By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
Oxford’s 9 Lives Cat Rescue was recently awarded $3,000 from the “I Care for Animals” Car Tag Program and will use the grant money to help low-income Lafayette County residents get their cats and dogs neutered and spayed at a discounted rate.
Director Natascha Techen said the $3,000 should provide spay and neutering for about 72 animals – 20 dogs and 52 cats.
Established in 2006, the 9 Lives Cat Rescue works to find homes for unwanted and homeless cats and kittens. Each animal is vaccinated and spayed/neutered before being adopted into a new home through PetSmart in Oxford.
The “I Care for Animals” Car Tag Program is administered by the Mississippi Board of Animal Health. An advisory panel comprised of knowledgeable volunteers from various animal shelters located throughout the state assists State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Watson and the Board of Animal Health in selecting qualified applicants.
When someone purchases the “I Care for Animals” car tag, a portion of the payment is collected and then funds are distributed as grants to local animal shelters and spay/neuter programs.
A nonprofit, no-kill, all-volunteer organization, 9 Lives is committed to the Trap Neuter Return method for feral cats, as outlined and endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, as the most humane way of controlling and reducing the feral cat population.
“The humane way is to trap them, spay/neuter and vaccinate them and return them to the same location where they were trapped,” Techen said. “It has been proven to work well on the campus of the University of Mississippi where the student organization, Feral University Rebel Rescuers, has practiced it for over a decade and established a controlled cat population.”
Anyone interested in adopting, donating or volunteering with 9 Lives Cat Rescue should contact nine_lives_cat_rescue@hotmail.com. Donations are tax-deductible and should be mailed to 9 Lives Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 2006, Oxford, MS 38655.
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