Our Story
Our facility started as a small rescue at 19th/West Count Road as the Ector County Humane Society. In the late 90โs we moved to our current location at 7012 W. Mockingbird. Del NeSmith was the Director and helped build the shelter from a vacant lot that housed horse stables and a small office. With the help of the late Suzette Holloman and other generous contributors, the property and buildings were purchased. We then changed our name to the Humane Society of Odessa. At that time, we housed about 40 dogs and 15 cats. Throughout the 1990โs and into 2012, more kennels were added along with a dedicated cat sanctuary. Bryan Yancey and a volunteer crew built a gazebo in 2010. This allowed pets to bond with their potential owners away from noisy kennels. We are now capable of sheltering 100 dogs and 50 cats.
In 2015, Del NeSmith retired as Director and Heather Silvia took his place. She decorated the office and exterior and added more kennels. She has improved adoptions by adding a computerized adoption system, and by contacting outside shelters to rehome pets that would otherwise live in kennels. She hired new staff and continues as our shelter manager today.
Food and pet supplies donated by HEB, Walmart, and Target allow us to use almost 100 lbs. of food each day We are governed by a Board of Directors that consist of dedicated volunteers who care for animals and support the staff who keep our doors open.