JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Humane Society is taking steps to help the River City become one of the state's first no-kill cities.
For animal lover Brittany Burnes, work means much more than just a 9 to 5 job.
"I have a passion for animals and it makes the work that much more fulfilling," said Burnes with the Jacksonville Humane Society.
One perk is that she gets a lot of play time with her pup who she adopted from a city shelter. Burnes was a life-saver as her new best friend was scheduled to be euthanized because the city couldn't keep it any longer. "There are thousands of animals every year right here in our city that are killed needlessly just because there isn't enough space in the shelters."
So the staff is taking action to make Jacksonville one of Florida's first no-kill cities.
Executive Director Denise Deisler says more than 8,000 dogs and cats were killed last year alone. To make Jacksonville a no-kill city by 2014, the shelter started two live-saving programs. One helps pups fight a deadly disease called parvo. The Humane Society also opened a new neo-natal nursery for kittens.
"We've already cut in half the number of kittens who would have lost their life because they were underage. We've already brought more than 500 kittens through the nursery program," said Deisler.
Now, Burnes is motivated to help her hometown be known for saving thousands of precious animals. "It brings great recognition for the city that we have that passion and awareness for our animals and care about them."
