MARL E-NEWSLETTER JANUARY 04, 2008
I wanted to start the New Year off with a re-dedication of our commitment to animal welfare and to let you know that the animals always come first at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
• We shall shelter and care for lost and unwanted animals.
• We shall place animals into humane environments.
• We shall implement programs and provide services to promote responsible pet ownership.
• We shall be advocates for animals; we shall speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
We do our best each and every day to live up to our Mission Statement. It is the very least we can do for the animals that are able, if given a chance, to enrich the lives of so many.
We have had a wonderful holiday at MARL this year and so did our animals. Since moving into the new shelter our adoption rates have increased. In fact, during a five day period in December loving homes were found for 32 animals. On one day alone, December 27th, ten animals were adopted. Isn't that fantastic?
The owners of Lilly, dog with blue bandage, felt she needed a playmate and saw Rainy on our website. They drove all the way from Louisiana in order for the dogs to meet and it was a friendship made in heaven. The dogs play, wrestle and tumble together back home.
Our "Grand Opening" in December was such a success. Attendance was high and everyone was in total awe of the new shelter. Nearly everyone commented on how clean and spacious the animal areas were and how happy the animals seemed. If you were unable to attend, please check out our web site at www.msarl.org and take a virtual tour. Special thanks to Alex Jones with NETDOOR for providing this service.
In case some of you have not been outside the past few days, let me tell you it is COLD. I'm from New York; use to love the snow and the cold (how invigorating). As I type this I have a turtleneck sweater, sweatshirt and a hat on, plus the heater is going full blast. I'm cold! The animals outside are just as cold. Please if you have an outside dog or know someone who has please make sure they have an insulated doghouse with hay for warmth inside. Also, MARL is in dire need of large Igloo type doghouses for our cruelty cases this winter.
Now that our move is over, we look for 2008 to be a banner year for services. One of the things we are offering is free spay or neuter for anyone owning a Pit Bull dog. According to Richard H. Polsky, PHD, CAAB, a dog bite expert, canines not spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than sterilized ones. In light of so many Pit Bull attacks the past few years, Marl feels that this is a service we need to provide to protect our community.
We also want to remind our members that we offer a low cost spay/neuter program for persons on low fixed incomes that cannot afford to have their animals fixed. They need only call the shelter to see if they qualify. 601-969-1631. All of us want to see the euthanasia of healthy and surplus animals stopped. Spay/neuter is the only way! Please help us spread the word.
According to Mississippi State Code 97-41-9 Failure of owner or custodian to provide sustenance to any living creature and unjustifiable neglect or refuse to furnish it necessary sustenance, food or drink, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Most city or town ordinances are stronger then State Law and specify shelter from the weather.
Should you see an animal without shelter during inclement weather, please call your local Animal Control Agency. The numbers are: Brandon: 601-825 -8598, Clinton: 601-924-5252, Hinds County: 601-968-6728, City of Jackson: 601-960-1771, City of Madison: 601-856-6111, Pearl: 601-939-7000, Rankin County: 601-825-1480, Richland: 601-932-3101, and Ridgeland: 601-856-2121.
Thanks to your generous support, we can continue to protect dogs, cats and other animals. We are very careful stewards of your donations. Your donations help us to be the voice for the voiceless. If you would like to donate you may visit our website at www.msarl.org and click on the Guidestar button or mail donations to: MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson, MS 39204.
Items needed at the Shelter:
• Small tee shirts and sweaters for our small dogs.
• Fabric made Cat Cubes.
• Paper towels, paper towels and more paper towels.
• Dry adult and puppy chow (Purina, Pedigree or Iams).
• Dry cat and kitten food.
• Gift certificates for Lowes or Office Depot
• Extra large and large Igloo type dog houses.
• Grass hay to use in the doghouses.
• Triple 13 fertilizer.
• Square bales of hay.
Our New Year wish is that all the animals in our shelter find a loving, forever home. Adoption saves one life. Spay/neuter saves thousands.
Hope the New Year is good to all of you.
Aileene Maldonado
Programs Manager
MARL
5221 Greenway Drive
Jackson, MS 38204
aileenem@netdoor.com
www.msarl.org
Jackson, MS 39209
601-969-1671