Looking for the purr-fect Valentine?
The St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter has 3 cats and 5 dogs ready for adoption, according to Dr. Jena Troxler, shelter supervisor.
“Adopting from a shelter means taking a pet into your family and giving him or her a second chance,” Troxler said. “It is amazing how pets in our care walk out of our shelter with a family and a new beginning.”
She said shelter staff members often hear about how a dog encourages its new owner to get up and take a walk when typically, the owner would stay in bed.
“Pets are there for us and always happy to see us,” Troxler said. “They are there on our best and worst days and offer unconditional love. It is a love that just gets us going and is worth all we invest in the pet because they return it beyond measure.”
She said the shelter staff coaches new adopters on pet training, basic obedience classes, adjustment periods and housetraining basics. Education is the largest part of what the shelter does to set pets up for responsible ownership, she said.
“We teach dogs in our care basics, such as sit, down, stay, and here, using sign language and words,” she said. “They also participate in large dog playgroups to get energy out and allow us to see more of their personality. We send home information with new adopters, and we encourage puppy kindergarten classes with all new pets.”
Troxler said the shelter functions as animal control and a shelter.
“[The shelter] takes in animals for an array of needs including owner surrenders, found strays, criminal investigations and owner illness,” she said. “After an initial hold to reunite strays with owners and give the pet a clean bill of health, pets are adoptable.”
She said the staff work with law enforcement on humane law and house lost pets found in the community.
“Our shelter is the only one in Louisiana that has a veterinarian to supervise and provide medical care, thus immense cost savings for the parish and benefits the pets to receive immediate care,” Troxler said.
The shelter staff and the parish community are very interested in the wellbeing of the animals in the shelter’s care, Troxler said.
“The staff works with local Petco Stores and Greater Good Charities to ensure that adoptable pets are paired with a forever family,” she said. “Our volunteers also come into the shelter to help walk dogs, socialize kittens, and even help with laundry.”
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