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Local advocates urge Hancock County to expand spay-neuter, TNR and licensing support for county shelter
Summary
Friends of the (recorded as "Bridal") Shelter and other speakers urged the board to support expanded spay-neuter, trap-neuter-release programs, volunteer recruitment, possible dog licensing and additional funding for Hancock County's animal shelter.
Two public commenters representing a volunteer group identified in the record as Friends of the Bridal Shelter and a resident, Carol Stromats, urged county support for expanded spay-and-neuter, trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs, volunteer recruitment and consideration of a dog licensing program.
Mary Ann Mays (identified in the meeting record as a member of the Friends group) described the group's focus on spay and neuter and on minimizing euthanasia. She provided statistics she attributed to a statewide study showing Mississippi aggregate shelter save rates and said Friends provides vouchers to reduce euthanasia. She recommended the county promote spay/neuter through public service announcements and billboards, recruit veterinarians for programs, increase funding and consider dog licensing (an example fee schedule was discussed in general terms).
Carol Stromats (who identified herself as a local resident of Bay St. Louis) described population growth among unspayed/unneutered animals and urged outreach into schools and community awareness campaigns; she said she had provided the board with licensing examples from other states.
Board members thanked the speakers and discussed increased awareness measures. The board did not vote on a new funding appropriation or ordinance at the Feb. 18 meeting; speakers and staff said additional support for Friends' spay/neuter vouchers and outreach could reduce the county's shelter euthanasia rate over time.
Why it matters: public advocates framed spay/neuter and TNR as the principal tools to reduce euthanasia and shelter intake over time; county support or funding would be one of several options to accelerate those programs.
What remains: no formal county appropriation or ordinance was approved Feb. 18; speakers offered to help with school and community outreach and said they would forward supporting materials to county offices.
