FERRIDAY — When Ginna Holyoak sees a stray animal in Concordia Parish, she feels like she has limited options.

“You just have to drive by and pray,” Holyoak said.

Those prayers for the four-legged inhabitants of our community soon may be answered without divine intervention.

Holyoak is a member of Concordia PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving), Inc., a new non-profit organization created to help stray animals in Concordia Parish.

“We have some passionate people that are willing to work and not just talk about it,” PAWS president Sherrie Jacobs said.

Jacobs said the group began approximately two months ago, but the conversation started months ago. Holyoak, who has been assisting the organization, said it began as a result of talks with Lydia Wilson, now PAWS vice president.

Holyoak and Wilson started talking with more people, eventually bringing Jacobs on board.

The problem, Jacobs said, is particularly bad in her hometown of Ferriday.

“The dog and cat population are running wild with no home, no food,” Jacobs said. “There are just strays everywhere.”

Jacobs said she wrote by-laws and now the new organization has non-profit status, as well as a list of projects they’re considering.

One thing the group wants to advocate is a shelter for animals, which would help begin to resolve the stray animal population, as well as aid any neglected or abused animals.

“You can’t seize them if you have nowhere to take them,” Holyoak said.

PAWS is also getting involved in an initiative to help spay and neuter animals. On Oct. 20, the group is hosting its first fundraiser, the “Spay-ghetti & No Balls” lunch at Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church Hall.

The Spay-ghetti lunch will raise money to help low-income households spay and neuter their animals, Holyoak said.

Holyoak helps with a similar fundraiser in Natchez.

Some other possible projects, Jacobs said, include raising money through T-shirt sponsorships and educating local students about taking care of animals and spaying and neutering pets.

Jacobs said she has a good feeling about the group’s chances of making an impact.

“I know we’re going to do great things,” Jacobs said. “I just have that feeling.”

For more information about the Spay-ghetti lunch or PAWS, contact Carole Webber at 601-334-1493.