MARIETTA - More than 50 years after its establishment, the Humane Society of Cobb County remains dedicated to saving animals at their greatest time of need.

The HSCC on South Fairground Street, just south of Roswell Road in Marietta, houses about 120 animals - including birds, hamsters and dogs, but mostly cats - at any given time. The independent, no-kill shelter answers thousands of phone calls per month, helping owners solve problems that could otherwise result in them losing their pets.

"I'll come in at 10 o'clock at night and there will be five calls," said Joy Evilsizor. "Someone has lost a pet or someone has found a pet."

The HSCC serves Cobb and surrounding areas. The animals that come to the shelter have been turned in by their owners. The HSCC only accepts animals if it has enough space for them.

A considerable amount of time is spent by HSCC workers assisting pet owners on ways they can hold on to their animals.

"If we don't have space, our challenge is helping them with whatever problem they've got," Evilsizor said.

"We had one lady who couldn't feed her dog and she was upset because she thought she had to turn it in. We didn't take her dog, we gave her food instead ... she came back a couple of months later and I asked her if she needed more food. She said, 'No.' She came to say thank you because she kept her pet. So if she could keep her pet, that's as good as adopting."

Evilsizor began working at the HSCC as a volunteer in 1991. As executive director, she now oversees a six- member staff, a core of 24 volunteers, about 200 other periodic volunteers and a number of programs, including adoption, lost and found, grief counseling, spay and neuter, community education and senior citizen animal care.

The HSCC is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The cost to adopt dogs is $200 and $125 for a cats. The animals are vaccinated, spayed and neutered and microchipped before they are released for adoption.

Founded on Feb. 14, 1957, the HSCC continues to provide assistance for animals in need and educates people on animal guardianship through its programs and community outreach.

"It is really a resource to the community," said retired CPA Stephen Imler of Marietta, one of 9 members on the board of directors.

"It's beyond simply a place to drop off or adopt animals. It's about education to people and to really have people do a better job with animals, so we'll have fewer animal problems."

Last week, HSCC installed an outdoor dog fence as a result of a $5,000 donation. It also recently remodeled a small house on South Avenue, behind the main building,that is used for office space.

The nonprofit shelter is funded through donations and fundraisers, such as a "Rock-N-Horror" music show and Halloween costume party at the Strand Theatre on Oct. 29. Admission is $18, said Imler.

On Feb. 12, the HSCC will have its third annual "Hearts and Dreams' variety show at the Strand Theatre, which also serves to raise community awareness of the work it does.

For more information about the Humane Society of Cobb County, visit www.humanecobb.com.