Dixie Adoptables started very simply when Matthew and Jessica Roberts moved back home to Lucedale, MS and soon began finding stray animals. They were on the side of the road eating garbage and wandering up after being dumped. They couldn’t turn a blind eye to their suffering, so they started taking them in, feeding them, and getting their medical problems taken care of. After realizing that more and more kept coming in, they began learning to find homes for strays. They built fences, pens, and eventually a completely separate building for animals that they took in. They began working with local veterinarians and businesses to have adoption events and fundraisers. In 2007, realizing that they were going to be rescuing animals long-term, they began the difficult process of filing for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. In 2008, Dixie Adoptables was officially certified as a nonprofit charity organization. Since then Dixie Adoptables has continued to take in abandoned and stray animals and do everything we could to find them new loving homes. Over the years, they have actively sought out other animal rescuers in the community and created a foster program while building up a loyal volunteer staff who are as dedicated to saving animals and finding them new homes as we are. In October, 2016, at the request of the City of Lucedale, Dixie Adoptables took over operations at the Lucedale Animal Shelter. This has given them an opportunity to help more animals and have an even larger public impact. In 2018 Dixie Adoptables began working to start Dixie Express, their own pet transport service to help get adoptable animals to other areas of the country for adoption. Their first pet transport took place in July, 2019 when they transported over 40 dogs and puppies to Massachusetts to their new homes. In 2019, Dixie Adoptables implemented a low cost spay-neuter program for low income county residents which allows them to spay or neuter their pets at a greatly reduced rate. Their commitment continues to be to the animals of George County, MS. They continue to work hard to find new ways to help them and find good, loving homes for animals who would otherwise have no hope. This could not be done without the dedication and hard work of their employees, partners, volunteers and supporters.