Last September, we launched the Justice for Animals Campaign to improve life for the animals of Mississippi and all throughout the Deep South. We are thrilled to announce that our friends at Mississippi Spay and Neuter have now expanded their efforts for Mississippi’s animals in need by founding the Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi (AAIM).

We have long worked alongside Mississippi Spay and Neuter to  greatly impact the lives of thousands of Mississippi animals and their guardians. We were honored to be invited to speak at the first conference of the Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi last week.

Key speaker Senator Angela Burks Hill, of District 40, led the 2011 legislative effort to pass a felony bill to protect dogs and cats, and continues her advocacy to see the passed legislation amended to the original intent to make a first offense aggravated animal cruelty charge a felony.

Sheriff Martin Pacer of Warren County (a huge animal advocate who personally responds to calls where snakes are reported so they aren’t killed) spoke brilliantly of the need for society to embrace animal protection laws and for people to understand the intrinsic value of all animal lives.

Our Justice for Animals Campaign Director Doll Stanley shared her 24 years of experience in cruelty investigations, courtroom knowledge, and her understanding of Mississippi State Statutes and their failure to protect animals from violence and neglect. Stanley offered to hold coalition meetings, cruelty investigation classes, and workshops on the application of laws from federal to municipal for the greatest impact in any region of the state.

In the past month In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign has shared the campaign’s “Animals, Our Neighbors and Companions” presentation with over 400 children by attending the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta region meetings and has held coalition meetings in northern Mississippi, most recently in Tupelo, Mississippi, on July 28.

Like minded organizations working together and drawing in humane societies, law enforcement, judges, legislators, and fellow citizens will forge a future with truly just and humane laws that are enforced –  reflecting true justice for animals.