Parishes statewide are seeing a dramatic uptick in pet overpopulation issues and abandonment due to the increasing cost of pet food and veterinary care. Director Jeff Dorson says 33 of the state’s 64 parishes lack parish-wide facilities to provide necessary services for homeless animals.
“Without that service, all these animals go without or if they stray they are thirsty and hungry. They breed indiscriminately. It’s an enormous problem that needs to be front and center rather than in the background.”
The Humane Society asked legislators to set aside $3 million in the last legislative session. Dorson says without additional funding, it is hard to address all these problems.
“We asked for a few million to construct shelters and it was denied. It’s heartbreaking because there was such a surplus everybody got some except animal shelters.
Dorson says not only are there not enough shelters, but many of the existing shelters are in ruin and falling apart. He says the responsibility for saving pets should not rest solely on individuals in the community.
“We’re trying to change that narrative. It has to be done. The animals are suffering. Nobody wants that and it’s going to take a little bit of effort and that’s what we’re telling all of these officials. We have to do better.”
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