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photo by Marcus Frazier
Natchez-Adams County Humane Society Director Pat Cox calls out the identification number on the collar of one of the puppies that will be up for adoption Saturday at Stine Lumber Company in Natchez. The open adoption will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Adoption fee of $35 for cats and $45 for dogs. All animals have been vaccinated.
Humane Society has open adoption
Published Saturday, August 23, 2008
NATCHEZ — A litter of five black and orange kittens sleep softly in a furry pile at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.
A couple of cages over, a beagle terrier mix leaps up with excited chocolate eyes, it’s belly stretched and distended as she can barely keep her balance with that wagging tail.
She couldn’t be less of a ball of energy, racing around her too tiny cage, ears pert, paws flailing, lips trembling, it’s desire vocalized in a series of whines.
Pick her up and she turns into a white and brown-spotted puddle, nuzzled in for the long haul.
Peppy the cat with his ochre eyes begs to be won over with a chin scratch, a boxer mix is dying to jump down and run on his wobbly, unsteady puppy legs, its pencil-thin tail acting more as a propeller than a balance apparatus.
These are the faces, these are the reasons for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society open adoption today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stine Lumber Company.
Nan Garrison, humane society board member, said this open adoption is the first in many years and has a multiple-pronged purpose.
“This is just one of those times a year that we’re overrun,” she said of the first purpose.
So overrun that Pat Cox, shelter director, said this is the worst year they’ve had as far as the influx of animals.
“It’s never let up,” she said.
Right now, the shelter houses 53 dogs, 63 puppies, 13 cats and 65 kittens. And those are just the adoptable ones.
“It’s the biggest goal we could possibly have to show how important it is to spay or neuter your animals,” she said.
This is what causes so many animals to be homeless. A Labrador can have between 13 or 14 puppies in a litter, Garrison said.
So, when animals are adopted, there’s a $35 fee for cats and a $45 fee for dogs, which allows for the pet to be spayed or neutered.
Also, even before the animals are ready to be adopted, they are vaccinated and de-wormed.
Garrison said the humane society has been planning an open adoption for some time and while timing played a part, it was mostly due to Stine offering its facilities.
Stine Manager Cheri Dunn said store employees thought helping out the humane society would be a good storewide team building exercise.
“They were wanting to do something as an outreach to the community,” she said. “We felt like we could be helping people and animals and get some community involvement by doing that.”
The adoption will be inside of the store and both cash and checks are accepted.
Also, the 2 p.m. ending time is just an estimation.
“As long as we have people that are coming and interested then we’ll be there,” Garrison said.
Comments
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Praise God someone is caring enough to help the poor helpless animals. Just yesterday my sister picked up a stray...(Begel w/ short legs & long floppy ears mix) and took him home becasue he was on the road and starving for 3 days. I told her I would have gotten him on the first day but my dog Joker...a Pit Bulldog would have probably fought with him. I told her, I'd keep my eye on the paper to see if anyone lost him. He's a beautiful dog with big feet and short legs...LOL The most softest ears I've ever felt & biggest too. If anyone knows of this dogs owners...let me know through this. He was found by the Paper Mill area. I think it was a girl dog; I really don't remember what she said, I was too busy petting it.
By the way...if anyone knows the where abouts of a big old red, blind & deaf dog with white markings, with a red coller with rinestones...please let me know. His name is Bailey and has been our family dog for over 20 years. He wondered off one day while I was feeding our new lil' puppies and hasn't been seen since. It would mean an awful lot to me just to know if he's resting in peace. Poor Ole Bailey, it's hard to believe he's gone still. He wondered off on August 8th or so.
When you have a pet it becomes a part of your family just as if it was a person. I love all my pets as my babies and ya'll will too so go Adopt the Critters... I'm going too look and I'm sure I'll fall in love again & again...smile, lick...what a kiss. My granddaughter says...Nana, he licked me...I say, he kissed you and she smiles. Children love all types of pets so ya'll get out today and help out a Great Cause. You'll never be sorry with true & faithfull love 24/7.
Posted by dixiebelle (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I adopted my puppy from a shelter & couldn't have asked for a better dog & friend. I hope today brings lots of adoptions!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Adopting a pet can be a joyous time but owning a pet is also a big responsibility! It is my hope that ONLY responsible pet owners are allowed to adopt. Oh, and do like Bob Barker advises, have these pets spayed or neutered.
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Look at the frown over those big brown eyes. Who could resist that? It's as he's say "Please love me!"
If I didn't already have two dogs I'd grab him. For the past few months I have had to devote all my attention to my Dachshund who has a herniated disc. (For those are wondering she's doing much better & getting around alittle too fast) If lived out in the country I would have animals everwhere.
If anyone does get this little fellow or another one like him please do as Teach4Peace said follow Bob Barker's advice :Have your pets spayed of Neutered. : they are much happier pets.
Posted by sayaprayer (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I dont know how many people on here already know this but thought this a good article to mention it on. There are ways to help these shelters. anyone can help daily by using their computer. All you have to do is use goodsearch.com as your search engine and make sure the Natchez Humane Society is chosen in the cause field when you search. every search you do will donate to the shelter. I have it as my home page. Also if you are an internet shopper go to IGIVE.com and sign up chosing the Natchez Humane Society as your cause and everytime you shop on the internet if you go through this site the company you shop with will donate to the shelter. There are alot of stores on this site. you would really be surprised at how fast it can add up if everyone would use these sites. Please check them out. I do not work at the shelter but I have rescued many pets from there and I highly respect the people that do the great jobs that they do there.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG don't let OldGrandDad adopt he'll have it for his next meal!!
Posted by nlhoman (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 3:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Would like to thank all who adopted pets Saturday at Stine Lumber Company. I am an eployee of Stine and was very excited to be a part of such a great cause. I myself am a animal lover and hate to think of the many animals that have to be put down each year. We (Stine employees) were all excited about the idea and enjoyed making and putting up flyers and little puppy feet in preparation for Saturdays event. Oh and by the way me and my family adopted Peppy the cat.
Once again thanks for everyones donations and adoptions and remember also we will be further taking donations through this next week at Stine.
Posted by BeautifullyDefined (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello, I admire all the people that adopt these poor, poor animals. Just the other day I heard a friend of mines say that someone didn't want their dog anymore so they took him off somewhere and dumped him on the side of the road. How sad and cruel. There are tons of animals in poverty just loose in the back yard dying slowly. I think it would be a great idea if we could get a patrol unit to ride and around and get these people that abandon dogs (like in Dallas, TX) now they don't play. Believe me you are going to jail.
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