Press Release

 

Humane Society of South Mississippi Set to Unveil New Wag 'n' Train

 

ASPCA-Sponsored Community Outreach Vehicle Comes to Gulfport-Biloxi

October 13, 2008

ASPCA Media Contact

NEW YORK, October 13, 2008 - The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that, as part of its ASPCA® Mission: Orange™ campaign, the Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) will unveil its new Wag ‘n’ Train community outreach vehicle during the highly anticipated pet parade at Jonestoberfest at Jones Park on October 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by the ASPCA, the HSSM Wag ‘n’ Train will enable small groups of volunteers to visit various neighborhoods throughout Gulfport-Biloxi to talk to residents about the importance of spay/neuter, hand out pet care supplies, provide guidance about pet behavioral issues, give grants towards medical services for pets, and let them know what HSSM has to offer them as pet parents and animal lovers. The volunteers of the Wag ‘n’ Train program have received specific training in the areas of pet health, pet behavior, micro-chipping, spay/neuter, and specialized communication skills for community outreach.

“The Wag ‘n’ Train truly is a grassroots movement in the community,” said Christine Harris, Manager of Humane Education for HSSM. “Thanks to the ASPCA, we can literally go door-to-door in-person, and we are hopeful that we’ll be able to help the members of this community live happier, healthier lives with their pets.”

“We are thrilled that the Humane Society of South Mississippi is expanding its work once again, reaching out to the pets and people in the community,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “While they of course want to increase successful adoptions at their shelter, we applaud them for also tackling important issues like pet overpopulation and animal health in and around south Mississippi.”

In 2007, the ASPCA, in partnership with HSSM, launched “ASPCA® Mission: Orange™” in Gulfport/Biloxi—a collaborative effort to create a “humane community” by providing positive outcomes for at-risk cats and dogs (i.e. shelter animals). ASPCA Mission: Orange, which is taking place nationwide in partnership with select “target” communities—including Gulfport/Biloxi—addresses those animals most at risk by including and collaborating with leading community agencies and organizations to implement programs that increase adoptions, spay-neuter, and returns to owner, and help decrease euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs.

For more information about ASPCA Mission: Orange, please visit www.aspca.org/missionorange. For more information about the unveiling of the Wag ‘n’ Train, please contact Christine Harris, Manager of Humane Education for HSSM at 228-863-4394 ext. 103 or humane@hssm.org.

###

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

 

Related Releases

View More »