Nassau Humane Society cared for 1,700 dogs and cats in 2023. We facilitated adoptions or returned to rightful owners more than 90% of those animals.
A smaller percentage of animals were either transferred to other no-kill shelters to reach potential new owner eyes or were part of our trap, neuter, release program. The remainder, less than 2%, were euthanized compassionately due to chronic/terminal medical conditions or passed due to neonatal failure.
Our live release rate (an industry standard calculated as adoption, animal transfer and return to owner) was 98.29% for dogs and 98.3% for cats.
The national trend shows animal adoptions are down 20% annually since the pandemic ended. We continue to implement new programs and expand adoption and awareness programs to support our animal rescue mission so your support is more crucial now than ever!
Our Animal Transfer Work
We accepted 539 animals in fiscal year 2023 from other animal welfare agencies located in Florida, Georgia, and other surrounding states. These animals, whose time and resources had run out at their original shelters, were given a second chance of finding a home with us.
Medical Care
All animals in our care receive required and necessary medical treatments, such as spay/neuter and vaccinations. Our adoption fees help to offset these costs. Owners adopting from us can be confident that their new furry family member is up to date on their wellness medical checklist. In cases of foster to adopt, we ask owners to bring back their pets for their prescribed medical treatment schedule.
By The Numbers
Nassau Humane Society (NHS) tracks the status of every animal in its care using a nationally recognized standard. The data provides a detailed breakdown of the animal’s health and adoption status. Please click here for our annual statistics.
We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff and volunteers and the generosity of our donors and partners for making these life-saving achievements possible.
Our History
Nassau Humane Society (NHS) has saved and enriched the lives of thousands of pets and people living in the City of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, the Northeast region of Florida, and beyond, since the 1980s.
But it was in the early 2000s that a group of engaged local citizens and volunteers came together to address the overwhelming stray dog and cat population of what was then a very rural Amelia Island. Using funds from their own pockets to feed and treat diseased and sick animals – and at times even their homes to house them temporarily – these caring, pioneering volunteers persevered to create an organization that now saves thousands of animals every year.
2009
In 2009, we opened our off-leash, member-access only dog park. This is the only off-leash dog park on Amelia Island.
2012
In 2012, we opened our Second Chance and The Closet resale stores which provide a continual source of funding for our adoption center operations.
2014
In 2014, our current adoption center for homeless animals in need opened thanks to major support from the community-at-large, several generous private donors, and cooperation from the City of Fernandina Beach.
In any given year, we intake approximately 1,700 dogs and cats to help them connect with loving families, so we estimate saving more than 10,000 animals since expanding our shelter in 2014. We take owner surrenders, strays, and animals transferred from high-kill shelters to save them from euthanasia and to give them a second chance at finding the home that they deserve. As long as there are homeless pets needing loving homes, our work is never done as on any given day, we are housing, treating, and loving approximately 100 homeless dogs and cats.