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Members of the Bainbridge community came together on Thursday morning for the ribbon cutting of the new Humane Society facility. The facility is the culmination of years of fundraising and planning by the Society, which found their previous facility to be inadequate for their needs, and features updated HVAC and drainage systems necessary to house large amounts of animals. Additionally, the facility is aimed at being more friendly to potential adopters, with visitors able to watch the shelter’s cats in indoor playrooms and fenced-in “catios”.

Mayor Pro Tem Kregg Close gave the ceremony’s welcoming statement. “After many years of meticulous planning, passionate fundraising, and tireless effort, we are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art facility,” he said. “The Bainbridge Animal Services Center is more than just a building- it represents a significant milestone in our collective commitment to animal welfare and the well-being of our furry friends.”

Close recognized the collaboration between the Humane Society, City of Bainbridge, and the Decatur County Board of Commissioners, as well as the financial support provided by both the Fogg Foundation and private donors.

Following Close, City Councilman Don Whaley delivered the invocation. This was followed by Humane Society Board of Directors President Dennie Nichols welcoming the attendees. She began by recognizing the employees present at the ceremony. She also recognized the members of the City Council and County Commissioners, as well as the architects, PDC Construction, and the FOGG Foundation, for all their roles in building the facility.

“It’s been a lot of heartache, a lot of tears, a lot of cussing and fussing, and now, this is the result,” she said. “We hope we can rescue a lot more animals, and just get them out and find them better homes. Thank you all for coming together to make this all happen.”

After Nichols finished, Humane Society board member Jenny Herring spoke. She recounted how the Humane Society got started, before presenting Nichols with a plaque, recognizing her service.

After the ribbon was cut, tours of the new facility were offered to visitors.