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AMBER GORDON ADOPTS ROSCOE AT THE NEW LA/SPCA ADOPTION CENTER.
Give me shelter BY DELLA HASSELLE | PHOTOS BY CHERYL GERBER
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For a while, Goose wasn’t so lucky. He lived alone in a small cage awaiting adoption at a crammed building run by the Louisiana SPCA. But even if Goose didn’t get a forever home right away, he hit the kitty lottery in September. That’s because the furball was slated to move into to a brand-new facility that opened its doors on the West Bank in late August. Designed to make the adoption process
more attractive, the bright, sparkling shelter features impressive amenities: glassenclosed cat “colonies” that allow for more socializing, homelike settings for dogs and even a room set aside just for playing fetch. “When you think of a shelter, what do you think? You think metal cages, sad animals, rundown facilities,” said Alicia Haefele, a spokeswoman for the LA/SPCA. “This is
completely different from that.” Boasting 41,000 square feet of space, the Adoption Resource and Clinic Center at the organization’s Dorothy Dorsett Brown Campus is the new home for most of the animals that are adoptionready, which averages about 50 on any given day. The $16.8 million building also houses a brand-new community veterinary clinic and new classrooms used for
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t’s easy to tell that Goose is a social kitten. Upon meeting him, the black and white domestic shorthair mix prances up and playfully bats his paw between the bars of his crate. The two-month-old also likes to play chase and tease the other kittens living in cages next to him. New studies show that because of his temperament, an animal like Goose best thrives in a group environment.
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Louisiana SPCA has a bigger, better home
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LEFT: LOLA GETS A CHECKUP FROM THE STAFF AT THE NEW LA/SPCA CLINIC. RIGHT: NEW ORLEANS FIREFIGHTER CHRIS GOETTER WAITS TO GET SHOTS FOR HIS ADOPTED DOG.
can play comfortably with the dog awaiting adoption. The setting is meant to look like a living room, so people can better envision the animals in their homes. “What we’ve learned from colleagues around the country is when we change the way we showcase adoptable animals, the public is more interested in coming,” Zorrilla said. “It’s not a sad place. It’s not a depressing place, not a Sarah McLachlan commercial. It’s really just a fun, vibrant space.” The new adoption wing isn’t the only highlight. The large administrative wing is better equipped to accommodate about 100 workers, and an outside courtyard area features doggie water fountains, retractable shades and other amenities for the public and for the staff’s foster animals. The back of the house features a photo studio
for taking pictures of adoptable pets, a laundry room and a quarantine space for sick animals. Another feature is the “goodbye room,” where pet owners go after deciding to have their companions euthanized. The area has a discreet second door that leads directly outside, allowing people to grieve alone after putting down a companion animal. “When you have to make that decision, you usually don’t want to have to see other people,” Haefele said. “So we had that door made. We tried to think of everything.” Perhaps most important, the new facility is well-equipped to play its part in the case of another major hurricane, according to Haefele. A big blue building that stands behind the shiny adoption center boasts thousands of emergency supplies, and is
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If there’s a shining jewel to the new building, it’s the spacious adoption wing, which looks more like a mansion for animals than a shelter. A hallway leading from the front desk and community clinic
waiting area opens up to the glass-enclosed “cat colony” section, where prospective owners can better interact with all the cats at once. As of late August, nearly 30 spayed and neutered cats ready for adoption were to be housed in the new colony rooms. The new homes group the cats together and encourage mobility and play with vertical climbs and spaces to stretch out. “It really is taking some of the best of what we’ve seen around the country, and bringing it to Louisiana,” said Ana Zorrilla, the organization’s CEO. The area set aside for adoptable dogs was equally well-thought-out, Zorrilla said. Kennels are replaced by 23 “dog condos,” which are brightly colored and come equipped with a chair for prospective adopters and a rug so they
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humane education training and pet obedience classes. Until September, nearly all of the SPCA’s services were crammed into the campus’ Animal Rescue and Care Center, a 21,600-square-foot building that opened when the LA/SPCA relocated to Algiers in 2007. Now staff will have more room for their “back of house” functions, like lost and found and animal control services. The old building will continue to house up to 300 animals, most of which aren’t adoption-ready, according to Hafaele. “This is much better suited for the work we do,” Hafaele said.
