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The Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter is issuing vouchers to parish residents who wish to have their pet spayed or neutered.
The animal shelter will fax the voucher to a veterinarian after the pet owner contacts the shelter with details of the appointment. The coupon will cover the first $50 of the procedure.
“We’ve definitely seen a decrease in the number of animals brought in to the shelter each year,” said Shelly Toups, health activities manager for Lafourche Parish Government. “With these vouchers, more residents can now afford to get their pet spayed or neutered, which ultimately means less animals coming in to the shelter.”
The Lafourche Parish Council designated $25,000 for the spay and neuter program, which makes available 500 vouchers. As of last Friday, three days after the program was announced, the shelter had doled out 18.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the decision to spay or neuter pets is one with health benefits. Spaying prevents infection and leads to a longer healthier life for females, and neutering improves behavior and decreases the chances of cancer for males, the ASPCA said.
It also helps control the pet population, reducing the amount of stray cats and dogs and the last resort, euthanasia.
Kelli Toups, who manages the animal shelter facility in Thibodaux, said there are currently about 50 pets available for adoption.
Controlling the pet population lessens the amount of cats and dogs the shelter has to euthanize, Toups said. She said euthanasia is not rare, and the shelter is forced to do so when it reaches capacity.
The shelter has 36 dog kennels and separates its felines based on whether they are domesticated or wild, she said.
“Right now, we have some kennels,” Toups said. “We have some cats that have been here since January. One has been here since November. As long as we have the room, we’ll keep them.”
For more information, or to obtain a voucher, residents can contact the animal shelter directly at (985) 446-3532. The shelter is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Kelli Toups, who manages the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter facility in Thibodaux, plays with “Happy,” a three-month old Labrador and Shar Pei mix. Happy is ready to be adopted, Toups said. ERIC BESSON
