Miss Yazoo County Magnolia State, Anna Katherine Parker, will be collecting donations and pet care supplies the entire month of June for FLY Animal Rescue.
Parker's platform for 2017 is "Stamping out Animal Cruelty" and she, along with her rescue dog Snoopy, is working to promote awareness in and around Yazoo County.
"Animals have always been a huge part of my life," said Parker, "I chose FLY Animal Rescue to benefit this year just because they have given so much to the community that they definitely deserve to be given back to. I am asking all of my friends to help this worthy organization by purchasing an extra bag of dog or cat food or other supplies and dropping them off by Parker Builders during the month of June."
Necessary items for the pet supply drive also include bleach and wipes with bleach; old sheets, towels, and comforters to be used for kennel covers, transport, and bedding; collars of all sizes, leashes, bowls, toys, treats, and anything else that may be of use.
Items can be dropped off at Parker Builders, lo
cated at 1807 Jerry Clower Blvd, across from KFC in Yazoo City.
FLY Animal Rescue is a foster based program, where rescue dogs are kept and cared for by individuals until they are fully rehabilitated and can be adopted by a forever family.
Donations from this supply drive will be given to foster families to help maintain the needs of these rescued animals.
Danielle Boatner, president of FLY Animal Rescue, says that this supply drive is a huge blessing to their program.
"I was thrilled!" said Boatner, "It is such a blessing to be recognized. It warms my heart to know that somebody thought to use us as a platform."
FLY Animal Rescue started out as a way to help deal with the overpopulation of stray dogs in the city. There were so many dogs being picked up all over Yazoo City that Boatner realized that something needed to be done, because many of the animals that were picked up were being transported to Jackson for euthanization due to over crowding.
"Its a lack of education about spaying and neutering pets, and its an overpopulation issue as well." said Boatner. "We try to help people who can’t afford to spay and neuter their animals, and try our best to help keep the numbers down."
FLY Animal Rescue has gotten a lot of media attention over the last few weeks, even making it as far as the New York Post, after they rescued a stray puppy named "Warrior" from a pit of tar near the Yazoo County Barn.
As a foster-based program, Boatner says that they really need more people to volunteer as foster families to help care for and rehabilitate animals like "Warrior" and other animals who may have experienced different forms of cruelty or abandonment within the county.
"We need people who will foster these dogs," said Boatner, "We provide everything: crates, food, vet bills, and even transportation. All we ask fosters to do is provide love and care until the animal can be adopted."
Families who are interesting in fostering for FLY Animal Rescue should contact Danielle Boatner at 662-571-3547 to fill out a foster application.
Individuals are interested in donating funds to help support FLY Animal Rescue, checks can be made out to FLY Animal Rescue and mailed to P.O. Box 225, Benton, MS, 39039, or funds can be donated directly into FLY Animal Rescue's account at Bank Plus.
FLY Animal Rescue also has an ongoing account at Yazoo Animal Hospital to pay for vet bills for foster animals such as "Warrior" who have been rescued. Donations may be made toward those bills as well by calling 662-746-8242.
Boatner says that she is thankful for all the support they have received from the community and says that anyone can help make a big difference, even if it's just providing love and care from our own backyards.
