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Best Friends grant brings $92,200 to Rankin County shelter; $40,000 earmarked for new cat house
Summary
A Best Friends representative told the Rankin County Board the nonprofit has provided $92,200 to reduce adoption costs and fund shelter improvements, including $40,000 to build a new cat house and training for staff and animal-control officers.
A Best Friends representative told the Rankin County Board that Best Friends has provided $92,200 in grant funds to assist the county animal shelter, including $40,000 allocated to build a new cat house.
The representative said Best Friends also sponsored training in Orlando for three local employees — Barry Vaughn, Deborah Murphy and David Lechuaga — aimed at improving shelter operations and animal-control work. "We want to be a no kill shelter," the speaker said, describing a goal of reaching a sustained 90% or higher save rate.
Best Friends' involvement, the representative said, includes hands-on education, recommendations on standard operating procedures and community outreach materials to promote pet care. The grant funds were described as intended to lower adoption costs and support construction and operational improvements at the shelter.
A county official thanked Best Friends and noted the county will participate financially in new construction. The representative said the shelter has started a foster program to reduce crowding and reported a recent 71.7% overall save rate, with multiple months above 90% except for one dip in June.
The remarks appeared during the meeting's public-comment portion; no formal board action on the grant or construction authority was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
