MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL) -- Jackson County is preparing to open its first-ever county-run animal control facility, a milestone local leaders say has been long overdue. The new facility will replace the former Jackson County Humane Society, which closed last year after nearly seven decades of service to the region.

The Humane Society of Southern Illinois (HSSI), founded in 1956, had been a cornerstone for animal care in Jackson County, Murphysboro, and Carbondale. On July 30, 2024, HSSI issued a press release announcing the end of all animal intake, effective August 1, citing rising operational costs, staffing challenges, and changing community needs.

The release emphasized that while the shelter doors would close, the organization would continue its Pennies for Pets program, education an

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