Located in a rural economically depressed county in south Mississippi, the Pearl River County SPCA (PRC SPCA) was incorporated in June 1986, by a small group of women dedicated to helping the animals of the area. They did what they could to help the struggling, city-operated animal shelter by bringing food, cleaning cages, bathing dogs, and responding to incidences of animal cruelty.In November of 1997, the city lost two of its three shelter employees, and asked the PRC SPCA if they would "temporarily" operate the shelter until the employees could be replaced. By February of 1998, with things running more smoothly under the leadership of the SPCA, a contract was signed, turning over the full operation of the shelter to the SPCA. That contract has continued to the present.In 1998, the shelter handled approximately 3,700 animals, which increased to a high of 5,800 in 2007 because of a growing population in the city and county during that time.The shelter now employs a Shelter Manager, Data Collection Specialist, Cat Room Manager, Receptionist, and four kennel attendants. The Shelter Director is a full-time unpaid volunteer. All dogs and cats are vaccinated and receive de-wormer and flea prevention when they enter the shelter. Dogs are checked for heart worms and cats for feline leukemia. All animals that are returned to owner are micro-chipped. Every adopted dog or cat that leaves the shelter is spayed/neutered, given all the shots appropriate for its age, and has a registered micro-chip. Both dogs and cats are provided with a wealth of information about care and feeding to help the new owner get off to a good start.Volunteers serve in various ways: director, secretary/treasurer; project manager for the spay/neuter and rabies clinic programs; groomer for shelter animals; off-site adoption teams; foster parents; community coordinator; etc.In October of 2006, the first of the PRC SPCA Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs began, and by 2008 the surrender rate started to fall, to a 2015 low of 2,956 animals. Since that auspicious beginning in October 2006, over 35,000 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered, including the altering of all shelter animals before they leave for their "forever" homes.In addition to the spay/neuter programs, the PRC SPCA sponsors two rabies/wellness clinics each year, which includes rabies and the basic wellness immunizations so necessary for the health of privately-owned animals. These shots, provided at a very low cost, are made available to many owners who would otherwise be unable to afford these services. Micro-chips with registration are also offered to help ensure the return of lost animals. We have also begun to offer heartworm testing at these clinics as well.Through the generosity of corporate and individual donors, many improvements have been made at the shelter though the years, with the addition of outside kennels equipped with fans, play yards for the dogs, a well-equipped laundry room, free-standing isolation runs, large multi-cat cages with good ventilation and an outside cat patio was added by a group of volunteers.