MISSISSIPPI STATE —
This month, some kids have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, and others dream of finding a new furry, four-legged family member under the tree.
Mississippi State University students and staff help some of these wishes come true through a program that gets family-friendly dogs to Northeastern states, but these volunteers have a Christmas wish of their own.
The Homeward Bound Project of Mississippi needs a new vehicle to transport animals from Mississippi to Virginia. MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine is a key partner in the project, which was started in 2007 by veterinary students dedicated to reducing the number of animals euthanized in the state. In addition to veterinary care, CVM loans a departmental trailer for transportation.
“The trailer’s air conditioner and generator just don’t have the capacity to cool 40 or 50 dogs in the summer months, and we have tried every conceivable configuration of additional, rented generators and a stand-alone air-conditioning unit,” said Terri Snead, a CVM veterinary technician who volunteers nights and weekends with Homeward Bound.
This problem limits the program’s ability to transport animals, and prompted the CVM’s Class of 2016 to set a goal of raising money to purchase a new, fully air-conditioned vehicle for Homeward Bound’s exclusive use. Students are working through the CVM Office of Development to raise $60,000.
“Many students in our class support the Homeward Bound program by fostering dogs until transport, helping process animals, setting up the trailer, fundraising, grant-writing and completing other administrative functions,” said Ryan Gibson, president of the Class of 2016. “We want to support the program’s effort and increase its efficiency by buying a new transport vehicle.”
Dogs from 10 Mississippi shelters and rescues go north about every six weeks after organizations in Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York choose animals based on photos and descriptions emailed by Homeward Bound. Local adoptions continue, so adoption coordinators on both ends of the process stay in constant contact to ensure selected dogs are still available at transport time.
“The adoption-guaranteed shelters that we transport to aren’t empty -- they just don't have the large number of puppies and young dogs our Mississippi shelters have,” Snead said. “A look at their Pet-Finder listings shows a lot of older dogs and dogs with special needs.
“It simply takes longer to place those types of dogs, and it’s very important for people to understand that our dogs do not displace those dogs. Our dogs meet a different need,” she said.
The Hollamby family of Westchester, New York found their perfect match in a Homeward Bound dog.
“We adopted our pup in December of 2011, just after our beloved chocolate lab passed away,” said Jill Hollamby. “My daughter Emma was very sad without a dog in the house, so I encouraged her to find a dog in need.”
Emma discovered an adoption event at the Westchester Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SPCA, but told her mom she just wanted to look.
“We arrived around noon, and there was only one cute, but nervous-looking pup left in the adoption tent,” Hollamby said. “My daughter immediately fell in love with his sweet face, and I didn’t have the heart to leave this little puppy behind.”
While finalizing the adoption, they found out their puppy had come all the way from Mississippi.
“He jumped in the car, sat up tall in the back seat and gave Emma a big kiss,” Hollamby said. “We named him Chase, and he is a smart, handsome lab-hound mix with a very funny personality -- he’s a loyal, loving dog and makes us laugh every day.”
Hollamby said Chase loves running through leaf piles and adores snow.
“What I have come to realize with Chase is that there is something extra special about adopting a rescue animal,” she said. “Not only do we have a healthy, happy dog, but there is a special connection knowing we were part of something bigger, thanks to Homeward Bound of Mississippi.
“Without the intervention of Homeward Bound, Chase and thousands of other dogs would not have gotten a second chance at life,” Hollamby said.
To learn more about Homeward Bound of Mississippi, volunteer or make a donation, visit http://www.homewardboundofms.org or email homewardboundofms@gmail.com.
Features
Related Photos
-
Above: Dogs from 10 Mississippi animal shelters and rescues get ready to head north as part of the Homeward Bound project at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Volunteers record the arrival of each dog before it goes to various stations to ensure it is ready for transport to the Northeast, where there is a shortage of puppies available for adoption. Right: Chase, a lab-hound mix from an animal shelter, was adopted by the Hollamby family in New York through the Mississippi Homeward Bound Project in 2011. Submitted photo
Donations needed for puppy transport vehicle
- Features
-
-
City and PRC school work together for flower power
The City of Picayune began a partnership with Pearl River Central High School this past year in a pilot program to supply its own flowers and greenery for flower beds throughout the city. The program, which has been in the works for two years, became a reality as plants were put in the ground in the median area by Exit 6 on Mississippi Highway 43.
-
Miller partners with sponsor for Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
In a press release, MasterChef Season One winner and cookbook author Whitney Miller announced she is partnering in her Myasthenia Gravis (MG) fundraising campaign with a national sponsor for the month of June.
- Vocability Words can set a tone for a situation, alter someone’s perception of an individual or group — in short, there is power in them. The Bible cautions, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue...” — Proverbs in 18:21, ASB. With that in mind, I will be focusing on words, some recently used and some obscure, to test the readers and build on what you already know. There will be theme weeks, for instance next week will focus on words involving wine — for no particular reason! So try your vocabulary skills with the following and see how you score. I’m always open to suggestions for material.
-
Precautions for pet evacuation during natural disasters: Part 1
June is the official start of Hurricane Season. Many people have more than human family members to consider as they make their preparations, they have pet family members also. Maria Diamond of the Picayune Animal Shelter which rescues cats and dogs along with RedRover.org Communications Manager Leili Khalessi have recommendations for pet owners of all types.
-
Beginning: Delayed by deployment
Family and loved ones greeted their soldiers at the National Guard Armory in Picayune on Friday as the guardsmen returned from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. Among those in the crowd were three women holding babies whose husbands had not yet held them because they were deployed.
-
Phares to fill Tufaro’s position
Carol Phares has been selected as the new head librarian for the Pearl River County Library System by the board of Margaret Read Crosby Memorial Library. She also will be head librarian of the Crosby Memorial Library in Picayune. These two libraries make up the Pearl River County System
-
southern gardening
Every spring the home gardener is bombarded with new and improved petunias for the garden and landscape, making it hard to decide which to bring home from the garden center. In my opinion, you simply can’t go wrong selecting any of the Supertunias.
-
arboretum paths
Spring is now in full swing at the Crosby Arboretum, and the show is well on its way toward a crescendo. The blooms of native purple Iris can be seen along the edge of the Piney Woods pond, pink “honeysuckle” azalea is flowering near the Pinecote Pavilion, and the yellow blooms of the pitcher plants — called “buttercups” by local residents — are beginning to carpet the south Savanna Exhibit.
-
USM set to host Children’s Book Festival
One of the most anticipated events celebrating children’s literature, the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at The University of Southern Mississippi, will be held April 10-12 at the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus.
-
Amber Bounds breaks six-year-old state swimming record
The Southern MS Aquatic Club (Mantarays) participated in the Santa’s Best Swim Invitational in Biloxi Nov. 30-Dec. 2. The Mantarays finished 6th out of 22 teams competing from LA, AL, FL, and MS.
- More Features Headlines
-
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