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big enough to hold 18-wheelers on standby in case they’re needed to transport pets. After Hurricane Katrina, a poll conducted by the Fritz Institute showed 44 percent of the people who stayed behind after the storm refused to evacuate because they didn’t want to abandon their pets. Now the Louisiana SPCA is tasked with assisting the city in evacuating animals that have owners. According to volunteers, there’s no better organization to be tasked with the responsibility. “The Louisiana SPCA’s example is used to train people in emergency
LEFT: PANCAKE PEEKS OUT OF A KITTY CONDO DESIGNED TO SOCIALIZE CATS FOR ADOPTION. TOP RIGHT: THE NEW ADOPTION CENTER. BOTTOM: EXTERIOR OF THE NEW LA/SPCA
organization for the better part of the decade, it was only supposed to last for three years, Haefele said. Despite challenging work environments, staff spayed and neutered more than 7,000 animals in 2014. The upgrade to a state-of-the-art facility means that number is likely to “skyrocket,” Haefele said.
devastating not only for pets, but also for stray animals. Animal overpopulation was also a threat, since the LA/SPCA had the only high-volume spay/ neuter clinic in the region. After working out of temporary shelters, the Animal Rescue and Care Center was built in 2007. Staff initially planned to break ground on the new building immediately after returning post-Katrina, according to Haefele, but $8 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency took years to arrive.
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Hafaele said these new facilities, which also will be sustained with private donations, adoption fees and retail sales, were a long time coming.
For nearly 60 years, the LA/ SPCA was housed in a shelter in the 9th Ward. It opened its doors on Japonica Street in 1958, and opened a veterinary clinic in 1975. The expansion was significant, providing for the first time certain services for pets whose owners couldn’t afford veterinary care. By its second year, it logged 15,000 visits. But when floodwaters following Hurricane Katrina destroyed the campus, the organization suddenly found itself homeless. The loss was
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preparedness all over the country,” said Dr. Emily Roberson, a volunteer who works in public health. The facility will be sustained in large part by the organization’s new, spacious community clinic. More examination rooms means the organization can quadruple its surgery capacity, and there’s now a space just for grooming and dental care for pets. It’s a far cry from the triple-wide trailer where staff veterinarians used to have to work. Even though the makeshift clinic served the
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Construction finally began in 2013. In addition to FEMA money, $1 million was donated from the national American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of America and PetSmart Charities. The rest came from private donors. It was a slow recovery. But 10 years after the storm, the new building allowed the organization to finally replace all facilities lost in Katrina, and then some, according to Zorrilla. “It not only takes us to where we were, but we are just bounds beyond that,” she said, adding that the teamwork needed to build the facility reflects the community’s determination and growth. “It’s really been an incredible journey for the whole team — the staff, the architects, everybody.”
Animal houses
Local shelters, rescue groups and adoption services B Y K AT I E WA L E N T E R
Animal Rescue New Orleans
Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter
Humane Society of Louisiana
Kismet Pet Adoptions
271 Plauche St., Elmwood, (504) 571-1900; www.animalrescueneworleans.org Adoption hours: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily Adoption fees are $100 for cats and $150 for dogs and include spaying or neutering, shots, microchipping, combo testing for cats and heartworm treatment if necessary. Donations of dry dog and cat food, plastic grocery bags and newspapers are needed.
Humane Society of New Orleans Chili Pepper, an 11-year-old dog that was abandoned by her owners, is available for adoption at Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.
Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA)
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., (504) 3685191; www.la-spca.org Adoption hours: 10 a.m. to
NOLA Lab Rescue www.nolalabrescue.org The nonprofit places rescued Labrador retrievers into approved foster and adoptive homes and promotes responsible pet ownership. Monetary donations are needed to provide foster Labs with veterinary care, medication and food. For adoption inquiries, contact adopt. nolalabrescue@gmail.com.
Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society 455 F. Edward Hebert Blvd., Belle Chasse, (504) 392-1601; www.paws4life.org Adoption hours: 11 a.m. to
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P H OTO C O U R T E S Y J EF F ER S O N S P C A
(504) 322-3938; www. humaneworleans.org The nonprofit advocates for the prevention of cruelty to animals, offers pet adoption, a foster program and wildlife mitigation services. The shelter specializes in animals that have been abused or neglected.
(504) 229-2466; www. kismetpetadoptions.com The Metairie-based foster and adoption agency ensures all animals receive a veterinary exam, all vaccines, worm and flea treatments and are spayed/neutered. Dogs are tested for heartworm and cats are tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. The organization needs financial donations and volunteers for fostering animals, working adoption events and taking animals to veterinary appointments.
