Project Purr Baton Rouge

2011-12-06T23:35:00.003-06:00

Last-minute hope for Baton Rouge animals | WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA |

2011-10-30T22:27:00.003-05:00

Several of the cats on the "Last Chance" list were rescued by Project Purr yesterday and will be available for adoption!

Last-minute hope for Baton Rouge animals | WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA |

BATON ROUGE- About a dozen dogs and two dozen cats could be euthanized if they are not placed in foster homes or adopted from the East Baton Rouge Animal Shelter by tomorrow.

Companion Animal Alliance, the organization that took over shelter operations at East Baton Rouge Animal Control and Rescue earlier this year, does not have enough kennel space for the animals.

The shelter is open Sunday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's located at 2680 Progress Road near the Baton Rouge Metro Airport.

The adoption fee is $60 and includes spay or neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipping, pet insurance and heartworm testing.

To see a full list of the animals that could be euthanized tomorrow visit Last Minute Hope for Baton Rouge Animals.

Here are some of the cats that were scheduled to put down Monday, October 31, 2011

Fostering for Project Purr

2011-10-27T13:24:00.006-05:00

Fostering a cat is one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had.

I came to know the organization through my fiancé who works at Petsmart Millerville. We had just given away a kitten we didn’t realize we could keep and we missed him.

We decided to search for a new kitten to adopt.

We came across one from Project Purr that we fell in love with and ended up adopting her that day. The more I came in contact with the Project Purr BR people, the more I knew I wanted to help them.

I’ve always been an animal lover so I just felt compelled to help in some way. Then a wonderful woman with the organization, Helen Morales, suggested I become a foster mom because of how much love she saw me give my own cats. I thought about it for awhile and talked to Peggy Polk, president of Project Purr, before I decided to go ahead and become a foster mom. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

My first foster came from Animal Control (now Companion Animal Alliance) and she was in bad shape. When she was rescued, she had no food, water, or litter box in her cage. When she was adopted a few weeks after being saved, I cried both out of happiness and sadness. I was going to miss her but I was so happy that I had saved her life and given her the family she so desperately deserved. It was one of the most rewarding moments of my life.

It didn’t even take much from me financially. Of course, I went a little bit crazy spoiling her just like my own cats but to each their own. Her vet visits were covered as were her medications if she needed any. All I had to buy her was a litter box, bowls, and food but I splurged and bought her toys, a scratching post, even a night light because she cried in the dark. She deserved love and that’s exactly what she got.

I only fostered a short time for Project Purr (approximately 4 months) but I don’t regret it at all. Unfortunately, I had to move out of state to finish school so I had to take some time off from fostering. I am currently in the process of finishing up and moving back to Baton Rouge and you can guarantee when I move back that I’ll be fostering again.

I can honestly say that I am lucky to have been able to foster for Project Purr BR.

If you have ever thought about wanting to help cats in need, please consider fostering for Project Purr.

It doesn’t take that much from you personally. You take them to doctor’s appointments, take them to adoption events so they can be seen by potential new families, and give them love, affection, and attention.

If you have a spare room or bathroom in your home, please consider taking in a kitty that deserves a chance at a long and happy life. Help Project Purr BR save the kitties and work toward the goal of making Baton Rouge a No Kill city. They need help now more than ever. So please consider it.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me (lsugirl1120) at that ID name (at) hotmail (dot) com with the subject line of ‘PPBR Fostering’ and I’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as I can.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it inspires you or someone you know to help save a life and foster for Project Purr.

The kitties thank you!

Where's the Love for Colby, Tess & Olive?

2011-10-23T12:34:00.000-05:00

Colby is an orange tabby with white who has been with Project Purr since he was two months old. He has been in foster care since 4/28/11 and now qualifies for the half off "Where's the Love?" Promotion. Adopt him for $35.
Learn more about Colby on Petfinder.com

Olive & Tess are sisters and possibly related to Colby. They have been in foster care with him since 4/28/11 as well. Adopt them together with the "Where's the Love" promotion AND the BOGO (Buy one Get One Half Off). $35=$17.50=$52.50 for both of them.

