Nassau Humane Society
Press Release
December 17, 2018 9:46 a.m.
You’ll be seeing a host of friendly faces on a new van around town, and your new best friend just might be on board.
The Nassau Humane Society’s new 2019 GMC Savana van went into service this month. “It’s literally life-changing for us to have this vehicle,” said NHS Executive Director Jacki McDonald.
NHS rescues hundreds of animals from overcrowded shelters each year, and brings them to its Fernandina Beach facility, where they are treated if necessary and made available for adoption. “This new van can carry three times the number of animals we were able to transport in the past,” Jacki said. “We really need the extra space to save as many dogs and cats as possible.”
The van will also transport animals to and from spay-neuter surgery before they become adoptable, and to adoption events. On one of the vehicle’s first trips this month, 25 dogs and cats were carried to and from surgery in Jacksonville.
“I’ll bet even more than that can fit in here,” Jacki said enthusiastically. “We’re very good at maneuvering kennels to make sure it all fits.” Instead of permanent kennels, the van has space for individual portable kennels that can be strapped down and configured for maximum efficiency.
The new, fully air-conditioned vehicle was made possible by the generosity of three NHS donors, Becky Stafford, Bob Fisher and Chuck Illi. Chuck is a member of the NHS board of directors, while Becky and Bob are former members and longtime supporters.
“We thought it was terribly important that we have a van that was big enough to transport the animals and also that was air conditioned,” Becky said.
“I suggested we put up some money, she topped me, and then a week later she topped me again, and I had to match it,” Bob recalled with a laugh. “We both love
animals, and we’ve been supportive of the Humane Society” for many years.
Chuck explained, “I did this on behalf of my sister, who passed away this past year. She was quite an animal lover and she left an estate behind, and I thought she’d appreciate being able to help animals in this fashion.”
Chuck designed the van’s bright and welcoming graphics, featuring pictures of dogs and cats peering from the “windows,” with the NHS logo and the slogan, “Adopt your new best friend.”
The Humane Society also maintains a smaller vehicle for animal-control calls. NHS provides animal-control services within the city limits of Fernandina Beach under a contract with the City of Fernandina Beach.
NHS operates its Adoption Center at 639 Airport Road in Fernandina Beach, along with the community dog park next door, and the Second Chance and Closet resale stores on
South 14th Street. More information about the society and its mission, along with currently adoptable pets, are online at NassauHumane.org.