The Humane Society of Statesboro & Bulloch County opened a thrift shop and named it ReTails after the organization’s focus to help fund its efforts in reducing the number of euthanized cats and dogs.

ReTails opened in November 2011 and expanded its store this past October. The thrift shop is owned and operated by the Humane Society, which is a non-profit organization that is run locally by volunteers and donations.

“A few years ago we would hold huge community garage sales as fundraisers and draw a lot of people out; that’s where we got the idea that a store might be able to work for us. Once we opened up our thoughts were confirmed, our sales far exceeded what we imagined, the support from the community was overwhelming,” Christina Lemon, president of the Humane Society and professor of art at Georgia Southern University, said.

The Humane Society works to reduce the number of euthanized pets through collaboration with Spay Neuter Alliance and Clinic and local veterinarians.

More than 30,000 pets are euthanized per year in the Statesboro and Bulloch County area, according to the SNAC.

With the shop’s success came further expansion of the shop in October 2012, the shop expanded to another building next store.

Everything found in the shop is product of donations from members of the Statesboro community and all profits from the shop go towards helping local pets in need, Lemon said.

“Funding is always the biggest problem for non-profit, volunteer organizations, so we were looking for ways to fill that gap. We thought of opening a store years ago,” Lemon said.

The shop acts as an office for the Humane Society with all calls going through it and several volunteers working all the time.

“My girlfriend got me started doing this by dragging me down here. I just got addicted; doing something good for the community feels good,” Jordan Walker, Humane Society volunteer and local Statesboro resident, said.

The Humane Society holds frequent pet adoptions, silent auctions, spay and neuter programs and dog washes in an effort to proliferate responsible pet ownership practices.

Lemon said, “The store acts as the cornerstone of the Statesboro Humane Society. It gives us the steady and consistent income we need to continue doing what we do, serving the community and helping animals.”