MARL E-Newsletter August 2008

Tid-bits
Thought I would start this month E-Newsletter off with a teaser. Question: If you totally eradicated this animal from the face of the earth, I mean there are no more, gone, finished, kaput! Not one left anywhere. In 20 years it would be right back, doing what it does today. What animal is it? First one that E-Mails in the correct answer to aileenem@netdoor.com will receive a MARL tee shirt. Employees, volunteers of MARL and the Jackson Zoo cannot participate.

This is the time of year that baby and juvenile wildlife are leaving the nest and learning to survive on their own. Their mothers are nearby, out of your sight, watching and trying to keep them safe. Please leave baby wildlife alone. If a baby rabbit has fur and its eyes are open, it is already on it's own, tiny, but able to survive. If you come across a baby deer, leave it alone. Mother is off feeding and she will not come back as long as she can see or smell you.

A reminder about your pet vaccinations. Please make sure your pets are up to date on all vaccinations, especially puppies. Parvo is on the rise and it is in every community. We recently had two outbreaks and this disease is deadly. Your veterinarian is your pet's best friend; make sure your pet sees him or her at least annually. Vaccinations can be the difference between life and death.

FYI: The Giraffe, Camel and Cat are the only animals that walk by moving both their left feet, then both their right feet, when walking. This method of walking ensures speed, agility and silence.

At the Shelter
Important dates to remember: September 18, our annual Fur Ball (check web site for details), Saturday, October 25, our annual Strut Your Mutt and Saturdays, November 22 and December 6 for Pet Photo's with Santa.

In anticipation of the holiday seasons approaching we are getting ready to send in our next order for bricks for the Walk of Love and Leaves for the Tree of Hope.

4 x 8 bricks are $100 and consist of 3 lines, 14 characters per line. Spaces count as 1 character.
8 x 8 bricks are $175 and consist of 4 lines, 14 characters per line. Spaces count as 1 character.
Engraved gold leaves are $150. Each leaf can hold 3 lines. First two lines can have 19 characters and the third line 6 characters.

This is a wonderful way to honor or memorialize a loved one or pet and still help the animals at the shelter. Mail checks to MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson, MS 39204, and on the letter state how you want the inscription to read. Or you can call me at 601-969-1671 and I can mail you a form.

How about some really good news? Yearly adoptions and return to owners through July in 2007 were 908. Yearly adoption through July of 2008 is 1,147. We have done as many as 22 adoptions in one weekend. The new shelter has made such a difference; it is such a pleasant place to visit. If you haven't been out here yet, you have got to come and see it.

And of course when it rains it pours. The storm last week tore the roof off the horse and hay barn. Peeled it back like a can of sardines. We need square bales of hay desperately, as we lost a lot of it during the storm, along with salt licks and 9% sweet feed.

Remember last month I told you that our electric bill was $3,696.00, well this month it jumped to $4,200. We are conserving as much as we can, turning out lights, etc. but this is a hard pill to swallow. We really need your help.

Also needed are:
• Weed eater
• Feline Pine cat Litter
• Oval toilet seat covers for the cats
• Copy paper
• HP Ink cartridges #74 & 75
• Laundry detergent
• Paper towels, paper towels and you guessed it, more paper towels

You may bring or send donations to: MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext, Jackson, MS 39204 or you can go to our web site at www.msarl.org and click on the Guidestar button to donate.

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