

Whether you’re working in a large urban shelter or a small rural facility, this episode provides actionable strategies for building community trust, implementing sustainable programs with limited resources, and achieving life-saving outcomes. Glen’s emphasis on understanding local demographics, strategic partnerships, and the power of microchipping offers a roadmap for municipal shelters looking to modernize their approach and better serve both animals and the people who care about them.

Press play now for:

• How Glen’s diverse shelter experience prepared him to lead comprehensive reform at a small municipal facility
• The cultural differences in pet ownership between urban North and rural South, and how to adapt programming accordingly
• Strategies for removing the enforcement stigma from municipal shelters and building community trust
• Details on Horn Lake’s innovative programs: low-cost spay/neuter, pet food pantry, and youth volunteer corps
• Glen’s data-driven approach to community cats and achieving 100% more TNR surgeries than neighboring areas
• How to achieve no-kill status while doubling intake through strategic partnerships and enhanced marketing
• The game-changing impact of mandatory microchipping and achieving 20% above national average for return-to-owner rates
• Glen’s vision for microchipping every animal in Horn Lake and creating a model for other communities
• Practical advice for small municipal shelters on accessing grants and proving community need
• The importance of municipal leadership support and how to work within government structures

Resources mentioned:

• Horn Lake Animal Shelter Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HornLakeAnimalShelter/)
• Horn Lake Animal Shelter website (https://www.hornlake.org/departments/AnimalShelter)
• Horn Lake Animal Shelter phone: (662) 393-5857
• Horn Lake Animal Shelter Petfinder page (https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ms/horn-lake/friends-of-horn-lake-animal-shelter-ms71/)
• Maddie’s Fund website (https://www.maddiesfund.org/)
• Maddie’s Pet Forum (https://forum.maddiesfund.org/home)
• Maddie’s University education courses (https://university.maddiesfund.org/)
• Best Friends Animal Society website (https://bestfriends.org/)
• Community Cats Podcast website (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/)
• Maddie’s Fund grant programs (https://www.maddiesfund.org/)

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie’s Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)
• Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/virox)

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