Animal Adoption

The purpose of our adoption program, is to find responsible, lifelong homes for animals suitable as family pets. Such matchmaking requires knowledge of both the animals to be placed and their prospective adopters.  It is not a kindness to animals for our agency to place them in homes where they will fail to receive adequate care and companionship, food, water, shelter, or veterinary care when necessary. Nor is it a benefit to the community for us to place animals where they will be allowed to roam the neighborhood, violate animal-control laws, or add their offspring to the surplus of unwanted animals that already burden the community.

Money! Can you afford to feed your pet? It costs approximately $700.00 to feed a dog for one year (with the ever-rising cost of living, this rate will go up).

Have you thought about vet bills?

• Cats and dogs both need annual distemper shots.
• Cats and dogs will have to be vaccinated against rabies and checked for parasites regularly.
• Dogs need to be vaccinated against parvo and checked for heartworm yearly.
• Ear mites and fleas are other problems your pet may encounter.
• On top of all this, remember that accidents can happen at any time and emergency vet care could be required.

• If you do not have a fenced yard, do you have the willingness and commitment to take your pet for daily walks?
• If you want your cat to go outside, they need to be leashed, trained, and taken for walks regularly.  You will need to clean up after them, both in your own yard and when you take them for walks.
• Cats should have their litter boxes cleaned at least every two days.
• Will you be able to spend time with your pet?  Cats and dogs need love and attention from you.
• Do you have time to housebreak your pet?  If you bring home a kitten or puppy, someone needs to be home with it to housebreak it.  A puppy can be especially time consuming.

Anything less is unfair to the animal.  Decide now, instead of realizing later you made a mistake.  A cat or dog cannot understand when you tell it you do not want it anymore.

• Make sure that fresh, cool water is available for your pet at all times in a heavy bowl to avoid spills. This is especially important when you’re not at home. Never use a metal dish in the hot sun. Clean the bowl daily.
• Brush and comb your pets daily to free them of loose shedding hair.
• Check every day for fleas and ticks.
• Do not use insect sprays, weed killers or allow antifreeze to spill in any area frequented by pets.  Animals can ingest poisons by licking paws or fur.
• Exercise your pet in the early morning or evening in the summer when it is cooler to avoid heat exhaustion.
• Make sure that shelter is available at all times. In the summer your pet needs shade from the sun. In the winter it needs protection from cold drafts.
• If you must tie your dog up, contact Animal Control for safety tips and information on the requirements. Consider a runner rather than a chain – it is much more humane and allows more movement.
• Check your animal’s fur daily to prevent plants or other things from getting tangled and matted in the hair. Foreign objects can work their way into your pets ears or eyes and cause discomfort or injury.
• Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. A veterinarian should check your pet yearly by a blood test for this disease. Preventative medication should be given according to their instructions.
• More information on how to discourage wildlife.

Please be aware that it’s time once again to consider your pet’s comfort and safety.
DON’T bring your pet along for a ride in the car unless it is absolutely necessary. You may think you’ll be in the store for “just a few minutes,” but delays happen, and your parked car can overheat to lethal temperatures in a very short amount of time — even with the windows left open a crack.

Is it clean, sound, leak proof and raised up off the ground so rainwater can’t get in? Is it placed in a spot that is shady during the hottest part of the day, so it doesn’t become more like an oven than a shelter?

Should be in a shady spot, also. Sun-warmed water isn’t refreshing.

It is especially important year round, as the parasite never sleeps, and it is also the #1 killer of dogs! See your vet for heartworm prevention medication, and keep your yard free of stagnant, standing water. Refresh your pet’s water bowl at least once daily.

The St. Martin Parish Animal Services Shelter has plenty of good animals for adoption. As animals get adopted, others take their place. Not all animals entering the shelter are suitable for adoption however.
Breeds and individual animals change everyday – far too quickly to stay absolutely current. Please be patient and understand that a pet may be reclaimed or adopted, and may not be available before you arrive at the shelter. It might also have a change in temperament or become sick during its stay at the shelter, thus making it unavailable.

Please feel free to phone to inquire about pets currently available for adoption. We always have a wide selection of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in need of good homes.