A Southwest Mississippi Community College student plans to raise awareness of animal abuse by hosting an Animal Advocacy Day from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McComb Sports Park.
Heather Daw, 19, of Brookhaven, is teaming up with her mother Dawn Daw and officials from area animal shelters to coordinate the free event, complete with refreshments and door prizes.
“We’re encouraging everybody possible to attend and to show legislators how many people support these laws and how important they are,” Dawn Daw said.
Heather said this type of event is usually held as an opportunity to lobby support for the Humane Society of the United States, but since the HSUS doesn’t have a division in southwest Mississippi, she and her mother are taking it upon themselves to speak to the public.
Michelle Lombas of McComb, state council member for the HSUS, said a lot of times people think they have to be attached to an organization to help prevent animal cruelty, but that’s not the case.
“Anyone can help,” she said.
Dawn said attendees can expect to meet with officials from area animal shelters and learn the issues they face, and what they need most from law enforcement.
“We really want the public to come out and see who they can call for help if they see a situation like that,” she said.
Speaking as an independent animal rescuer, Dawn said the situations she comes in contact with are hard enough, but are made harder since there few laws concerning animal safety.
“This is what we deal with every day. We are the front line,” she said.
Heather said a banner will be hung for people to sign and add what kind of anti-cruelty laws they would like to see in Mississippi.
“We know a few people who work with the Humane Society of Mississippi and we’re hoping to give that to them so they can present it to the Capitol,” she said. “It will show legislators that voters are looking for these laws and this is what we want to see.”
“Sometimes that means taking it to Jackson or presenting it to the state leader,” Lombas said. “I think our state director has mentioned setting a display up at the state capitol from time to time and this might be something that can be utilized at that display.”
Heather said a major problem shelters face is that they don’t have a set jurisdiction, so when they receive calls of animal cruelty, law enforcement officers have to first evaluate the situation.
“As long as the animal has some type of food, water and shelter, it’s allowed,” she said, adding that animal control officers have limited resources.
She said laws requiring pet owners to provided adequate shelter for their animals are loose at best.
“There are no standards on what’s considered shelter, and that’s one of our main concerns right now,” Heather said.