It costs Project Purr BR approximately $140 per cat in our program to vaccinate, spay/neuter, microchip and provide all of the other preventative and husbandry care they need. We rely heavily on donations to fund our mission to save as many cats and kittens from being put down at our city's open-intake municipal shelter.

If you can ADOPT, VOLUNTEER, FOSTER or DONATE, you will be playing a very important role in helping Baton Rouge become a No Kill City.

Why can't you foster a homeless animal?

2011-10-19T21:11:00.009-05:00

Thanks to Companion Animal Alliance/Friends of the Animals Volunteer Kay Gibson for sharing this great article!

Dear PawPrints readers,

Year-round now, not just in the summertime kitten and puppy season, my email is full of pitiful messages about animals that will be ‘Euthanized tomorrow….please help!’ It’s frustrating to know that with one change in our thinking, most homeless animals could be saved, rather than euthanized in shelters. Nathan Winograd, a lawyer, shelter administrator and animal advocate, believes that saving more animals is ‘simply impossible’ without foster care programs for homeless pets. For some animals in particular, having a foster home available is a matter of life and death: those that are in poor health, are pregnant or have puppies or kittens, or those that are simply stressed by shelter life.

Yet, as a foster parent myself I’m aware that many people think that role is beyond them. Let me share possible answers to reasons people give me for NOT being a foster parent:

1. ‘I’d get too attached to the animals.’ Good for you! You’re just who we need. Companion animals need us to be attached to them.

2. ‘I don’t have room in my home.’ Think small….many dogs and all cats are less than knee-high. A large dog kennel can be a comfortable sanctuary for a dog or a mother cat and her kitten family, if they are given regular opportunities for play and exercise.

3. ‘Pets aren’t allowed where I live.’ OK, you have an excuse, but I’ll find another way you can help. How about helping at adoption events, or walking dogs that live in a shelter? You bet! While you’re at it, start looking for a pet-friendly place to live!

4. ‘I’m not home enough.’ If so, cats might be a better match for your life than dogs. My foster cats think I am best friends with Jay Leno, because late night is when I spend time with them. But; if you had a dog of your own, how would you take care of him? You might have a friend or professional walk your dog every midday, and that strategy would work for a foster dog, too.

5. ‘No, really, I travel for work.’ You will need help, then. I have two words for you: Pet Sitter. Or three more: Bed and Biscuit. And, the best thing I ever did when my work travel increased….invest in an automated litterbox.

6. ‘I can’t afford it.’ You’ll want to work with a non-profit animal rescue group, and typically they will provide the food and equipment you’ll need. If you want to really help, though, see how many of your foster pet’s needs you can cover yourself. These expenses are tax-deductible in most cases—they are a different kind of donation to the rescue group you’re working with. Giving in this way allows the group to save even more animals.

7. ‘I don’t know anything about taking care of cats or dogs!’ Your new rescue friends will share what they have learned from their foster pets, and there are lots of great books, like ‘Cats for Dummies,’ not to mention all the websites on pet care. As a cat foster, I ended up with a surprise foster dog in my home. In the process of living with her for more than a year I learned a LOT about dog health, dog training, dog parks….I almost became a ‘dog person!’

8. ‘I’m terribly allergic to cats and dogs.’ Whoa….you get a ‘pass’ on the foster thing, then. But, how about website design, or fundraising, or grant-writing? Pick one of these ‘fur-free’ volunteer jobs instead.

9. ‘I want to take them all home!’ Well, you can’t. Just pick one, or two. (Two well-acquainted cats or socialized dogs are easier than one!) That’s your limit, for now!

10. ‘I would never want them to find a new home…I’d just want to keep them.’ Well, OK, but that makes you a ‘foster failure!’ Don’t know why it’s a ‘failure,’ really, since yours will be a great forever home. But then you will have to find another foster parent to replace yourself!

Now, all that’s left is to browse through this issue of PawPrints Magazine (www.pawprintsmagazine.com) to figure out your choice of a rescue group ‘partner.’ They will be overjoyed to know you’re ready to help! Congratulations, and happy fostering.

