East Mississippi Animal Rescue is answering a challenge from Global Giving to raise a total of $4,000 during the month of April in order to become a permanent partner on their website.

    This amount must be made up of donations from at least 50 unique donors.

    According to EMAR more than 73,000 animals are euthanized each year in the state of Mississippi. Although rescue groups in the state, are working hard to lower this number, pet overpopulation and abandonment is a growing problem. In addition to high euthanasia rates, Mississippi also has the highest rates nationwide of heartworm disease — a potentially fatal condition that is costly to treat, but can be prevented.

    Through this project EMAR aims to provide spay/neuter surgeries to abandoned animals prior to adoption. By advocating for and enforcing spay/neuter surgeries, the group hopes to target the pet overpopulation problem and in turn, decrease the number of animals euthanized in Mississippi each year. The project will also allow EMAR to provide treatment for animals diagnosed with heartworm disease.

    According to Paula Joyner with East Mississippi Animal Rescue, the number of donors needed has been met.  Another $1,100 is needed to complete Global Giving’s challenge, however.

    She said those who wish to donate should visit this secure site: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/provide-emergency-vet-care-to-abandoned-animals/.

    For more information contact East Mississippi Animal Rescue by calling (601) 553-3060, or visit www.eastmsanimalrescue.com or www.facebook.com/eastmsanimalrescue.