I Care for Animals

Many of my clients adopt their pets from local shelters and many of these pets haven't had appropriate care prior to arrival at these shelters. It is a sad situation that these pets are in and the shelters in our area are at capacity. It was determined last year that approximately 109,000 animals enter Mississippi animal shelters each year and only 35,000 make it out alive. Yes that's over 70,000 animals euthanized each year. Unfortunately, those are the real numbers.

What can you do to help? Well, first spay and neuter your pets to prevent overpopulation. That's the obvious thing. Spaying and neutering also has other health and behavioral benefits for your pet. The prevention of cancers and other unwanted health concerns are at the top of the list, among other benefits. Secondly, if you're in the market for a pet, check your local shelters first; chances are, you just may find what you're looking for. Not in the market for a new pet, no problem, your local shelters are always in need of volunteers to help care for the pets they have. Lastly, there is a car tag program here in Mississippi called "I Care for Animals".

The "I Care for Animals" program allows Mississippians to purchase this license plate

for an additional $31. The money from each tag goes to city and county animal shelters, private animal shelters and humane organizations that submit grant applications for these funds. This program has helped homeless, injured and abused animals in shelters and humane organizations all across Mississippi.

Alternatively, you may wish to simply donate to the “I Care for Animals” program by sending a donation to the following address:

Mississippi Board of Animal Health

Attn: I Care of Animals

P.O. Box 3889

Jackson, MS 39207

For a list of animal shelters in Mississippi, click here.