GSDAR is in the early stages or organization. We are putting together a list of people who want to help and serve as volunteers. This may later also be used for fund raising. If you want to help please contact Terry.

As of Dec. 2009, GSDAR is NOT a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, hence members or contributors to our vital cause cannot qualify for a tax deduction. However, we somehow need to raise $750.00 to cover the application fee for a 501(c)(3) tax exemption. Then we will be able to complete the application for exemption as a charitable organization which is required by the State of Mississippi prior to doing any fund raising as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity. Until this is done GSDAR is NOT classified as a 501(c)(3) charity; we are simply a non-profit organization and grassroots effort, so any membership fees, gifts or contributions would NOT qualify as tax deductible with the IRS or state. We will notify everyone one we get the 501(c)(3) tax exemption completed.

With regard to making any contributions to GSDAR prior to this time, please note that you may use the PayPal button to make a donation and this will NOT qualify as a tax deductible donation. All funds received initially will be used to get a 501(c)(3) classification. Once GSDAR completed the application with the State of Mississippi for exemption as a charitable organization, this will also be posted.

I was contacted recently by someone whose mother died and she wanted to know if GSDAR could be listed so people could make donations in her dear mother's name. In this regard I recommend that people establish a family name trust with their bank and collect donations in that individual's name. I believe it is legal in Mississippi to collect donations in a person's name in this manner, which is often done if a family has a tragedy and needs financial assistence. If you then want to make a gift to GSDAR via PayPal with the understanding that GSDAR does not yet have a 501(c)(3) classification and is NOT yet listed as an exempt charity in Mississippi, I believe that would be legal, but you can NOT claim a tax deduction yet. But please DO NOT make any listings that mislead people to think GSDAR is a charity. GSDAR is a private, grassroots effort and does NOT yet have a 501(c)(3) exemption, nor does GSDAR yet have an exemption as a charitable organization. We need to get $750.00 first so we can make the IRS application; also if a lawyer would like to volunteer and donate his or her services to help in this regard this would be appreciated -- but even a lawyer cannot get a tax deduction for helping GSDAR yet.

However, anyone can make a donation via PayPal using the secure button below, understanding that GSDAR does NOT yet have a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status; hency, you cannot get a tax deduction. Hopefully this will change in the near future once we get the 501(c)(3) classification. The last time I checked this cost $750.00 and involved filing a very long and complicated form with the IRS -- and at the time I didn't even have enough paper to print out the form it was so long! So if anyone wants to contribute some printer paper that would also be welcomed.

To make a secure donation on-line via PayPal, please click on the GSDAR logo below:

As stated above, GSDAR is NOT a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization so any membership fees, gifts or donations are not tax deductible yet. However, we still need volunteers. If someone wants to help putting together a list of people who are concerned about animal rights and homeless animals, please contact Terry. Although will not be doing a membership or fund raising drive in Mississippi until after we get a 501(c)(3) classification and exemption with the State of Mississippi, we still will be working to organize, to find volunteers, and doing such things as getting a mailing list together. We really need volunteers to help in any way they would like and are alwys open to suggestions.

GSDAR recently partnered with a group of animal lovers who are working to establish an animal rescue and sanctuary in Guyana, in South America. There is a desperate need for animal rescue in Guyana as the poverty level is very high which contributes to an urgent need. We are helping establish a not-for-profit company in Guyana that can spearhead animal rescue efforts. If you are interested in this project please visit Animal Rescue & Sanctuary - Guyana -.

I gave a presentation to the Quitman Board of Alderman and urged that they adopt a good animal control ordinance. The present law does not provide for either an animal shelter or animal control officer. Hence the City of Quitman has no effective animal control in place. I was told by the Mayor of Quitman, Eddie Fulton, who is very much concerned with the issue of animal control, that Clarke County would not help fund animal control and that the city had only budgete $3,000 for animal control, hardly a drop in the bucket of what is needed. The mayor also told me that the City of Quitman was $40,000.00 in debt because it has gotten over paid after hurricane Katrina, having filed duplicate claims; hence money needs to be repaid, meaning there is absolutely nothing for animal control.

This emphasizes the need to the everyone to support GSDAR and a private sector effort to work to rescue homeless animals. Currently about the only animal control in Clarke County is the sheriff being permitted to go out and shooting dogs! In fact, the law in Quitman permits the shooting of dogs or other animals which is not exactly humane destruction of animals.

Anyone who is interested in helping with the rescue of homeless animals in Quitman should contact Terry. I'd like to get together a network of people, concerned citizens, and animal lovers, to work to rescue homeless animals and find them forever homes. Certainly that would be a better way to deal with homeless animals in Quitman and Clarke County than to shoot them.