The Tailwaggers for Life Organization has received a $15,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help increase its number of spay/neuter operations by 50 percent.

    The organization’s pet sterilization program successfully alters more than 100 animals per month on average to proactively fight the area’s dire pet overpopulation problem.

    “Tailwaggers for Life spay/neuter program is a great example of taking the initiative to improve the local community,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities. “Targeted programs like these are the key to successful, low-cost spay/neuter in local communities. Cumulatively, they are making a huge impact on pet overpopulation nationwide.”

    Tailwaggers started the program in Meridian late in 2009. Lauderdale County Animal Control reported an intake of 864 during the fourth quarter of 2008. During the same time last year the number decreased by 155 to 709. Although several factors figure into that reduction, Charles Chaplin, president of Tailwaggers for Life Rescue, said the spay and neuter program has helped in reducing those numbers.

    The Tailwaggers Outreach Program offers low cost spay/neuter services for pets residing in the Meridian and Lauderdale County area. The PetSmart Charities grant will help in offering a lower price to qualified applicants. The goal of Tailwaggers is to reduce pet overpopulation in greater Lauderdale County by 12 percent this year.

    “We are excited to increase the total number of spay/neuter surgeries in Meridian,” Chaplin said. “We hope that our spay/neuter program will soon become a model for other agencies across the country. We would like to thank Dr. Wayne Adams and his wonderful staff, Tiffany Frautschi of MS FACT and her volunteers, Dewayne (Sosebee) and the Lauderdale Animal Control team and of course PetSmart Charities. We could not do all we do without their help.”

    The Tailwaggers for Life Rescue Farm was founded in 2005 to help end pet overpopulation in the region. The organization operates an animal shelter in the Waynesboro area in addition to its spay/neuter program. For more information on the Tailwaggers Organization and its programs, call (601) 509-1411 or visit the Web site www.tailwaggersforlife.org.