Yours for the homeless ones,

Donna Bloomer
Wilmington, NC

**Permission is given for rescue groups to copy and adapt this page for their use in web and print formats, with the following attribution:
'Adapted with permission from www.frugalfurryfriends.weebly.com, copyright 2010.'

Information about volunteering with Project Purr

Safe Handling of Cats for CAA Shelter Volunteers

2011-09-05T21:13:00.000-05:00

The following is a powerpoint presentation to give volunteers an overview of proper handling of cats. If you are interested in volunteering with Project Purr BR or at the Companion Animal Alliance Shelter, this information will be helpful.

How To Find A Lost Cat Or Dog

2011-08-31T15:20:00.000-05:00

One of the tips on this very informative site:
VISIT your local Animal Control, humane societies, and animal shelters, including the ones in surrounding areas.
You must actually visit the animal control and humane shelters every day or two. It works well if several family members can take turns visiting the shelters.
Your description of your pet and their description rarely match. YOU MUST GO LOOK! Be sure to check all areas of the shelter, including the infirmary. Also be aware that dogs may be housed in the cat section and vice-versa.
Leave a picture of your pet and your phone number at each shelter. If your pet has a microchip be sure to give them the number. Befriend them.
Find out the holding period of each animal control and humane shelter. Be aware of how much time you have to claim your pet before it is euthanized!
Government Animal Control agencies usually keep an animal for only 3 days and then they either adopt it out or kill it. You only get one chance at this. Be there!

Read more here How To Find A Lost Cat Or Dog

Our goals are quite ambitious.

2011-08-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

We intend to save and adopt out 100 kittens and cats per month. We also aim to spay/neuter 200 feral and low-income cats per month. With the proper systems in place, and with adequate funding, we CAN do it. Achieving these two objectives will take our community a long way towards becoming No Kill.

Each kitten rescued costs us an average of $140.00 for veterinary expenses, food and foster care.
(x 100 = $14,000/month)

Each feral cat costs an average of $60.00 for spay/neuter and rabies vaccination.
(x 200 = $12,000/month)

Since so many of our rescues are from Animal Control, there are often additional veterinary costs due to illnesses contracted during the animal's impoundment.

We would love to have you become a Project Purr Supporter. You can donate either online here through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, or by mailing a check to us using this form.

Join our growing family of citizens who wish to see an end to the killing of homeless kittens and cats.

Companion Animal Alliance hopes to make shelter "no-kill" | WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA |

2011-08-01T23:26:00.000-05:00

Last year more than 6,000 animals were euthanized at East Baton Rouge Animal Control and Rescue. CAA plans to team up with other local rescue organizations to get as many animals adopted out of the shelter as possible.

CAA plans to host an open house in the next couple of weeks where members of the community can meet the new director and the animals available for adoption. The organization is also going to put a "wish list" on itswebsite where people can make donations.

East Baton Rouge Animal Control and Rescue is located at 2680 Progress Road and is now open Sunday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Companion Animal Alliance hopes to make shelter "no-kill" | WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA |

June 2011 Foster of the Month

2011-07-15T16:21:00.000-05:00

Project Purr BR has began a new recognition program for outstanding foster caregivers.

Our first ever Foster of the Month for the month of June, Rachael Upton. Rachael not only fosters, but works adoption events as well and will even travel to animal control to help rescue kitties there. Her dedication has not gone unnoticed.

Pictured here with one of her current foster kittens, Barbados

From one of her fans, This chick must not need to sleep because she takes on the most fragile of the neonates, the ones who need to be fed every hour around the clock. Not only does she save 'em, but she also turns out love sponges who make incredible pets".

Rachael, you are, without a doubt, a very important asset to our Foster Program. We are lucky to have you on our team. Congratulations!

Rachael received a PetSmart gift certificate and a Project Purr Certificate of Recognition.

I know we have so many worthy fosters and can't wait to find out who the July Foster of the Month will be! Please send your nominations and why you think that person deserves to be named Foster of the Month to christine@projectpurrbr.org.

