The Hubcity Newsletter
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🐶 Seeing Strays Everywhere? It's Not Your Imagination! 🐶

🐶 Seeing Strays Everywhere? It's Not Your Imagination! 🐶

🚪 Pets Are Being Abandoned At Record Numbers! 🚪

August 25, 2024

What A Beautiful Day In The Hub City!

We promised we didn’t forget about you! 😅 I know most of you are accustomed to receiving our newsletter in the morning but we are testing out different hours.

In Today’s “HubCity Newsletter”:

This Is Not New But Covid Changed Everything 😷
Shelters Are Overflowing! 🐕️
Inflation Taking Its Toll 📈
Time To Reflect 🧠
Weekly Events For The Kids 🛝
Weekly Events For The Whole Family 🎡

Read Time: 3 - 5 Minutes

Let’s Get Started!

In recent months, you may have noticed an increase in reports about abandoned pets or animal shelters pleading for help as they reach capacity. Unfortunately, this isn’t just an isolated issue; it’s a nationwide crisis that has been building for years. But what exactly has led us to this point? And what can we do as a community to address it?

😷 This Is Not New But Covid Changed Everything 😷

Animal abandonment is not a new problem. For decades, shelters have been grappling with the heartbreaking reality of strays, abandonment and surrendered pets. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this issue in ways not anticipated.

During the height of the pandemic, many people found themselves isolated and lonely due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. As a result, there was a surge in pet adoptions, with millions of people bringing home a new furry friend.

While this wave of adoptions initially seemed like a positive outcome of an otherwise difficult time, it also led to a significant increase in “pandemic pets.”

People adopted animals on a whim, seeking companionship without fully considering the long-term responsibilities that come with pet ownership. When life began to return to normal, some of these new pet owners found themselves unprepared or unwilling to care for their pets, leading to a surge in animal abandonment.

In our local community there are posts almost daily on Facebook from people posting about finding stray pets at Walmart, near busy intersections and quiet neighborhoods.

The realization that a pet requires significant time, energy, and resources have all contributed to a rise in pet surrenders. What began as a temporary comfort during the pandemic has, for many, turned into an overwhelming responsibility.

🐕️🐈‍⬛ Shelters Are Overflowing 🐈️ 🐕️

Across the United States, animal shelters are sounding the alarm. They are seeing an influx of not only stray animals but also surrendered pets.

Locally, the Jackson Animal Care Center announced earlier this year that they had reached capacity and could no longer accept new animals. This is a heartbreaking reality for many shelters, where space is limited, and resources are stretched thin.

The increase in pet surrenders can be attributed to several factors, including the aforementioned pandemic pets, but also broader economic challenges. Shelters are facing a perfect storm of increased demand and limited resources, leading to a crisis that requires immediate attention and action from the community.

📈 Inflation Taking Its Toll 📈

Inflation is another significant factor contributing to the rise in pet surrenders. As the cost of living continues to rise, many families are struggling to make ends meet. This financial strain is forcing some pet owners to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender their pets because they can no longer afford to care for them.

The cost of pet ownership has increased across the board.

Pet Food
Veterinary Care
Bedding
AND
Pet Toys

have all seen prices rise year over year. The cost of unexpected veterinary care can be astronomical, and for those without pet insurance or savings, the only option may be to surrender their beloved pet.

🧠 Time To Reflect 🧠

Here are some of the biggest factors to consider before getting a pet:

Getting a pet is not a decision that should be made on a whim. It’s a commitment that requires careful consideration and a long-term plan.
Before bringing a pet into your home, it’s crucial to have an honest conversation with everyone involved. Do you have the time to walk, feed, and play with your pet every day? Can you afford the ongoing costs of food, veterinary care, and other supplies? Are you prepared for the possibility of unexpected expenses, such as medical emergencies?
Changing Needs! Puppies and kittens require a lot of attention and training, while older pets may need special care and accommodations. Make sure you are ready for the commitment of pet ownership for the entirety of the pet’s life.

As a community, we should all be advocates for responsible pet ownership, and ensure that every pet has a loving and stable home. If you’re considering getting a pet, please keep all of these factors in mind that we your not adding to the growing problem.

Please take a brief moment to answer our poll this week!

Have you noticed the increase in stray pets since Covid?

Alright, here is your curated list of events for Monday, August 26th - Sunday, September 1st.

