March 2020 by Ginny Sims, Executive Director, Southern Pines Animal Shelter (Mississippi)

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers, Veterinary Team

Video Length: 32:25

How do you save all the cats when there are barriers preventing you from returning them back home? Ginny Sims found solutions in her community that you can take back to your own. Learn how you can safely save all the cats, even when SNR isn't an option.

This presentation was recorded at the 2020 American Pets Alive conference.

Bio photo of Ginny Sims, smiling in a white sweater over a green top withi three large white dogs

About Ginny Sims

Before working in animal welfare, Ginny spent seven years as director of communications and professional development for a technology-based nonprofit focused on bringing 21st century skills to classrooms, teachers and individuals in impoverished communities. Ginny found her calling in animal welfare after becoming a volunteer photographer and adoption counselor at Southern Pines, where she became interested in ways to better market and showcase pets to increase adoptions and reduce shelter euthanasia. She worked to grow her knowledge of the shelter and animal welfare and joined the staff as a volunteer coordinator, and soon after was named director in 2013.

Through their efforts, Southern Pines has grown a robust transport program, which helps more than 5,000 cats and dogs from Southern Pines and more than 12 other shelter and rescue partners to be placed in adoptive homes in northern states, created a barn cat adoption and SNR program, which has virtually eliminated euthanasia of feral and community cats entering the shelter, and created growing partnerships with community organizations to increase pet retention and decrease shelter intake. Under her leadership and through the efforts of many, Southern Pines has achieved a lifesaving rate of over 95 percent, while continuing to serve as an open admission shelter.