As Louisiana braces for a rare winter weather event in the coming days, one animal shelter is rushing to find homes for its furry residents before the temperatures drop.
The Denham Springs Animal Shelter in Livingston Parish for the past week has sent out a call for help across social media: It needs people to foster dogs from the overcrowded shelter ahead of the freezing temperatures. Since posting, the shelter has received quite a few new fosters, shelter secretary Angel Guy said.
“Of course, there’s still a few more we would like to get out, if possible,” she said.
As of Friday morning, 21 dogs still needed to be fostered. If the shelter can’t get all the dogs fostered, it will set up kennels inside the cat building to house the remaining dogs so they at least can be indoors. But getting more fosters is more ideal, Guy said.
How you can help
If you are interested in having a four-legged friend for the next week — ideally at least from Saturday to Thursday — there are a few simple qualifications to meet.
Potential fosters must be able to provide legal identification, a working phone number and be able to verify where you live. Those looking to foster do not need to be living in Livingston Parish, just a reasonable distance from the shelter. Also depending on the dog, it might have to be the only animal in the foster’s home. The shelter also said if a resident has a heated barn, it could supply kennels to put in the barn to house dogs.
The shelter has only 26 indoor kennels, and the rest of the facility is outside. The facility, which is the first municipal no-kill shelter in Louisiana, typically reaches out to the community for help during drastically changing temperatures.
The shelter is at 600 Bowman St. and is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Animal groups in the state also are advising Louisiana residents to take care of their pets during cold weather.
The Humane Society of Louisiana released a video earlier in the month warning pet owners of how drop temperatures impact animals. Director Jeff Dorson said pets should not be left outside by any means.
Mark Gascon talks on the phone while he walks his sweater-clad dog Roux at the park on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Record-breaking cold swept through southeast Louisiana and is expected to continue through tomorrow.
“They’re cold if you’re cold,” Dorson said.
Rescue Rehome Repeat of South Louisiana, a dog fostering program, said that dogs are susceptible to frostbite, especially on the tips of their ears and tails. Owners should weigh the dog’s age and health conditions before deciding how long the animal can be outside in the cold. Factors like being older or younger can make it harder for dogs to regulate their body temperatures.
And of course, dog parkas and sweaters are always a good idea during this time.
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