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The Kid Zone
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, August 26th - Sunday, September 1st

Monday, August 26th

Story Time 📖
Date: Monday, August 19th
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Tuesday, August 27th

Light Years from Andromeda 🔭
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Wednesday, August 28th

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Wednesday, August 28th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Thursday, August 29th

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Thursday, August 29th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Thursday, August 29th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Friday, August 30th

Lunch & Learn for Special Needs Adults 🫂
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: MHDS Inc. - Administration
Price: Free

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Light Years from Andromeda 🔭
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

LTK (Love & Truth Kids) Guys Night 🎮️
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Love & Truth Church
Price: Free
Additional Details: A Fun Filled Night For The Boys & Their Dads! Join Us For A Fun Night Of Video Games (Truck), Inflatables, Italian Ice & More!
Ages: 5th Grade & Under.

Saturday, August 31st

Oak Grove M B Church Homecoming Picnic 🧺
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Oak Grove MB Church
Price: Free Entry (Food Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Come Join Us For Fellowship, Games, & Food. (BBQ Pork Shoulders, Ribs, Chicken Wings, Hamburgers, and Hotdogs For Sale.)

Pokemon Trading Club 🎉
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Additional Details: Meetup With Other Pokemon Enthusiasts To Talk, Make New Friends, Trade Pokemon Cards & Have Fun.

Open Play Toddler Hangout 🚼
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 10:00 AM - 11: 30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Sunday, September 1st

Smash Bros Weeklies 🎮️
Date: Sunday, August 25th
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: E-Gamers Cafe
Price: $10 (Cash Only)
Additional Details: Registration Starts At 5:00 PM & The Tournament Begins At 6:00 PM.

Family Fun
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, August 26th - Monday, September 2nd

Monday, August 26th

Gibson County Fair (Food Rite Family Night) 🎡
Date: Monday, August 26th
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry (Wristbands $20)

Farkle 🎲
Date: Monday, August 26th
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: (Game & Cheeseburger Sliders for Only $8)

The Color Purple: The Musical (Auditions) 🎭️
Date: Monday, August 26th
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: The Ned
Registration: Open Now

Story Time 📖
Date: Monday, August 19th
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Tuesday, August 27th

Gibson County Fair (Tyson Foods Of Humboldt Night) 🎡
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry ($25 Carnival Bracelet Night)
Additional Details: Carnival Bracelet Night Includes A $5 Credit Towards Food & A Game.

The Color Purple: The Musical (Auditions) 🎭️
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: The Ned
Registration: Open Now

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Wednesday, August 28th

Gibson County Fair (Burks Beverage & Broadcasting Night) 🎡
Date: Wednesday, August 28th
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry ($25 Carnival Bracelet Night)
Additional Details: Carnival Bracelet Night Includes A $5 Credit Towards Food & A Game.

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Wednesday, August 28th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Thursday, August 29th

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Thursday, August 29th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Gibson County Fair (Parham Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric Night) 🎡
Date: Thursday, August 29th
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry ($25 Carnival Bracelet Night)
Additional Details: Carnival Bracelet Night Includes A $5 Credit Towards Food & A Game.

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Thursday, August 29th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Friday, August 30th

Candlelight: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More 🎼
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: The Ned
Price: $29.00 - $53.00
Age: 8 Years Old & Up (16 & Under Must Be Accompanied By An Adult!)
Additional Details: Late Entry Not Permitted (Doors Open 45 Minutes Prior To Showtime.)

Ricky Dickson (Former CEO Of Blue Bell Ice Cream)
Meet & Greet/Book Signing ✍️
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Miss Anne's Ice Cream Shoppe
Price: Free Entry (Book “One Scoop At A Time” available for purchase.)

Grief Awareness Day Event (Missing You: A Day of Remembrance) 🦋
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Liberty Garden Park & Arboretum
Price: $10 Per Butterfly (For Butterfly Release) $25 For Photo Poster
Additional Details: Live Music, Free Food, Grief Walk, & More!

Casey Jones Craft Camp 🎨
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free
Ages: Preschool

Gibson County Fair (Maclean Power Systems Night) 🎡
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry ($25 Carnival Bracelet Night)
Additional Details: Carnival Bracelet Night Includes A $5 Credit Towards Food & A Game.

Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift 🎵
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: The Ned
Price: $29.00 - $53.00
Age: 8 Years Old & Up (16 & Under Must Be Accompanied By An Adult!)
Additional Details: Late Entry Not Permitted (Doors Open 45 Minutes Prior To Showtime.)

34th African Street Festival 🌍️
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: T R White Sportsplex
Price: Prices Vary
Additional Details: Live Entertainment, Classes, Food, Merchandise & More!

Storybook Station 📖
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

September Hub City Flea Market 🥝
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry

Lunch & Learn for Special Needs Adults 🫂
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: MHDS Inc. - Administration
Price: Free
Additional Details: Special Needs Students, Their Families & Teachers From West Tennessee Gather For A Light Lunch. This Event Includes Service Providers From Across The Area As Well As Door Prizes.

Food Truck Fridays 🌮
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: theLOCAL
Price: Prices Vary

Labor Day Weekend Celebration at Big Buck Resort (Fish Fry) 🐟️
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 6:00 PM (Fish Fry) - 8:00 PM (Movie On The Lawn)
Location: Big Buck Resort and Campground
Price: (Guest Day Pass $10)
Additional Details: Free For Members & Those Staying At The Resort!

All You Can Eat Catfish 🐟️
Date: Friday, August 30th
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Dyer's Cafe

Saturday, August 31st

34th African Street Festival 🌍️
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: T R White Sportsplex
Price: Prices Vary
Additional Details: Live Entertainment, Classes, Food, Merchandise & More!

Labor Day Weekend Celebration at Big Buck Resort (Karaoke Night) 🎶
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 7:00 PM (Karaoke At The Restaurant)
Location: Big Buck Resort and Campground
Price: (Guest Day Pass $10)
Additional Details: Free For Members & Those Staying At The Resort!

Puzzling Adventures Scavenger Hunt - Jackson Tennessee 🧩
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 1:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Time Based On How Long It Takes To Solve.)
Location: 119 East College Street
Price: $49.99 Per Team

September Hub City Flea Market 🥝
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry

Open Jam & Porch Party 🎶
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center / Tina Turner Museum
Price: Free
Hosted By: The Memphis Drivers

Open Play Toddler Hangout 🚼
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 10:00 AM - 11: 30 AM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free

Gibson County Fair (First Choice Farm & Lawn Night) 🎡
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 6:30 PM - Til Close
Location: Gibson County Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry ($25 Carnival Bracelet Night)
Additional Details: Carnival Bracelet Night Includes A $5 Credit Towards Food & A Game.

Sunday, September 1st

34th African Street Festival
Date: Sunday, September 1st
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: T R White Sportsplex
Price: Prices Vary
Additional Details: Live Entertainment, Classes, Food, Merchandise & More!

Labor Day Weekend Celebration at Big Buck Resort (Pool Party)
Date: Sunday, September 1st
Time: 6:00 PM (Stay Cool At The Pool)
Location: Big Buck Resort and Campground
Price: (Guest Day Pass $10)
Additional Details: Free For Members & Those Staying At The Resort!

September Hub City Flea Market
Date: Sunday, September 1st
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry

Monday, September 2nd
(Holiday Events Posted In Advance)

Labor Day Weekend Celebration at Big Buck Resort (Breakfast Celebration) 🧇
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Pancakes & Waffles Breakfast)
Location: Big Buck Resort and Campground
Price: (Guest Day Pass $10)
Additional Details: Free For Members & Those Staying At The Resort!

Dyer County Fair (Opening Day) 🎡
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Dyer County Fairgrounds
Price: $5 (General Admission)

Jackson Roadrunners Labor Day 5 Miler 👟
Date: Monday, September 2nd (Registration @6:30 AM Race @7:00AM)
Time: 6:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Lake Graham
Price: $5 ($15 For Non Members)
Additional Details: Join The Infamous Race That Pays You To Place! (Get Paid When You Place In Your Age Group.)

8th Annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival 🎨
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: de terra Vineyard & Wines of Somerville
Price: $10 (Parking Per Vehicle)
Additional Details: Come Out For Our Labor Day Event! There Will Be Arts & Crafts Vendors, Live Music, Food & Helicopter Tours!

Advertise In One Of The Fastest Growing Newsletters In West TN!
(Click Here For More Details.)

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