A group of Oxford residents is organizing a grassroots effort to tackle the area’s growing animal overpopulation crisis by advocating for stricter spay and neuter laws and increased access to low-cost sterilization services.

The effort began earlier this year when 9Lives Cat Rescue president Natasha Scott raised concerns about the issue on a local Facebook group, prompting a conversation among residents.

Brooke Holland, a University of Mississippi senior studying integrated marketing communications, was among those who joined the discussion.

“We started a group chat in the summer, but it didn’t really take off until recently,” Holland said. “A few weeks ago, Sherry Lambert reached out to see if I was interested in doing more with Laws for Paws, and that’s when we began formalizing our efforts.”

The group, which includes Holland, Lambert, Amanda Haley, and Emily Slocum, has since created a public Facebook group called Laws for Paws to build community support and is taking steps to register as a nonprofit organization.

“We’ve already submitted our articles of incorporation and created bylaws,” Holland said. “Once we’re officially a 501(c)(3), we can start fundraising and collaborating with local veterinary clinics to provide vouchers for low-cost spay and neuter surgeries.”

Mississippi faces significant challenges with animal overpopulation. Shelters are overcrowded, and many animals are euthanized due to limited resources. While some local spay and neuter laws exist, enforcement is inconsistent, and many areas lack the necessary infrastructure to address the issue effectively.

The group’s advocacy draws inspiration from Illinois, a state with comprehensive spay and neuter policies.

“Coming from Illinois, I was shocked by the overpopulation here,” said Holland, originally from the St. Louis area. “In Oxford, we only have one animal control officer, and everyone—shelters, officers, veterinarians — are overwhelmed.”

The group will be researching the best laws to implement the following goals locally and statewide:

• Mandatory spaying and neutering for all pets unless exempted due to health reasons or licensed breeding.
• Stronger enforcement mechanisms for existing sterilization laws.
• Subsidies or support for low-cost spay/neuter services to make compliance accessible to all pet owners.

The group’s immediate goals include building a larger following, securing funding, and increasing public awareness. They are exploring partnerships with local businesses, planning donation drives, and encouraging residents to sign a petition on Change.org to show city officials the demand for change.

“Our primary focus is advocating for stronger laws,” Holland said. “But we also want to ensure resources are available for people to comply with those laws.”

For more information or to get involved, visit https://lawsforpawsms.wixsite.com/lawsforpawsms or follow Laws for Paws on Facebook and Instagram.

To sign the petition, visit https://www.change.org/lawsforpawsms.