The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society’s animal shelter provides a vital service to the community.

That service is especially important this time of year when an abundance of kittens are born.

Fortunately, the shelter is a no-kill shelter, and most of the animals taken in are eventually placed in homes either locally, or through the transport program the shelter has with other areas of the country.

By taking the animals off the street and housing, feeding and caring for them, the shelter helps keep the feral animal population under control.

Feral animals can carry and spread diseases to other animals and to people, so the shelter’s mission is important to the health of the community.

The humane society’s services do not come cheap, however.

Last year’s operating budget was approximately $300,000, shelter manager, Lena McKnight says.

Most of that operating money comes from donations and the shelter is finding ways to make donations attractive, including teaming with Peddler’s Outdoor Hearth & Home to raffle off a Cub Cadet Challenger 700 ATV.

We encourage you to support the humane society, whether it is by purchasing a raffle ticket or just making a monetary donation.

Volunteering or serving as a foster home for pets also are helpful, and the shelter is offering a discount on adoption prices to help alleviate the overcrowding.

Now might be the time to get that pet your family has been wanting.