LA/SPCA

The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1888. We are an independent non-profit organization committed to ending animal cruelty and neglect. Our history has been paved with an understanding that only through an improved human-animal ethic can we better companion animals’ quality-of-life and that of our community. Our tapestry of programs from sheltering, adoption and medical care, to humane education, legislation and advocacy have set the stage for us to serve thousands of animals every year.
In the shadow of Hurricane Katrina, the loss and sadness we experienced has been surpassed only by our singular sense of hope and urgency to realize an improved future for our companion animals and our community. A tapestry of heart wrenching images will live in our collective memories forever - the loss of human lives, the loss of treasured animal companions, the horror of pets trapped, lost or abandoned, a city awash in chaos and destruction - but it did not defeat us. As our new life unfolded amidst massive change, the mission of our 118-year-old organization to protect and advocate for the animals of Louisiana through heroic service, innovative programs and education bore wings and soared.
We are rebuilding the LA/SPCA. We envision an innovative, state-of-the-art campus that will bring our mission into crystal clear focus – to reestablish the best animal care services in the State. When human lives were lost because people did not want to abandon their pets, we were all reminded that no man is an island. Helping improve the lives of our animals ultimately improves the livelihood of our region.
Here is our shelter on Japonica Street after Hurricane Katrina hit, August 29, 2005. When the levees broke the water rose and fell rather quickly, leaving behind a stench and slim in its wake. What the water didn't get, the humidity did. In the heat and moisture, a black mold grew on everything. Thankfully, the animals were evacuated before Katrina hit. We had been evacuating our animals when a category 3 or higher hurricane approached New Orleans since Georges threatened our city in 1998. Although we often complained about our Japonica Street shelter, many of us miss it deeply. It was familiar; it was home.
Right now we are housed in an old coffee warehouse across the river in Algiers. It took a lot of help and hard work to make the warehouse a functional animal shelter. We haven't been able to reestablish our veterinary clinic which served the public, something that brings disappointment to our Japonica Street clients, but all other programs and services, plus a few more, have been reestablished. We were even able to have Care Cadet Camp in the All-purpose Room built inside the warehouse. Care Cadet Camp is a summer program designed to teach young people how to be humane educators to their peers.
This year we will be moving into a new facility , the LA/SPCA Campus! We broke ground August 31, 2006, on the future site of a three phase project. We will ultimately offer a wide array of animal and community services including an adoption and education center, the long awaited low/no cost veterinary clinic, competitive agility trials, summer camp programs and programs for at-risk children and their dogs. Several supporters have pledged funds as we began the building process. The total we must raise in order to achieve our vision for the future is $12 million. BTW, Lexy, the lab mix to the left, was adopted soon after the ground breaking! She was awesome that day. As the shovels hit the dirt and people began clapping in response to this momentous occasion, Lexy began to dig feverously as if to speed the process along. Lexy finding a home generated more excitement among the staff than the ground breaking itself!