662-292-0922
With his mother's whereabouts unknown, this orphan kitten was raised by female cat abandoned with a fractured leg. She had three kittens with her when abandoned. They vanished before we could help them, and their fate is unknown. Spay/neuter surgery prevents this suffering.
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Our mission is to reduce the overpopulation and suffering of cats by providing free or very low-cost spay/neuter (animal birth control surgery) to cats living with low-income owners and feral cat colony caregivers. It's the proactive solution to animal overpopulation and suffering. Spay/neuter is more cost-effective, humane, and is less expensive than trying to rescue our way out of cat overpopulation. The needle and thread of spay surgery prevents the use of a needle of a different kind. Call 662-292-0922 to see if you qualify. |
Found wandering alone on busy highway when she was 3-weeks old, this cat was spayed and now lives with the person who picked her up.
Spay/neuter surgery prevents litters of kittens who wander alone and hungry, and for whom there likely will be no homes.
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- The Homeless Animals Relief Project, Inc.,(HARP) is a small nonprofit 501(c)3 charity located in Tate County in north Mississippi. Begun in 1997 and incorporated in 2000, we've provided free or very low cost spay/neuter surgery (animal birth control surgery) to over 15,000 pets. We focus our efforts on spaying and neutering, not rescue, because "fixing" cats STOPS the production of unwanted litters and homeless cats who then require rescue, homes, medical care, sheltering, and euthanasia when homes are not found. Fixing pets dramatically reduces the need for rescue. Spay/neuter is the SUSTAINABLE and cost-effective solution to animal suffering.
- Because of the ever increasing number of well funded dog rescues in our area, and the overwhelming needs and rapid reproduction of cats, we are focused on cats exclusively at this time. We are not currently offering services to dogs. We recommend SpayMemphis.org at 901-324-3202 for dogs if your area humane society or dog rescue says they will not help you get your dog fixed.
- We have no paid staff. You will be assisted by an unpaid volunteer when you call or email. HARP receives NO government funds or assistance, not state, local, or federal. We rely upon grants and donations to pay for these surgeries, and the generosity of veterinarians in offering this lifesaving care to cats. The number of cats we can help correlates with the amount of donations or grants we receive.
- Qualifying for our free or very low-cost spay/neuter program requires that the cat owner receive public assistance, be disabled, or have special financial circumstances. Proof of income is required. We do make exceptions on a case by case basis, so please call if you are unsure if you qualify.
- We are unable to offer free or discounted spay/neuter surgery to cats adopted from shelters or rescues. ALL responsible shelters and rescues spay or neuter cats before releasing them, and our Board guidelines forbid us from supporting the illogical practice of adopting out fertile cats.
- We do not have a clinic that is accessible to the public; our mobile unit is parked on private property. When we are working in our mobile unit a volunteer will meet you in Senatobia, MS, and transport the cat(s) to surgery for you. When we schedule surgery at private veterinary clinics, we may meet you in Senatobia or ask that you drive the cat(s) to that clinic yourself.
- HARP does NOT own or operate a shelter for unwanted or homeless animals. Regrettably, we cannot take in unwanted animals. Call your local municipal shelter or your elected officials for help.
- As our goal is to stop reproduction of kittens, we want both female and male cats to come for surgery. A male cat can father dozens of kittens every year, while a female will produce about 3-15 kittens per year.
- Cats can come into heat as early as 14 weeks of age, so it is crucial to get kittens in for surgery by five months of age. We can safely spay or neuter kittens as young as 8 weeks with a weight of 2-pounds. Kittens fixed before they go to a new home will never be a part of the cat overpopulation situation.
- Cats can be safely and humanely spayed even if they've been bred. If you're unsure if your cat has been bred, give us a call. We may be able to get her to a veterinarian for and exam and professional advice.
- If you're caring for feral (wild, unsocialized) cats, we can loan humane traps (deposit required) and offer deeply discounted spay/neuter surgery. We provide a free 3-year rabies vaccination at the time of surgery, along with tipping the left ear of the cat for quick identification as a sterile cat. See our feral cat page for more.
- As we are a tiny group, we do not have volunteers available to pick up, transport, recover, or trap cats for you.
- While we are not a rescue group, if you know of a cat who is injured or suffering, please call. We will do what we can to stop the suffering.
