The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter were very friendly at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman, where the group presented a check for $50,000.

Missy Arnold said the money is earmarked for specific needs at the city’s new shelter.

“The Friends of the City of Vicksburg Animal Shelter would like to present this check in the amount of $50,000 to go toward the new animal shelter,” Arnold said. “And the money is supposed to go toward the cat cages.”

Arnold said the money is the result of fundraising efforts and thanked local residents for their continued support.

“We want to thank also the businesses in Vicksburg, and also our citizens, for making this happen,” she said.

The City of Vicksburg in March approved a new phase of work on the new shelter, which was originally slated for completion in February. 

The shelter’s construction and pending completion marks the end of a multi-year search for a new animal shelter. The current shelter is more than 50 years old and sits on a tract of land on Old Mill Road that has been subject to frequent flooding issues.  

The new shelter will be located on U.S. Highway 61 South.