Local nonprofit works to end pet overpopulation.
PEARL, MS – September 12, 2015 - The Big Fix Clinic, a high-volume pet sterilization program run by Mississippi Spay and Neuter (MS SPAN), performed its 30,000th on-site spay/neuter surgery on Saturday, September 12th.
“Every day, homeless and starting dogs and cats are fending for themselves and looking for food in all the wrong places – trash cans, dumpsters, sides of highways and garbage dumps throughout Central Mississippi. Although many good samaritans try to do the right thing by feeding them, it’s not enough. Spay and neuter is the best weapon in fighting the crisis of pet overpopulation, which leads to the homelessness and deaths of thousands of animals each year in our state. By providing these essential low-cost services along with public education, MS SPAN believes that it is possible to live in a world where every cat and dog has a loving home,” says Elaine Adair, MS SPAN's Founder and President.
The Big Fix Clinic staff celebrated this important milestone by presenting the 30,000th pet, Piper, with a goodie basket donated by Hollywood Feed in Ridgeland. Stories like Piper’s continue to inspire the work of Mississippi Spay and Neuter.
Piper is a 2-year old mountain cur and blue heeler mix. Her family saved her from being surrendered to the pound by her previous owner. The timing was right for Piper to come into their life, because they had just lost their 9 year-old yellow Labrador to cancer.
Piper has given her new family love and comfort in their time of grief, and in return they gave her an opportunity to live a new and happy life.
Piper loves her big backyard, and loves to chase squirrels (though she never catches them!).
MS SPAN is holding an online fundraising campaign asking for 30,000 pennies ($300), to symbolize the 30,000 animals that have been fixed so far. The nonprofit relies on donations in order to keep the cost of services low, and receives no government funding. Supporters can give at msspan.org.
Mississippi Spay and Neuter’s 7-year-old pet sterilization program at the Big Fix Clinic proactively helps fight the Jackson Metro Area's dire pet overpopulation problem. The clinic is located at 100 Business Center Parkway in Pearl. Low-cost services are available to pet cats and dogs as well as stray and feral cats.
Our Mission… To reduce euthanasia and suffering of homeless animals by providing affordable spay and neuter; by engaging the cooperation of the community and by raising awareness of pet overpopulation.
Over 70,000 cats and dogs are euthanized in Mississippi each year. A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years, while a pair of dogs and their puppies can produce as many as 67,000 puppies in 6 years. The solution is within reach of every pet owner with a commitment to spay or neuter.
Currently, MS SPAN provides pet owners living in 42 counties or 82% of Mississippi's residents with access to low-cost spay/neuter services either through their voucher program, high-volume spay/neuter clinic (the Big Fix Clinic), and/or through their referral services to the other 3 high-volume clinics around the state as well as referrals to other animal welfare groups with "Animal Care" funding. MS SPAN also offers free transport services from 3 locations in a 90-mile radius to the Big Fix Clinic.
For more information on Mississippi Spay and Neuter and its programs, call 601-420-2438 or visit www.msspan.org.
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Photos:
Piper the dog and family (from left to right: Katie, Terry and Rachel)
Piper, Katie and Rachel with gift basket from Hollywood Feed Ridgeland
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