Saturday, September 29, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

Untitled Document

Nix volunteers at Bark in the Park

event in order to give back

By EMILY WHITTEN

The Natchez Democrat

Ruth Nix owns about 15 cats and knows that many of her furry

pets came to her in strange ways.

She found two under the hoods of trucks. One of these cats

rode all the way from Jonesville, La., to Natchez Ford Lincoln

Mercury this way. Her husband, Larry, asked her what she wanted

to do wit it.

&uot;Well what do you think I did – I kept it.&uot; Nix said.

It is natural for someone who enjoys animals so much to volunteer

with the Natchez Adams County Humane Society.

She helps in whatever way needed, including giving her time

at this Saturday’s ninth-annual Bark in the Park at the Grand

Village of the Natchez Indians.

Bark in the Park is a wonderful activity with fun contests

for dog owners to register their pets in, she said.

&uot;I enjoy … seeing all the animals and the people that

come out there are true animal lovers,&uot; Nix said.

And Nix calls herself a true animal lover. She keeps five cats

in her house, about eight outside and then cares for a couple

of cats at her job.

&uot;I used to be a dog person,&uot; she said.

But after her German Shepherd died in 1987 she decided she

did not want any more pets. Then her daughter brought her a kitten.

Soon more kittens arrived.

&uot;And that how all my kitties started,&uot; she said.

Because of her love for cats, Nix said she volunteers for the

society without going inside.

&uot;I would want to take them all home with me,&uot; she

said.

She helps the society in any way possible.

&uot;People will help another person a lot of times but they

tend to forget the little animals,&uot; she said.

Many animals arrived at the society because they have been

abused or abandoned, she said.

&uot;People, to me, if they’re going to have a pet they need

to take the responsibility for that pet,&uot; she said.