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(888) 648-6263; www.humanela.org The nonprofit New Orleansbased animal protection agency rescues animals from abuse and neglect and works with independent SPCAs, humane agencies, law enforcement officials and private citizens. Donations are needed for the no-kill sanctuary where animals are rehabilitated for adoption. Adoption fees are $125. Contact info@humanela.org.
1 Humane Way, Jefferson, (504) 736-6111; 1869 Ames Blvd., Marrero, (504) 349-5111 Adoption hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The adoption fee is $67 and includes spaying or neutering, initial vaccinations, worm treatment, microchipping and shots. The shelter needs donations of towels and peanut butter (for toys and treats).
4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Adoption fees for dogs weighing less than 20 pounds or younger than six months are $150. Fees for cats, kittens and dogs weighing more than 20 pounds and older than six months are $80. Rabbits and other small pets are $10. Adopt one cat and receive a second cat for $40. The discount fee for senior citizens who adopt a pet over five years old is $50; adoption fees are waived for active and retired military. All animals are spayed or neutered and fees include microchipping, heartworm and flea medications, vaccinations, tags and licenses for Orleans Parish residents. Foster home volunteers are needed, as well as newspapers, towels and blankets for the shelter.
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5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; by appointment only Monday Adoption fees for dogs are $125, puppies are $200, cats are $40 and kittens are $50. The fees include vaccinations, microchipping, spaying or neutering and testing for leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. A donation wish list is on its website.
St. Bernard Parish Animal Control Shelter
5455 Judge Perez Drive, Violet, (504) 278-1534; www.sbpg.net Adoption hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday Adoption fees are $125 for dogs and $35 for cats. Fees include spaying or neutering, one month’s worth of flea medication and heartworm prevention, microchipping and all shots recommended for the animal’s stage of development. Requested donations include treats, towels, blankets, dishwashing liquid, bleach and paper towels.
St. Tammany Humane Society
20384 Harrison Ave., Covington, (985) 892-7387; www.sthumane.org Adoption hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Adoption fees are $150 for dogs and $75 for cats. Fees include spaying or neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and six months’ worth of heartworm prevention. All adoptable cats have been tested for feline leukemia and immunodeficiency virus. Donations of food, cat litter and bedding are requested.
St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter
31078 Highway 36, Lacombe, (985) 809-0183; www.stpgov.org/ departments/animals Adoption hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday Adoption fees are $65 for newly arrived dogs, $32 after a dog has been there for 30 days, $10 after 60 days and $55 for newly arrived cats, $27 after 30 days and $10 after 60 days. The fees include spaying or neutering,
southernanimalfoundation.org Southern Animal Foundation is a full-service, low-cost animal hospital and rescue organization. Pet adoptions are granted based on applications.
Slidell Animal Control Shelter and Animal Assistance League of Slidell
SpayMart
2700 Terrace Ave., Slidell, (985) 646-4267; www.myslidell.com/ animal-control Adoption hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Adoption fees are $90 for dogs and $80 for cats and include spaying or neutering, worm treatment, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea control and microchipping. Donations of cleaning and grooming supplies, food and toys are needed.
Southern Animal Foundation 1823 Magazine St., (504) 671-8235; www.
6601 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie (504) 4548200; Petsmart, 1000 S. Clearview Pkwy., Harahan, (504) 343-7000; Petco, 5300 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 4951230; www.spaymart.org Cat adoption hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday (Veterans Memorial Boulevard location); noon to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (Petsmart); noon to 4 p.m. every first and third Saturday (Petco) Cat adoption fee is $85 (waived for senior citizens) and includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, combo testing, worm treatment, flea control and microchipping.
Sula Foundation www.sulafoundation.org The nonprofit is dedicated to responsible pit bull
ownership through low-cost veterinary clinics, free spaying and neutering, education, adoption and advocacy, as well as rescuing and finding homes for abandoned dogs. Contact info@sulafoundation. org for volunteer and fostering opportunities.
Villalobos Rescue Center
4525 N. Claiborne Ave., (504) 948-4505; www.vrcpitbull.net Adoption hours: Noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Adoption fee is $200 and includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and training sessions. Visit the website for a donation wish list.
Zeus’ Rescues
www.zeusrescues.org The organization assists in finding permanent homes for dogs and cats from area shelters. All donations fund the animals’ veterinary care.
Acupuncture
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microchipping, testing for heartworms and feline leukemia and all vaccines. Donations of newspapers, blankets, pillows, towels, sheets, treats and batteries are needed.
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