Councilman Kevin's New "Pet" Project

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090305/ARTICLES/903051001/1211?Title=Supporters-hope-to-raise-money-for-Terrebonne-s-animal-shelter

Supporters hope to raise money for Terrebonne’s animal shelter

By Naomi King

HOUMA - Some say the truth is grim at Houma's government-controlled animal shelter.

More pets are killed than adopted, mostly because of limited space to keep the animals.

To help the center on Plant Road improve and grow, a group of residents, pet lovers and shelter workers led by Councilman Kevin Voisin is creating a plan to get the shelter more money for its work and change its organizational structure to be more efficient.

Voisin's proposal involves putting the parish manager directly in charge of the shelter at 131 Plant Road. The shelter is now run under the parish's Solid Waste Division within the Utilities Department, which gives a negative connotation, Voisin said.

The proposal also includes organizational help for Terrebonne Parish residents seeking to set up a nonprofit support group.

Its purpose would be to raise private dollars specifically for use at the shelter.

A total of 7,115 dogs, cats and other animals were taken into the shelter in 2008. Of those 5,629, or 79 percent, were not adopted.

They were "humanely killed," according to shelter officials, who acknowledge that the practice, while not preferred, is an unfortunate necessity.

Those animals were either not adoptable because of aggression, age or illness or the shelter lacked space to adequately take care of them.

Of surviving animals, about 6 percent were adopted, 5 percent returned to owners and 4 percent rescued by nonprofit organizations.

At any given time, the shelter houses 50 to 180 animals. And that's why shelter workers encourage residents to spay and neuter their pets and adopt from the shelter.

"We've got to manage our pet population," Voisin said. "It's been neglected for a long time."

Voisin will bring his ideas to the council at its Budget and Finance Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the second-floor meeting room in the Government Tower, 8026 Main St.

Shelter visitors, like Beth Hernandez of Houma, said she's in favor of a nonprofit and other changes to give extra support at the shelter.

"They need help," she said.

Hernandez, 31, adopted a cat named Lucky Wednesday after keeping it as a foster pet. Shortly after, Frances Updike, 48, of Houma arrived to look at dogs since hers was lost about a month ago. She also said the nonprofit would benefit the shelter.

The proposal emerged from Voisin's discussions with residents about the shelter while campaigning last fall and his studying of the parish's organizational chart once he'd taken office in January.

"The animal shelter reporting to solid waste and utilities doesn't make sense," Voisin said. "Managing waste and a shelter are not similar. ...

"There's a reason you don't get your brake tags from a dentist. It just doesn't make sense."

Before improvements can be made, he said, a proper foundation must be built.

The shelter falls under the parish Utilities Department because since the 1980s it has received money to operate from solid-waste collection fees, said Tom Bourg, parish utilities director.

Bourg said he has no opinion about the shelter moving out of his department.

"Organization is an issue for the parish president and council to decide," Bourg said. "We'll go with the team and be supportive of a smooth transition."

The shelter has had an account set up since 2005 that's received about $25,000 in donations, manager Valerie Robinson said.

Though this account accept private money, the shelter's nonprofit group would go beyond that to actively recruit support and dollars. The shelter is currently unable to do so by itself.

The group would mimic the local Friends of the Terrebonne Parish Library foundation, which holds fundraisers to buy equipment, computers or whatever resources the library system needs. A similar foundation is set up for the government-run animal shelter in Jefferson Parish.

Karen Molaison, the owner of the Pawsitive Pets Sitting Service, said she's collecting names of people who want to serve on the animal shelter foundation's board.

She became involved after meeting Voisin as he walked door-to-door during his campaign, and she told him about the shelter.

"The main purpose is to look toward what the shelter's wants are rather than needs." Molaison said.