NATCHEZ — The Natchez Adams Humane Society has ongoing needs to care for the approximate 80 animals kept in the shelter year round and Christmas is no exception, the shelter’s director said.

“It is just like any other day,” said Lena McKnight humane society director of the Christmas season. “We go through so many items on a regular basis that we are always in need of something.”

Immediate needs, McKnight said of the shelter, including cleaning supplies and Purina adult dry dog food and Puppy Chow.

“These pups are eating faster than we can get it,” McKnight said. “We are always in need of bleach, cleaning supplies that we use every day, latex gloves, things like that.”

In addition to dog food and cleaning supplies, another big need for the animal shelter is monetary donations, particularly to help with animal relocations to areas up north that do not have as large an unwanted animal population as Natchez and Adams County have.

“People like to bring food because they don’t sometimes know what their donations are specifically going to, but when we transport animals out of the area or up north, that costs us money per animal to go,” McKnight said “So monetary donations, we can’t ask enough for. It just ensures that we get more animals out, not only of the shelter but out of Natchez Adams County and going to places where they are actually needed.”

Another big need for the humane society are animal adoptions, but McKnight cautions people to make sure they are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a pet before adopting kittens or puppies to give as Christmas presents.

“Adoptions pick up because people want to give puppies or kittens for Christmas,” McKnight said. “We don’t always recommend that until you are sure that a puppy or kitten is something that you want to take on. We don’t want it to be something that you give as a Christmas present and then have to discard it later on after it grows up.”

McKnight said the humane society offers gift cards for adoptions for later on when people might be ready to adopt.

“When you think you’re ready to take on an animal you can just gift a gift card and they can come in when it is convenient for them and adopt an animal,” McKnight said.

Dog adoptions are $75 and cat adoptions are $50.

“That does include their spay-neuter surgery, vaccines that they’ve received as well as the microchip,” McKnight said.

Donations for the Natchez Adams County Humane Society can be made at the shelter at 475 Liberty Road, Natchez, MS 39120.