HATTIESBURG – A south Mississippi animal shelter says the number of pet owners leaving their animals at the facility has increased as more Mississippians lose their jobs or homes amid the sluggish economy.
With December nearly over, Southern Pines Animal Shelter has reported a total intake of 9,563 animals for 2010. Of those, 3,617 were surrendered by owners.
“We”ve had people that have lost their jobs or lost their homes and they are forced to move into apartments,” Michelle Bullock, the shelter”s office manager, told The Hattiesburg American. “In those situations, pets are usually the first thing to go.”
Southern Pines Animal Shelter is an open admission shelter so no animal is turned away regardless of health, age or temperament.
But Virginia Cheatham, the shelter”s office manager, said “we just don”t have the staff or resources to keep all of these animals.”
Regena Hoye of Hattiesburg is trying help some owners keep their pets by starting a dog food bank co-op. The Dog Food Co-op will assist senior citizens, the disabled and those with insufficient funds by providing donated food for their pets.
It is a joint collaboration of the Spay & Neuter Clinic, Southern Pines Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Mississippi.
“I went down to (Southern Pines Animal Shelter) and decided I needed to do something,” Hoye said. “When I started, I put a small notice in the paper and I got an incredible amount of calls from people asking for help. I can”t get this started fast enough.”
Hoye is accepting dog food and cash donations through the Spay & Neuter Clinic, but she hopes to eventually be able to purchase a portable building to distribute throughout Hattiesburg.
“This is not some capricious whim,” Hoye said. “I want to bring attention to this problem and help people be able to keep their pets.”
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