JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you’re a pet lover, then you should feel right at home in Jacksonville.
From furry four-legged friends to feathered or scaly critters, Jacksonville residents take our love of animals very seriously. (We see it every time we ask our Insiders to share their pet photos on SnapJAX!)
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When it came to finding out who offers the best pet services in the city, our Insiders opted for a local nonprofit shelter: the Jacksonville Humane Society.
JHS won over fellow finalists: A Dog’s Domain Mobile Pet Grooming, Happy Hound Dog Resorts and Kanine Social.
According to its website, Jax Humane, an independent shelter that receives no government funding, cares for more than 8,500 dogs and cats each year.
And it has a long history in Jacksonville.
Founded in 1885 to serve the Jacksonville area with animal control capacity, JHS became a no-kill organization in 2005.
The shelter has been operating from its location on Beach Boulevard since 1920, but had to reopen a new facility in 2017 with help from the community after a devastating fire destroyed most of the original property in 2007.
The land was originally donated to JHS as a gift from the Bowden family. Ms. Flora Genth Bowden, a local animal advocate, was one of the first founders and the Humane Society’s first president, according to the JHS website.
Today, JHS offers a pet food bank, low-cost veterinary services, free pet behavior help, spay/neuter assistance, rehoming assistance, help finding pet-friendly housing, resources for military families and much more.
To learn more, volunteer, donate or find your new fur baby, go to jaxhumane.org.
A special thanks to our JAXBest sponsor, Farah & Farah!