New location, same mission for Bigbee Humane Thrift Store

Kathi Wilson wants shoppers to know how committed the volunteers are at the Bigbee Humane Society Thrift Store.

“We’re always ready to make a deal,” she said.

The Thrift Store may have changed locations, but its purpose remains the same: to raise funds for the care and feeding of the scores of stray dogs picked up in Demopolis.

Because of a loss of lease, in March the store moved almost directly behind its former location on Walnut Street to 119 N. Strawberry, thanks to the generosity of Martha Turner. The space is limited, but another donor, Harold Johnson, offered his warehouse on Sam Street to store large items such as furniture.

New items are posted regularly on the Humane Society’s Facebook page, and traffic has been steady, said Wilson.

A smaller storefront means the volunteers have adjusted to using space more economically and displaying their items so they can easily be seen. Those items also are priced lower to move faster, Wilson continued.

“Every cent goes for the care of the dogs,” said Virginia Overstreet.

The seven volunteers who work at the store know how important their efforts are. “If we didn’t have the Thrift Store, there wouldn’t be a shelter,” Wilson said.

The store is the main source of income for the Humane Society shelter, which has a weekly food bill alone of $300. The society also pays for veterinarian services, a helper at the shelter that works with other volunteers and transportation for dogs taken to other shelters for adoption.

The no-kill shelter in Demopolis is a partnership with the city to care for the dogs that the Animal Control officer picks up. The shelter can hold 60 animals, and it is always full, said Wilson.

The city provides the space for the shelter and pays utilities. The society feeds, houses and treats the sick or injured dogs.

Every adoptive family is checked out before an animal is placed, said Overstreet. Each dog receives a bill of health certifying it has had all the necessary shots and is spayed or neutered.

“People need to spay or neuter their dogs,” Overstreet continued. Responsible pet ownership would go a long way to decrease the number of strays roaming the city.

If the local shelter gets too crowded, the Small Dog Rescue facility in Auburn will take those under 20 pounds. There is a black lab rescue facility in Mississippi that often sends animals to the north where there are more strict animal control laws.

Overstreet and Wilson said the Humane Society has encouraged the city of Demopolis to enact stricter regulation when it comes to spaying and neutering, but so far those efforts haven’t been successful.

The Thrift Store is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday and 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Small items to donate can be taken at that time. Delivery of larger items can be arranged by calling Wilson at 334-216-1029 or Overstreet at Colony Office Products, 289-4049.

Contributions to the Bigbee Humane Society may be sent to P.O. Box 474, Demopolis, or through a Pay Pal account.