This year is a big one for MS Critterz, as they are working on rebuilding the animal shelter’s relationship with the City of Oxford and its residents. Another step in that process will be happening on Saturday with the Inaugural Critter Crawl. 

The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Growler and finish around 9 p.m. at Harrison’s 1810 with stops at The Annex, Saint Leo’s Lounge, Funky’s, Rooster’s and Roundtable. The theme of the pub-crawl is ‘Critters’, with participants encouraged to dress as their favorite animal. Participants can also win prizes for the most creative and best-dressed costumes. There will also be prizes given out at some of the different stops via trivia games and other activities.

“We’re really excited about this event,” MS Critterz representative Caitlan Covington said. “Since we are a new organization, we have been trying to find events for the community that people will look forward to for years to come. We have had so much fun planning this event and can’t wait to see how the community reacts to it.” 

Covington is serving as MS Critterz’ organizer for the pub-crawl. 

Since taking over as Lafayette County’s only no-kill shelter last fall, MS Critterz has been working to improve their input and output numbers. They have also limited the animals they will accept to Lafayette County only. During last month’s Board of Alderman meeting, an update from the shelter was provided. In the months of February and March, the shelter took in over 300 animals, adopted out 147 and transported 104 animals to other shelters around the country in an effort to find them new homes. 

To participate in the Critter Crawl a wristband must be purchased, which will cost $20. Shirts can also be purchased for $20 and there is an option to buy the wristband and a shirt for $35. All can be purchased through the event’s Eventbrite page or on MS Critterz’ event Facebook page.

All of the money collected from the Critter Crawl will be going towards future community events such as this weekend’s as well as new amenities the shelter wants to provide for their animals.

“We have many projects planned in the coming months,” Covington said. “We are hoping to make some additions to quarantine, purchase more puppy banks, put the finishing touches on our new free-roaming cat room, purchase a shipping container for storage, purchase a desktop computer for our adoption-transport office and paint the shelter.” 

MS Critterz is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are closed Sundays and Mondays.