NATCHEZ — Nissan only had to park herself on Doc and Lil McCollum’s sofa for a few hours to become part of the family.

It took a recent stint of dogsitting to make the couple, married for 33 years, realize they were ready for their first dog.

“He would throw the ball and Harry would run after it and bring it right back,” Lil said of her daughter’s dog. “And he said ‘If you can get a dog like that, like Harry, then we can get a dog.’”

So Tuesday evening, the McCollums brought home Nissan, a dachshund.

“Doc sells Nissans,” Lil said. “And a woman (at the dealership) said she’s compact and cute like a Nissan, so we named her Nissan.”

But like so many other pet owners, the McCollums have already given their pet a nickname.

“We just call her Nissi for short,” Doc said.

When it came time for the McCollums to find that first pet, Lil knew just were to look — the Natchez-Adams Humane Society.

Lil said she recently attended a NAHS fundraiser and supports the group in their effort to build new shelter.

“They really need a better place,” she said. “And I’m glad we got her out of there.”

Lil said she recently learned Nissi had been living in the shelter since March and was being treated for a skin disease.

“Now she has a home. And I think it’s going to work out,” Doc said smiling. “They keep telling me I’ll get attached to it.”

The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society is in the midst of a month-long fundraising campaign to raise $350,000 needed to build a new animal shetler.

To donate, send checks to the NACHS Building Fund, P.O. Box 332, Natchez, MS, 39121.