More animals being adopted, rescued at Vermilion Parish Rabies Center

Since the euthenization of three dogs - Ringo, Sasha and Pepper at the Vermilion Parish Rabies Control Center back in March - no cats or dogs have since been euthenized at the center.
Because of the death of the three dogs and the outcry of the killing of the three dogs by animal lovers from the parish, the state and throughout the United States, the police jury has changed its policy when it comes to dealing with cats and dogs.
Before March, if an animal was picked up by the parish, it went to the rabies and control center, spent three days in a cage and if no one claimed it, it was euthenized. Some were lucky to be adopted.
No longer. If the animal is deemed adoptable, it is placed in one of 25 “safe cages” the rabies control center has. The animal, once placed in the safe cage, has been granted an extra 30 days in hopes of getting adopted.
The animal’s picture is also placed on two different Facebook sites where the world can now see the animal.
“Putting it on Facebook opens up the opportunity for the world to see them,” said Pam Trahan, president of the Animal Aid for Vermilion Area (AAVA). AAVA is the go-between non-profit organization that helps locate people for adoptions or rescues.
In March, there were 54 cats and dogs adopted or rescued from the rabies and control center.
In April, it rose to 82.
In May, the number adopted was 77.
Eleven days into June, the number is 47.
The increase in adoptions, the new Facebook pictures, the extra cages for adoptions, more animals being rescued all came after the death of the three dogs. There is also a new liaison who is the go-between person of the police jury and the AAVA.
These extra things were made possible because of the creation of a new sub-committee to help make things better for the animals at the rabies center. They meet at least twice a month.
The sub-committee is made up of people from the AAVA, along with the police jury members. Debbie Garrot is the liaison person.
“Things are excellent,” said Trahan. “Debbie has been doing an outstanding job. She has worked hard. We (AAVA, police jury) are all working together to find homes for the animals.”
Wayne Touchet, a police juror who sits on the committee, said by AAVA moving the animals out, it is saving the police jury money.
“I am not surprised by how well it is working,” said Touchet. “Before, no one was talking to each other. Now we have the walls that are open. People are communicating. We talk about the issues, which makes it easy to come up with a solution.”
The changes were all possible because of Ringo, Sasha and Pepper.