Gunner, a dog at the Athens Area Humane Society located at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road, is shown sitting in a dog run on Aug. 20. AAHS Foster Coordinator Alex Pizarro has worked with paperwork and legal documents to help people through the adoption process and made sure the animals went to their new homes. “Our adopters fill out an application. Once that’s complete, we will have them sign the adoption contract; they’ll pay the adoption fee, we’ll go over the paperwork, and then we can send them home,” Pizarro said. “But (the AAHS) always makes sure that we go over the paperwork and are as transparent as possible with (adopters about) anything like post-op care, any medications that they’re on, and their scheduled vaccines going forward after the adoption.” Photo by Senya Kero
The Athens Area Humane Society has seen an increase in adoptions and community donations since 2025, as well as a growth in support from volunteer groups like the CCHS Athens Area Humane Society Club.
It’s a busy day at the Athens Area Humane Society at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road. Volunteers and AAHS staff are busy feeding, playing with and preparing animals for their future homes.
The AAHS is a 127-year-old nonprofit, no-kill adoption center whose mission is to provide free and low-cost veterinary services for Athens area pet owners, as well as making sure animals find a safe home.
“We have wellness clinic appointments (for) basic checkups, fecal tests, heartworm tests, and our free vaccine clinic, which is one of our tools for intake diversion,” AAHS Operations Director Steven Jackson said. “If we can help more animals have the vaccines they needed, (they’re) more likely to stay in homes.”
Photos of the Athens Area Humane Society, a nonprofit, no-kill adoption center located at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road, are shown on Aug. 20. AAHS Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator Abby Borland has worked closely with volunteers as a part of her role. “(Volunteers) help in a variety of ways,(by) interacting with our animals and socializing them so they’re better adept at interacting with other humans, which helps them get adopted,” Borland said. “We have people who walk dogs, train our dogs, do laundry, clean and sanitize kennels and runs and pick up dog poop.” Photos by Senya Kero
Alongside the vaccine and wellness clinics, AAHS community volunteers play with animals, transport food, take dogs on walks and do laundry, which allow their staff to focus on their tasks, all working together to meet the needs of as many animals as possible.
A cat is shown in the Athens Area Humane Society on Aug. 20. AAHS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Cheryl McCormick has seen an increase in the number of adoptions from the organization since the beginning of 2026. “From Jan. 1 to Aug. 17, AAHS has adopted (out) 895 cats and dogs. In 2025 during this same time period, we adopted (out) 808 cats and dogs, representing a 10.2% increase,” McCormick said. “(In that time), AAHS has raised $656,793 from donations alone, an increase of 9.2% from fundraising efforts for the same time period in 2025.” Photo by Senya Kero
“Volunteers impact what we can do. Having a volunteer who is capable and confident to go pick up (food) with our box truck is really great because that’s one less thing to worry about,” Jackson said. “(From) our food bowl, (vaccination) clinic or general cleaning, to enrichment and making sure our animals have interaction from a variety of sources. Nonprofit volunteers are crucial.”
Clarke Central High School English department teacher and sponsor of the CCHS Humane Society Club, Meg Vanderbilt, organizes volunteering opportunities for the club members who attend meetings and volunteer days. Vanderbilt sees the club as more than an extracurricular that can be used on college applications, but as an opportunity for students to practice selflessness.
“When you’re playing with a kitten with a broken foot, you feel so much outside of yourself and so much joy that you can be helpful,” Vanderbilt said. “I hope that the students get something like that out of it, (and) that (volunteering) helps them think outside of themselves and learn the importance of caring for something else.”
A graph shows the Athens Area Humane Society’s various means of bringing in revenue during 2025, according to the organization’s 2025 Annual Report. Graph by Lea D’Angelo
The club has had an impact on the members as well. CCHS senior Jazlyn Dominguez Gonzalez has been in the club for four years, and has volunteered many times during club workdays, which are when club members clean the facilities, sort food and interact with the animals.
“I decided to join because I’ve always loved animals, and helping them is something I really love to do,” Dominguez said. “It’s impacted me greatly because, whenever I (volunteer) it’s really fun, especially seeing how people interact with other animals, and helping them so they can find a home.”
“(Fostering is) a great way for families to showcase responsibility if they have children, (and) a great way for them to see if children are ready for an adoptable animal.”
— Alex Pizarro,
AAHS Foster Coordinator
Due to their smaller facility, there are many animals that cannot stay at the shelter, or that need extra care, so AAHS finds them temporary families through the foster program operated by Foster Coordinator Alex Pizarro.
A graphic shows different numbers about the Athens Area Humane Society during 2025, according to their website. Graphic by Lea D’Angelo
“If a cat (or dog) doesn’t thrive in the shelter, then we send them to (fosters) who can see their personality more so they can be adopted easier,” Pizarro said. “It’s also a great way for families to showcase responsibility if they have children, (and) a great way for them to see if children are ready for an adoptable animal.”
When running an adoption center, raising awareness for animal health and gaining support are important for their business. Throughout the year AAHS hosts events like the annual Kitten Shower to do so, when kittens are available for adoption at AAHS.
“Our Kitten Shower in May is probably our biggest event. Georgia has a big problem with overpopulation in their shelters because it’s so hot year-round that animals can breed multiple times,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to get more fosters and people who can take care of the animals. We want to get as many adopted as possible. Last year we had 38 kittens get adopted in one day.”
Through the veterinary services, adoption events, and volunteer opportunities, the AAHS is a business in the Athens community that has a meaningful impact on residents. AAHS Philanthropic Partnerships Director Elizabeth Guest uses donations from local businesses and individuals in the mail and online to support their animals and raise awareness for their adoption center.
“In terms of impacts on the shelter daily, the money that we spend we try to spend directly on the care of our animals,” Guest said. “If people can donate goods or funds that help care for the animals that we take care of, that’s fantastic.”
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