The national vodka brand Tito’s and the Humane Society of South Mississippi are working together this year on a mission: Finding homes for big dogs.
The groups hope a fundraising campaign that begins Friday will raise money and awareness for the largest dogs in South Mississippi. Smaller dogs are often adopted quickly, but big dogs sometimes sit for months waiting for homes.
Donations, the groups said, will fund medical care, behavioral and foster programs for large-breed dogs that will prepare them to become part of families on the Mississippi Coast.
“There’s great need,” said Lori West, CEO of the Humane Society of South Mississippi. There are anywhere between 380 to 400 animals in shelter this time of year, she said, and about 200 of those animals are large dogs.
To find those dogs homes, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is matching up to $60,000 in donations through the end of the year.
“Dogs have always been a part of what we do,” said Lindsey Bates, senior director of philanthropy at Tito’s, which bills itself as “vodka for dog people.”
“We love dogs so much,” she said.
Bates said the company has worked with the Humane Society of South Mississippi for a few years. The brand also partners with nonprofit groups around the country. She hopes others will donate enough so Tito’s can match $60,000 -- which could bring $120,000 to support large-breed dogs in South Mississippi.
It is harder to find homes for large dogs because they give birth to more puppies, who are hard to keep track of and often become strays, West said. The strays are unvaccinated and untrained until they end up in shelters, where staff tries to ready them for adoption.
Many people on the Coast also adopted dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic, West said. But now that the puppies are older and owners have returned to offices, the shelter sees more intakes when big dogs become too hard for owners to care for.
The campaign kicks-off with a party on Friday. The Humane Society is hosting a Studio 54-themed disco night at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi and hopes the annual event will also spread awareness about the need to adopt larger dogs.
The event will have music and a live-auction of the cutest animals the shelter has to offer.
“It’s just a celebration,” West said.
How to help
The donation campaign launches August 16.
To donate, purchase tickets to Friday’s event, view raffle items or register for the auction, visit the BIG LOVE Project’s donation page .
The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hard Rock Casino. Those interested in bidding on pets or silent auction items can also do so online and can find information through the Humane Society’s Facebook page .
To see a list of adoptable pets, visit the Humane Society of South Mississippi’s website .
Information on adopting, fostering or volunteering for the Humane Society of South Mississippi can be found on its website .
Most Popular
Comments / 0