Jimmy’s entrepreneurial spirit started when he was just a young boy selling fireworks and sno balls in Gretna, LA at the age of 15.   Born the only son to a veterinarian father, Jimmy’s love and compassion for animals began at an early age.  It was commonplace for the Strickland Family to take in abandoned pets at the vet practice and love them as their own.  

As a graduate with a master’s degree from the “school of hard knocks” as he calls it, Jimmy went on to open his own oilfield supply company at only 22 years old. With only a single car garage and an old pickup truck, under his leadership, Hose Specialty and Supply grew to seven locations in Louisiana, Texas and Mexico with over $18 million in revenues.  

After selling his business in 2014 to a national organization, Jimmy went on to open a boat yard repair facility that services both sailboats and recreational boats in the Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and the surrounding areas.  

Anyone that knows Jimmy will undeniably attest that he is the hardest working person and when he dives into a venture, he does so with total commitment.  His passion to create a sanctuary for abused and neglected animals and provide a substantial portion of his own funds is admirable.

Jimmy will tell you that his proudest accomplishment is raising his two children, Jessica and Jimmy and working to provide them with a blessed childhood in south Mississippi. When he is not working, Jimmy enjoys going to the beach and spending time with his children and their families, which include 6 grandchildren. He and his wife, Misty, have been married for 10 years and live in Pass Christian with their beloved dogs. 

Misty’s love for animals began later in life where, as an adult, for the first time she visited an animal shelter. So many dogs begging for attention while others sat quietly, feeling defeated and without hope. At that time, she left the shelter with her beloved Sadie in tow, whom still today is spoiled and loved.  She knew she had to do something to make a difference in the lives of the animals and at that moment her passion for rescue was born. 

Misty’s educational background includes a bachelors degree in Finance from Louisiana State University and her experience includes 10 years as a Commercial Banker for Chase Bank (and predecessor banks) along with 11 years as Chief Financial Officer of Hose Specialty & Supply, Llc a hydraulic hose business servicing the oilfield industry. In 2015, Misty worked along side Jimmy to establish a 19 acre boat repair facility in Pass Christian, servicing both sailboat and yachting customers in the area.