In Defense Of Animals And MS SPAN Aid Rescued Dogs And Their Guardian

Holmes County woman surrenders her animals out of love

Jackson, Miss. – In Defense of Animals’ (IDA) Project Hope sanctuary near Grenada, Mississippi, and Mississippi Spay & Neuter (MS SPAN) are teaming up to spay and neuter scores of dogs released to IDA by a Holmes County woman. Once a breeder, she’d fallen on hard times and couldn’t feed or properly care for the dogs.

On Friday, February 5, 20 of the dogs will be spayed by MS SPAN at their “Big Fix” rig at 2104 Old Brandon Road, Pearl, Mississippi. IDA and MS SPAN hope this event will bring attention to the plight of homeless and abused companion animals across Mississippi through the promotion of affordable low cost, high volume spay/neuter of animals.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah alerted IDA that the woman had about 30 dogs she couldn’t feed. Project Hope Director Doll Stanley, accompanied by Dr. Walter Roberts, DVM, of Lexington conducted a needs assessment, helped remove the first 19 dogs, and provided urgent care for the animals.

The woman, who really had over 60 dogs, refused to abandon them when hard times hit, even remaining in a rental house with no north wall. When asked what she did in inclement weather she responded, “I wrap up and sit on the porch.”

Project Hope will return to the woman one dog who she cannot part with, and she’ll be moving to a habitable home. “It’s so easy for us to judge people who keep so many animals they can’t care for, but their stories aren’t always that simple. This woman showed me pictures of the good days when she lived in a lovely home, her small dogs were dressed in outdoor gear when in the yard, and her life as a nurse was very different,” Ms. Stanley said.

“That this woman has lived in dire conditions suffering a disabled back, and begged for food for her animals, is a tribute to her true commitment to them,” added Stanley. “She isn’t a collector who acquires animals she can’t help. Though she falls under the “hoarder” category for allowing the dogs to multiply, I’m humbled by her will to stand by them and ask for help.”

Project Hope has partnered with Every Creature Counts (ECC) in the Denver area of Colorado to place the dogs for adoption. Project Hope’s transport team will leave Grenada Tuesday to bring the dogs to ECC, which will be showing the dogs at an upcoming PetSmart Charities “Adoptathon.” To contribute, visit www.idausa.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2010

Contact: Doll Stanley, 662-809-4483