Description: Southside Animal Shelter accepts dogs and cats from local open admission shelters who would otherwise be euthanized and places them in lifelong, loving families.

Mission: Rosie Ellis began taking in strays at her home in 1987. They were mostly kitten found at the feed store. Soon, more of them began developing health problems. The girl who lived next door to her worked for a veterinarian's office and was very helpful to Rosie. In the late 80's/early 90's the number of animals rescued had grown considerably. Rosie and her husband purchased an old factory building at 1400 Madison Avenue to house her growing sheltering activities. Rosie already had paid staff caring for the animals at this time.Next came the adoption activities. Rosie was one of the very first groups to bring animals to PetSmart in College Park for adoption. She would take 3-4 puppies and/or kittens and sit in the store every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Treasured volunteers, Steve and Jennifer Booker, assisted her when she was invited to bring animals to the Greenwood PetSmart. Rosie described this opportunity as 'a Godsend' for her shelter.Rosie obtained 501(c)3 status for Southside Animal Shelter in 1995. By then she and her son had purchased the property on Edgewood Avenue that houses the Shelter today. The City County Council denied her petition for a zoning change. Rosie won her appeal in court before a judge and was approved for 175 cats and 25 dogs at t