Latest Shelter Activities
This has been an extremely cold, wet winter and our calls for animals in need have been constant. We work with all of the tri-county animal controls in order to address as many of the calls for help as possible. Dogs without shelter and starving horses have been the majority of our calls.

When we sent out a call for help with dog houses and straw or hay for bedding, so many of you responded and we thank you. Our staff worked many hours delivering houses and hay as well as providing houses and hay for some of the animal control departments to distribute in their communities. We also had people calling and coming to the shelter to get straw bedding for their animals at home.

While this is the time of year when so many of our starving horse complaints come in, this year has been overwhelming! We have to give big thanks for a job well done to Hinds County Sheriff’s Department animal control officers David Fisher and Mac James and Rankin County Sheriff’s Department animal control officer Ken Sullivan for their outstanding work on horse neglect cases.

Rankin County seized 5 horses on 2 separate cases brought them to MARL for rehabilitation and adoption. All are progressing well. Hinds County however really kept us hopping when they seized 8 horses in one week. Unfortunately, one of these was so ill she had to be euthanized. We owe a special thank you to MARL volunteer Kate Colson for assisting in several of these cases and providing emergency hay and feed until animal control to get the horses to us. She has also been a big help getting feed and hay donations and helping with foster homes for when we are simply out of room.

Our newest horses to arrive this week are an older, partially blind stud horse that was left tied by our front gate Monday night and a mare that was brought in by Hinds County animal control today with an old leg injury and nerve damage to her face. No two days are the same at the shelter.

Snow Day at MARL
A rare Mississippi snow presented an opportunity for a day of fun at the shelter. Our horses had a great time and were stepping high in the pasture. Some of the dogs were more excited than a child. Thought you might enjoy a few pictures.

A Sad Day for Dogs and Cats in Mississippi
Our state House of Representatives agriculture committee once again chose to support the crime of aggravated cruelty against dogs and cats by refusing to bring to the table proposed legislation that would make such acts a felony. Mississippi remains one of only 4 states without a felony animal cruelty law. The deep pockets and loud voice of Farm Bureau once again overwhelmed common sense, common decency and the voice of the people.

Watch our website for more info. MS-FACT (Mississippians Fighting Animal Cruelty Together) did an outstanding job with proposed legislation this year. For current information, go to their web-site, www.ms-fact.org. We also want to take the opportunity to thank our State Senators for their support and passage of the proposed legislation. A call of thanks to your senator would mean a lot.

Time to Register for Summer Camp
We have had many requests for information on summer camp. The first camp will be June 1st through June 5th and the second camp will be June 8th through June 12th. Cost is $125.00 and includes drinks, snacks, and a tee shirt. The application should be on our website soon. For more info click on msarl.org or call Samantha at 601-969-1631. Each camp is limited to 15 children so don’t wait too long to register. We already have several registrations.

The campers will have a great time learning about animals. They will learn about responsible pet ownership and proper pet care. We will talk about dangerous animals and animal safety. One of the favorite workshops is our “So You Want To Get a Horse”. The kids will spend a morning at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League Barn and learn about horse care and get to groom some of our horses. The campers will also participate in dog obedience training, bathing puppies, helping customers learning about spaying and neutering by visiting with our veterinarian during a surgery in our hospital. The campers and staff alike have a great time.

Needed at the Shelter
Of course our greatest need is financial and we are grateful for all the support you provide. Taking care of so many animals is a difficult task and we can’t do it without you.

• Puppy and adult dry food (Purina or Pedigree please)
• Kitten chow
• Paper towels and bath tissue
• Dawn dish detergent (original blue please) and laundry detergent
• Hay and salt and mineral licks for the horses

If you would like to donate you can go to our web site www.msarl.org and click on the Guidestar button or you can mail donations to: MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson MS 39204

Thank you for all you do for the animals in our care. We are truly blessed.

MARL
Aileene Maldonado
Programs Manager
aileenem@netdoor.com
www.msarl.org