MS Critterz Expresses Interest in Taking Over Animal Shelter

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

MS Critterz might be a young organization, but its organizers have big goals.

The organization formed officially in April with a mission to provide temporary shelter to stray, abandoned and surrendered animals for the purpose of finding forever homes through adoptions. They do not own a shelter so the animals are placed in foster care until they can find a home.

The group has been working to raise funds to build a no-kill shelter; however, now they’re hoping to move into the existing animal shelter owned by the city of Oxford.

City officials learned last week that the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society will not be renewing its contract with the city to provide animal control services or run the shelter on McElroy Drive as of Sept. 30.

On Tuesday, the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved the Request for Proposal that will be advertised over the next few days.

Gail Brown, president of MS Critterz said her board of directors plan on submitting a proposal to take over running the shelter and providing animal control services.

“We still want it to be a no-kill shelter,” she said. “Of course, there are exceptions at times, like if an animal comes in too injured or sick to be helped.”

Brown said her organization will be focusing on adoptions and transporting animals to other states that have a shortage of adoptable dogs and cats due to strict spay and neutering laws.

“An animal shouldn’t be in the shelter for more than three or four weeks,” she said. “If they are, then we would have a plan in place to transport them to another shelter.”

Brown said if MS Critters are selected, they would only accept animals from Oxford and Lafayette County residents.

“We need to worry about our needs here,” she said.

Oxford Alderman Janice Antonow said groups will have until Aug. 30 to contact the city with questions and then until Sept. 20 to submit their RFP.

“We’ll form a committee who will interview the groups and we hope to have one selected by Sept. 24,” she said.

The selected group will then take over the shelter on McElroy Drive on Oct. 1.

“Even if the shelter isn’t completely ready, they’ll need to have a plan where to house the animals Animal Control picks up in the meantime,” Antonow said.

Brown said if selected, MZ Critterz will need the community’s support.

“We’ll need to furnish the building and purchase kennels,” she said. “We’ll be hiring staff. We hope everyone will get on board and donate.”

If not chosen, Brown said MS Critterz will continue in its pursuit of helping stray and abandoned animals and one day having a no-kill shelter in Oxford.

In the meantime, the group has organized a low-cost spay and neuter event for cats this Saturday. Cats can be dropped off, after registering at mscritterz.com and be spayed or neutered for $40.