Vassallo: Help is on the Way to Save the Animals!

(left to right)
Natascha Techen, Jenn Petermann, Debbie Jones and Jody Henderson

Natascha Techen, Debbie Jones, Jody Henderson and Jenn Petermann have formed an unofficial coalition to save excess dogs and cats unable to find homes in Lafayette and Panola Counties.

Techen is President of Nine Lives Cat Rescue in Oxford. Petermann is the Director of Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society. Jones and Henderson are affiliated with North Mississippi Animal Rescue (NMAR) in Sardis.

The four ladies identified an organization in Andover, Massachusetts, the Great Dog Rescue, that referred them to a second organization in Sterling, Massachusetts that focuses on relocating cats and kittens. The time and cost of transportation are the current issues the ladies are dealing with. Up to this point, they have been successful in saving countless lives of these animals.

Throughout New England the laws and regulations regarding keeping animals are much stricter than in Mississippi. These laws require that these animals have to be spayed/neutered and households could only have a limited number. As a result cats, kittens and stray dogs or even certain breeds are rarities. This creates a great opportunity for the four ladies to team up and send animals up north to give them the gift of life.

Photo courtesy Robert Jordan

Because of a recent out of proportion influx of kittens with 25 now awaiting shipment in Lafayette and Panola counties, donations are urgently needed to help with the cost to transport which is $100 per animal. June 27 is the next scheduled ship date, but unless the ladies can find donors for $2,500 the 25 kittens will miss this amazing opportunity for a new beginning.

One rule that the New England insists upon is that each cat be fostered for a minimum of two weeks prior to sending. Finding foster homes willing to accept the cats and kittens prior to shipping is another challenge for the team. The drive to Massachusetts is 26 hours, and drivers are also sought after.

The goal for the coalition is to identify donors willing to contribute with the shipping costs of the current 25 kittens. The main group goal though is to eventually make this a monthly transport, hence the need of a reliable cargo van with room to stand up in devoted to this transport and cause.

Donations to assist in this massive exodus can be made either by going to the website or via PayPal at 9Livescatrescue.org or mailing a check to: P.O. Box 2006 Oxford 38655. Should $2500 or more be received in the next 10 days, 25 kittens will live to become cats…maybe not on Broadway, but New England is nearby!

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.