A Leflore County Humane Society board member’s pet project is now underway, and she’s excited.
The board member, Ashley Scott of Greenwood, volunteers regularly at Leflore Humane’s shelter on the corner of Baldwin Road and Cypress Avenue. The 9,250-square-foot shelter, which opened in early 2020, has been full to capacity for months, but animals — often sick, pregnant or both — continue to be dumped outside the shelter at night for the staff to discover in the morning.
And although the shelter kennels dogs and cats where they can go outdoors, puppies and cats that need medical attention or special care occupy some rooms without outside access. Scott decided to change the situation, and the first step toward construction started Saturday when a concrete contractor began laying out the sections where concrete will be poured, she said. The area covers around 12 by 30 feet.
“With a lot of these animals, if you let them outside in a large enclosure, it really makes a difference in their well-being,” Scott explained.
Their spirits lift, and they become more attractive to people who come to the shelter in search of a kitten, puppy, cat or dog, she said. “A happy animal is an adoptable animal,” Scott observed.
So far, Scott’s building campaign has raised $5,600 in donations from the public, and this turned out to be the same amount as the concrete contractor’s quote. Her father, Timmy Lott of Greenwood, had asked the contractor to come by and provide an estimate. Scott is thrilled that enough has been raised to begin construction.
Of course, more money will be required for fencing and awnings, and that’s turned into something endearing between Scott and her husband, Solon.
Their presents to one another are being received in the form of mutual pledges to the building project.
For example, the Scotts recently celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary. “This happened to coincide with when I needed money for building this stuff,” she explained.
Still, contributions are needed. To donate, contact Scott at the shelter, 662-453-8085.
The community is also being invited to participate in Leflore Humane’s fourth annual Witches Ride, a fundraiser that will include a parade of bicycle riding “witches” on Oct. 28. For more information and tickets, check out www.leflorehumanesociety.org.
- Contact Susan Montgomery at 581-7241 or smontgomery@gwcommonwealth.com.
