By Emma Ellis

Published: Feb. 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM CST|Updated: Feb. 13, 2025 at 7:19 AM CST

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Montgomery Humane Society is always looking for ways to improve the lives of pets who need a home. Now, they have a new wing that will help them achieve this goal.

Every animal the Humane Society adopts out is spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Until now, the Humane Society outsourced those procedures, which came at a cost.

“It’s been a dream of the board and myself and the team to be able to be self-contained and open a clinic,” said Steven Tears, Executive Director of the MHS. “It’s been something we’ve talked about for many years.”

After six weeks of renovations, the shelter now has its own full-service clinic and its own veterinarian, meaning it no longer has to rely on other providers to care for its animals.

“We’re able to now spay and neuter in-house which is helping to keep animals from having to go to other places where they’ve been shipping out, and then we can also add in a lot of services that they’ve been having to send to local veterinarians,” Margaret Powell, the Humane Society’s licensed veterinarian said.

The shelter took in nearly 6,000 animals last year, all of which saw outside veterinarians. Now, staff can provide the animals with on-site care.

Having this new clinic also means animals spend less time waiting for their medical procedures, which reduces the risk of illness and infection.

“They stay out here, they stay within my eye-line until they’re up and walking which is very helpful,” said Powell.

Tears believes the new clinic will also help pet owners in the area by freeing up more appointments at local veterinarians’ offices.