As advocates for animals, we must share our knowledge and experience with the unsuspecting public, overwhelmed law enforcement, a bogged-down judicial system, and extremely busy legislators, who all work to protect and meet the needs of humans. In the Deep South, there is also an imperative need for laws and regulations to protect members of animal species whom some humans choose to exploit, abuse, and kill.

Our Justice for Animals Campaign works tirelessly to open people’s eyes to the undebatable evidence that violence perpetrated on members of fellow species is almost always an indicator of future violence to come toward animals including people, and that this knowledge can be implemented as a strategy to effectively reduce animal and human abuse and suffering before it occurs. Many animal abusers have a history of domestic violence and other crimes, so in some cases, an abuser’s propensity for violence is indicated by their previous actions and intent, and therefore, can be prevented by appropriate and consistent sentencing for their crimes.

Our campaign is working for the passage of municipal, county, and state laws and regulations at the base level in one of the toughest regions in our country. We hope that if the Deep South enacts good sense legislation to protect animals, it will lead to the adoption of these same laws in other regions lacking genuine animal protection.

We are also engaged with fellow advocates and organizations to aid law enforcement in gaining evidence needed for the arrest and maximum sentencing of offenders. We are watching several indictments for despicable, violent acts against animals to have an impact on court proceedings in municipalities and counties in Mississippi.

On September 24, 2018, we had hoped the Carroll County Board of Supervisors would pass our tethering ordinance to protect the thousands of dogs tethered in our county. Sadly, after working with the Board for eight months, its members decided not to pass the tethering ordinance. This ordinance would have saved animals from being tied up and left outside to face extreme temperatures and weather, lack of access to food and water, and other threats.

The stumbling block for many lawmakers is the cost, not the legitimacy, of enacting a new ordinance. The anticipated costs would impact the already over-burdened county and state budgets, which is a primary cause of new laws not being passed.

Although neither Carroll County nor Montgomery County could absorb the costs of enforcing the tethering ordinance, we are eagerly awaiting news regarding similarly worded proposed ordinances from the cities of Bruce, Natchez, and Winona.

We are determined to fight for justice for animals, no matter the cost. Please make a donation to help us continue our life-saving work.