Humane Society Of Louisiana Inc

CRUELTY INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION -HSLA responded to more than 3,000 reports of cruelty, neglect and abandonment in 2024. As a licensed private investigation agency, we saved animals and resolved cases through interagency partnerships, animal rescue and adoption, resource sharing, pet owner education and more. We regularly provided veterinary care, personnel support, animal housing, equipment and transport services to underfunded law enforcement agencies. Our assistance routinely facilitated animal seizures, as well as criminal prosecutions, which otherwise would not have been undertaken. As part of this program, we provided emergency veterinary care for more than 217 animals and general/basic vet care for 535 animals in need. We aided and sought justice for hundreds of animals who were shot, knifed, abandoned, beaten, chained, starved, neglected and otherwise harmed. 12 volunteer case managers, field investigators and pro bono attorneys helped move cases through the court system to ensure crimes against animals were prosecuted. A few 2024 case highlights that show the scope of our work include: 26 dogs seized in Bienville parish - a case in which 6 additional dogs and puppies died; 30 farm animals saved from an inhumane sanctuary in Avoyelles parish; 3 adult dogs and their puppies rescued from neglect in Evangeline parish; 1 rescued horse saved in Allen parish; 2 dogs saved from a lifetime of severe abuse in Union parish; 1 family dog with a gunshot wound provided with lifesaving care in St. Landry parish; 2 live dogs cruelly abandoned in dumpsters saved. We rescued and adopted a piglet, after he was being tossed in the crowd like a football during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We advocated for law enforcement action in the case of 3 beloved pet goats, who were stolen and slaughtered in St. Tammany parish. We increased public awareness of multiple animal cruelty issues with scores of special events and activities, media appearances, speaking engagements, community meetings and workshops. From our new headquarters in historic Old Gretna, our statewide base of operations for our anti-cruelty programs in the Greater New Orleans area, we carried out numerous cruelty prevention campaigns, including our successful work to stop the illegal sale of dyed baby chicks in Terrebone parish and our ongoing work to end inhumane live animal giveaways, focusing on the LIvingston parish fair, and more.

SPAY-LA: PET OVERPOPULATION PREVENTION - Despite rising costs and the increased difficulty of securing veterinary appointments, especially in rural areas, we continued to provide free and low cost spay/neuter surgeries. We altered more than 817 animals - 295 cats, 518 dogs and 4 horses. Many spay/neuter services were provided in rural areas of the state, where the costs of the surgeries are higher and where few discounted services are available. For many of the animals served, transport to and from appointments was provided by volunteers, team members and private rescuers. We distributed 27 humane cat traps and supplies to rescuers and TNR groups, aiding in the rescue and neutering of hundreds of additional animals in 2024. Our Executive Director, in his volunteer capacity as the Chair of the Louisiana Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council, continues to spearhead the work of this state board, which raises funds for and distributes spay/neuter grants to small shelters and rescues, with funding from the sale of Animal Friendly license plates; HSLA regularly promotes sales of the license plates to help small charities fund spay/neuter surgeries. This year, we also spearheaded the passage of legislation to create Pet Stamps, which will also be sold on an ongoing basis to raise awareness and needed funds for spay/neuter grants across Louisiana. We maintained an online Spay Neuter Resource Guide, which directs Louisiana pet owners to low cost spay/neuter clinics and resources around the state by parish. We provided live assistance, education and referrals to hundreds of residents contacting us for information on spay/neuter services.

operation of three animal care facilities: the enoch j donaldson animal sanctuary, the tylertown animal transport center and merry wood refuge; disaster relief; education and outreach; and grassroots lobbying for public animal shelter, spay/neuter assistance and humane community policies.