The mission of the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia is to help animals and people live better together. Since our shelter was founded in 1913, we’ve fulfilled our mission and promise to animals in need by providing placement of companion animals, humane education, affordable veterinary care, community outreach, resources for pet owners, statewide initiatives and other opportunities to advance animal welfare in northeast Georgia and beyond.

Our organization was founded in 1913 by Hall County school teacher Bessie Bickers. Known as “Miss Bessie” to her friends and students, she used $5,000 of her retirement fund to purchase a house on five acres of land. She built kennels and arranged for a young couple to live there rent-free and take care of the animals. The three were often seen before dawn or after dark saving the homeless animals of Hall County.

To adopt an animal from Miss Bessie was like adopting a baby through child welfare. You had to promise to care for it humanely and not sell, trade or dispose of the animal in any way but to return it to the Humane Society if at any time you desired to relinquish custody. It was a well-known fact that Miss Bessie checked up on the adopted animals, and if she discovered that the animal was not being kept to her satisfaction, she was known to take the animal back!

Upon her death, Miss Bessie’s family transferred the land at 845 West Ridge Road to the Humane Society of Hall County, which remains our present location and is now the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. Her mission and legacy live on today as we continue her life’s work of creating a more caring community for animals. Some things have changed, but the basic policies and framework on which Miss Bessie built the Society remain.