COLUMBUS — Several hundred people and many of their pets gathered at the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam on Saturday to enjoy country music and support the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society.
Dubbed “Max”s Dog Days of Mississippi,” the concert got its name from Max, a Chihuahua who spent the first nine years of his life in a rabbit hut at a puppy mill in Senatobia. Trip Richmond, a musician from Bigbee, and his girlfriend, Kim Slaughter, rescued Max two years ago and treated him like part of the family.
“We gave him a life he”d never had,” Richmond said. “He slept in the bed with us and ate like a king.”
Max died in February, so the pair organized the event to memorialize him and to raise funds for the Humane Society”s plans to build a new facility to replace the old shelter and the rundown trailer that serves as its office. The old facility was built in the early 1970s on a landfill. Now, it”s sinking into the ground.
“We”re spending way too much money trying to keep the animals cool when it”s just going out the cracks,” said Karen Johnwick, the director of the Humane Society. “The new building will provide space for more animals and safer environment.”
The new shelter will be built on donated land across from the Humane Society”s current site at 131 Airline Road. Bryan Brown, a local architect, donated plans for the building, which will have a center for animal adoption, a spaying and neutering facility, and ventilated sections for dogs and cats.
Several bands played the show, including Mulberry Road, Jamie Davis and Soul Gravy, Crossin” Dixon, Jeff Bates, Mark Collie and the Trip Richmond Band.
Staff members from the veterinary school at Mississippi State University came with several of their friends to contribute to the Humane Society.
“We wanted to support the new building they”re trying to get,” said C.J. Coleman, a medical records assistant.
Her friend, Heather Patterson, was singing along to a Miranda Lambert song that was being covered by the band Mulberry Road.
“I mean, how many times do you get an outdoor concert around here?”
Lee and Mike Burgess brought Sam and Gracie, two of their 12 rescued dogs, to the concert.
“This is their first big night out, so they”re nervous,” Lee Burgess said. “They”re homebodies like us. We don”t come out much except for Humane Society Events.”
Burgess added that she was pleased with the concert and the natural amphitheater created by the sloped hillside where the audience sat on blankets and lawn chairs.
“I think it”s gorgeous,” she said. “You couldn”t ask for anything better.”
Tickets were purchased in advance for $25 or at the gate for $40. Before the concert, the Humane Society had raised about $500,000 of its million-dollar goal. Johnwick, the director of the shelter, said they still need more support and hope to break ground in the fall.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
