News
Mississippi cat shelter in desperate need of volunteers and donors
September 30, 2008, 3:46PM MT
By Carol Baum
Struggling since Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi cat shelter needs your help.
Struggling since Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi cat shelter needs your help.
by Carol Baum, volunteer Network Volunteer Coordinator
Originally chartered in New Orleans in 1988, Spaymart is currently located in Picayune, MS, and is an all volunteer-based, non-profit, humane organization started specifically to provide low cost Spay/Neuter assistance and adoption programs to the public, with the mission of solving the pet overpopulation crisis in our cities. The organization’s ultimate goal was to open the city’s first low cost, high volume spay/neuter clinic. Everything was progressing according to schedule, until Hurricane Katrina.
The devastation of Katrina
With the clinic 75-80% complete, the storm totally destroyed the roof and all the contents inside the building. Circumstances beyond anyone’s control forced SpayMart to redirect its energy and focus on the more pressing needs of the animals, rescuing and reuniting pets with owners, or in many circumstances, finding new homes for those whose owners never returned.
The organization participated heavily in water rescue (see the picture above of President Lynn Chiche rescuing cats) in the weeks following Katrina, and transported over 175 animals to its shelter in rural Mississippi, in an effort to remove them from harm’s way. Every effort was made to reunite the pets with their owners but many remain homeless today.
Continuing the mission
Currently, Spaymart continues its mission by partnering with area shelters and local humane groups to deliver proactive, results-oriented programs to help local shelters achieve the collective goal of zero-euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. Utilizing existing veterinary clinics, SpayMart has been operating spay/neuter programs for over 10 years, sterilizing approximately 1500 animals annually. The programs are funded entirely by private donations and grants.
The urgent need for volunteers
SpayMart also operates a shelter facility located on 27 beautiful acres and can house 250 to 300 cats comfortably. At present, the facility is at maximum capacity and Lynn Chiche, President of Spaymart, says they desperately need about 15 volunteers just for day to day animal care. In addition, volunteers are needed for fundraising and grant writing, as the organization is in urgent need of funds.
It has been extremely challenging to find homes for the cats, as so many residents in the area are still displaced after Hurricane Katrina. Cats and kittens are available for adoption locally at PETsMART on Clearview Parkway, New Orleans, as well as listed on www.petfinder.com, www.pets911.com,www.petharbor.com and www.craigslist.com. The organization is responsible for adopting over 2000 animals to date.
How you can help
Volunteer – Whatever your talents – fundraising, grant writing or caring for kitties – Spaymart desperately needs your help. Volunteer opportunities can be found by searching for volunteer opportunities on the Network or check www.spaymart.org.
Adopt – If you are looking for a cat or kitten, check out the Spaymart website at www.spaymart.org.
Donate - Go to the Spaymart donation page at www.spaymart.org/donate.html.
You may contact President Lynn Chiche at spaymart@hughes.net to find out other ways you can help.