AHS Lends a Helping Paw to a Friend in Need

Last month, AHS got a call from the BISSELL Pet Foundation, which was utilizing its National Shelter Alliance partners to help with shelter needs for a small, rural shelter facing systemic problems and asked for our help. So, as a partner in the network shelter Alliance, we sent a small but mighty team to lend a helping paw to our friends at the St. Landry Parish Animal Control in Louisiana.

Things were pretty “ruff” for our friends. They were facing serious difficulties, including:

• An outbreak of Parvovirus
• An ineffective system to identify animals, which could lead to lost or missing pets
• A significant staffing shortage and turnover affecting the effective care of pets

On January 29th, our team arrived to help with daily care, adoptions, animal control services, and general sheltering. Recently, Kim Alboum, BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Director of Shelter Outreach and Policy Development, praised their efforts:

“[AHS’ team was] instrumental in changes, including creating a more humane facility, shifting parish philosophy on the function of the shelter in the community, and proving that a community shelter is possible in almost any environment. The shelter would not be in its current state without their expertise. On top of all that, they have addressed three transports and a visit from Louisiana State University. We are so grateful for each of them.”

This is such a great collaboration, and the Arizona Humane Society is only too happy to help another shelter in desperate need and their dogs and cats. Today, we’re hearing it is all tail wags and purrs from our team, as the shelter finds another leash on its life.