I am writing in hopes that once the residents of Mississippi know some of the horrific truth about the puppy mills, animal hoarders and suffering of the animals in their state they will feel encouraged to contact their elected and appointed officials.

In one week alone there was a litter of puppies dumped at a school, three dogs with a sack of food dumped at Collinsville beach and two dumped at the reservoir dam. There was also a dog dumped at College Park Shopping Center the same week. This is just the ones I know about.

The number one reason for dumping is that people do not spayneuter their pets. Cats and kittens are dumped regularly, too. In addition of all the “strays” one sees is the tremendous amount of animals going into our shelters where most will be euthanized.

We are fortunate to have an animal control and shelter. They offer very low cost spayneuter when adopting, but most do not accept the offer. Once adopted, the adopter will often bring back two litters of kittens and puppies a year to be euthanized.

Animal control does a depressing job and one our residents should support in any way they can. Animals are “surrendered” by their owners to be euthanized because “they just cant handle them anymore.” In one situation this meant the dogs were continually getting caught up in their chains. They knock their water bowls over. They lay in the hot sun with no water until some kind person calls animal control. The next day, it is the same situation again.

Pets need a fenced in yard in the county and city. Moving to the country so they can “run free” means being shot or poisoned by frustrated neighbors due to knocking over garbage.

Other counties have no animal control so animals are brought to our county to be dumped. I have spoken to people who say they would never take a dog or cat to a shelter. They say they instead dump them in trailer parks or Walmart or the mall in hopes someone picks them up.

 

Also, do not meet people in parking lots to purchase a “pure bred” animal. These animals are from puppy mills.

The one and only and the very last act of kindness many animals know is when they are euthanized. Humane euthanasia is much more merciful than dumping animals out to be run over, starve, freeze to death, shot or be fed antifreeze, which is illegal.

If you cant afford to have your animal “fixed,” then you do not need an animal. Too many well-intended people end up only adding to the suffering and death of their animal and their offspring. For some reason people who own male pets do not think they have to neuter them. This causes packs of male dogs to fight, sometimes till death. 

If you see an animal with no shelter or water or food, call animal control at 601-485-1956. After they check on the situation, you can report back if the owner does not comply. Be a part of the solution. You can also call Tailwaggers or The Big Fix for low cost spay/neuter.

The Bible says “if you find your enemy’s animal, you are to feed and water it and let it rest then return it to your enemy. What more then should we do for our own and all the others.

Sharon Moore is an animal rescuer from Lauderdale County.