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Heart Pet Shelter reports fewer intakes, expands surgeries with Bissell Foundation support
Summary
At the March 10 Marion County Quorum Court meeting, Lindley Vincent of Heart Pet Shelter reported a decline in intakes, a rise in surgeries supported by the Bissell Foundation, a pet‑food closet distributing about 22,000 pounds, and microchips offered for $5 with spay/neuter.
Lindley Vincent of Heart Pet Shelter presented the organization's year‑end report to the Marion County Quorum Court on March 10, saying intake numbers fell while surgical capacity and outside funding have increased.
"We actually took in 168 less animals than we did previous year," Vincent told the court, and said the shelter's census remains high because rescues and transport options have decreased. Vincent reported transport numbers fell from 581 in 2024 to 399 in 2025, and that the shelter completed 603 surgeries this year, averaging roughly 40 surgeries per surgical day.
Vincent credited the county's investment in a surgical suite (equipment purchased with roughly $57,000 in prior funding) and support from the Bissell Foundation and other donors. She said the Bissell Foundation's national program performed many surgeries and provided financial support to local veterinarians; the shelter also noted a $6 million partnership to the Bissell Pet Foundation from the David and Cheryl Duffet Foundation to pilot wellness programs.
Local services highlighted included a pet food closet that has distributed about 22,000 pounds of food and local grant spending of roughly $7,800 on spay/neuter efforts. In answer to a court question, Vincent said microchipping costs $5 when paired with spay/neuter procedures.
A resident offered a personal testimony about adopting and rehabilitating an abused dog, praising the shelter's work. The court thanked presenters and acknowledged that American Rescue Plan funding and local grants have supported the shelter's operations.
Court members asked clarifying questions about capacity and oversight; Vincent said some rescue partners and transports have reduced intake capacity, particularly for large dogs, and that one‑day "1,000‑pound" surgery events have been scheduled to handle larger animals.
The presentation closed with appreciation from the court for the reported community benefits and encouragement for greater public awareness of the shelter's programs.
