Spunky and Susie

Spunky was our girl for about 11 years. We were in Jackson at an adoption event when we were approached by a man who'd found some puppies in an abandoned house. We were so thankful and surprised that he’d traveled all the way to Jackson from Winona, MS, nearly a two-hour drive, to find help for the pups. After thanking him repeatedly we told him that our sanctuary was just 11 miles from Winona, but that his effort had uplifted our spirits.

We had few adoptions in those days and few people considered larger dogs, even when pups. Our Spunky and her brother Mikey were the two siblings not adopted. They were a bit timid and until recently had their own enclosure. They were tough on visitors. Not too long ago they joined other dogs - some younger, some shyer, but all new friends.

One morning recently our Spunky was having trouble getting around and didn’t seem know us. We aren’t sure exactly what happened, but she faded fast and Dr. Abernathy helped her pass.

Like everyone we lose, she has left a huge hole and we miss her dearly.

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Susie came to us by way of the Mississippi Animal Rescue League (MARL) about 5 years ago. Susie was surrendered to MARL by her guardian who claimed the she had bitten him on several occasions. Susie lived with us for several years and we never had any instance of her biting people. We knew her to be sweet and good-natured and a lover of watermelon and bananas.

We truly enjoyed the time we spent with Susie and she, too, will be greatly missed.

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Midnight's Forever Home

Midnight - laid back as ever.

In November of 2006, Project Hope’s Doll and Jeff were investigating reports of neglect of a Calhoun County horse. While investigating the complaint of the neglected horses, they stumbled across a couple of puppies on the property as well. One was thin and nearly hairless from mange and the other appeared to have already succumbed to starvation, but upon closer inspection was still alive. He also suffered from mange and had an injury to his right front wrist area that looked like a bite wound. An injury he still carries with him to this day.

Both pups were immediately taken to the vet and treated for their mange and parasites. The veterinary staff that initially cared for them named them Midnight and Moon.

Moon was soon adopted, but people looking for “shepherds” passed over Midnight because he was mixed.

Midnight lived at Project Hope for more than 3 years. He’s been treasured by staff and volunteers and his jovial personality and sweet demeanor has won the hearts of every dog he's lived with over the years.

Last Tuesday, March 9th, Doll drove Midnight to New Orleans for his flight to Chicago where his new guardian whisked him home to meet his new family. Kathy and her 3 sons and 3 dogs adopted Midnight. Kathy, a friend and once roommate, of our IDA's Connie Newhall, learned of our sanctuary through Connie and decided she was ready to adopt another dog. She likes her all male dog family and when she asked about adopting one of our dogs, Midnight came right to mind. Midnight loves boy dogs - he loves the camaraderie. Midnight’s trademark is how he walks us around his enclosure with one of our hands gently in his mouth.

We will miss our Midnight, but will always be thankful for knowing him and never giving up hope that he’d one day have his own family.

A quick dunk in the pool.

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Confronting Backyard Breeders

Debbie Young, one of IDA's first responders during Hurricane Katrina, was in the Jackson, MS Petsmart volunteering at an adoption drive when a young girl came in with a puppy that was way too young to be away from her mother. The puppy didn't have any teeth and was estimated to be under four weeks old. The dog's guardian said she was told by the breeder she bought the dog from to buy the dog solid food, which the dog clearly wouldn't be able to eat. Debbie instructed the girl on the proper feeding for a puppy of this age.

Unfortunately this situation is not unusual. Backyard breeders set up shop all over Mississippi along well-traveled roads. In Jackson, there are several breeders who've set up shop in parking lots along the edge of County Line Road - one of the most heavily traveled roads in Jackson. None of these breeders are required to have a business license or permit. The businesses along the road, whose parking lots these breeders use, have complained about this for years. Amazingly, a local church recently wanted to hold a fundraising yard sale in a parking lot along County Line Road, the same parking lot some of these breeders use, and was denied a permit by the city.

Debbie has been battling these breeders for years and in this instance contacted Doll at Project Hope the local NBC affiliate, WLBT, for help. Doll and WLBT confronted the breeders - please see the newsclip below. Fed up with what seems to be preferential treatment these breeders receive, Debbie and Doll are working on a local ordinance that would regulate and likely stop this activity from happening.

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