Shelter agreement drawn up for CAA and EBRACC

2011-07-15T13:42:00.003-05:00

Shelter agreement drawn up

A proposed plan to privatize city-parish animal sheltering operations could be in place Aug. 1, Parish Attorney Mary Roper said.A proposed cooperative endeavor agreement has been drawn up that would transfer city-parish money, in-kind city-parish services and the official authority to run shelter operations to the nonprofit Companion Animal Alliance. The Metro Council is slated to take the agreement under consideration at its July 27 meeting, Roper said.

Read the entire article by The Advocate staff writer, Steven Ward, here.

The new director for the Companion Animal Alliance, Laura Hinze, will begin her new position on July 25, 2011. Hinze has worked for seven years as the operations director of PAWS Chicago, the largest spay/neuter clinic in the country, performing more than 17,000 operations a year. She is also a manager-level member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and a founder of the Greyhound Rescue Adoption Resource.

Photo courtesy of The Austin Chronicle

Companion Animal Alliance is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that has partnered with Yelp! Baton Rouge and Project Purr BR with the support of Friends of the Animals to find homes for as many animals as possible. Among their most important tasks is plans to take over management of the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Shelter and make improvements to better care for the dogs and cats there.

"We are working closely with civic and government leaders to change how our community treats companion animals. Together, we will take care of dogs, cats and other companion animals, while reducing the pet population to also reduce euthanasia."

This is a huge step for the No Kill Baton Rouge initiative. To learn more about what this entails, please visit the No Kill Advocacy Center.

If you live in Baton Rouge, you can find out who your City Council Representative is here (type in the first few letters of your street name) to let them know that you support the Companion Animal Alliance.

Coincidence?

2011-07-13T17:49:00.000-05:00

Our own Project Purr Vice President Gypsye Bryan has been called "Itty" most of her life. Her mother Sophienicknamed her that. On Sunday, Carole Guillory's foster kitty Sophie was adopted. Sophie was a wonderful mamacat who was originally rescued from EBR Animal Control along with her litter of 2 day old neonates. The kittens all grew up and got adopted. Then it was Sophie's turn. She was placed in an adoption cage at Mall of La on Sunday. One of the kittens was placed in her cage just to see what Sophie would do. That kitten had been named "Itty" by her foster caregiver Susan Trahan. Well Sophie instantly fell in love with Itty and started licking

Please print and post this flier at your work, your favorite pet store, coffee shop, and other appropriate places... also, please share with your Facebook friends... Thanks in advance!

2011-06-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

Need Something to do This Summer? How About Volunteering at Animal Control?

2011-06-02T14:25:00.001-05:00

Hello all of you wonderful Purr People!

I went to animal control last week and photographed everysinglekitty in the stray cat room. Here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectpurr/

If you or someone you know are ready to foster any of them, please let me know and we'll go get them! If you want to volunteer to help out at animal control, the kitties sure could use you. As you can see from the photos. Many did not have litter boxes (they ran out, apparently) or even food or water. The cages were absolutely filthy there. We are the voice for these innocent little creatures. We are the ones who can help them, even if it is just making their short time there more comfortable by having a clean cage and food and water. To volunteer at animal control, please check out these links:

Project Purr Youth Program: Helps to socialize the kitties at East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control adoption room http://www.projectpurrbr.org/volunteer.htm

Luv-A-Pet EBRACC: We are working on getting a team together who helps take care of the kitties in strays (litter box cleaning, changing food & water, giving them some love).

Photographers: Pictures truly are worth a thousand words. We need volunteers to photograph these kitties each week so we can spread the word (and even reunite owners with their lost pets). We have a blog and Flickr account to upload these photos in order to share with the community. Animal control may even like some help photographing the kitties in their adoption program for petfinder.com.

Friends of the Animals: Volunteers who work at animal control with the animals currently there (cleaning cages, socializing, etc). http://www.friendsoftheanimalsbr.org/volunteer/

To become a Project Purr Foster, please contact christine@projectpurrbr.org for more information. You can also call (225) 573-4405. To learn more, visit our website and fill out the Foster Application and Volunteer Release Form

Heathcliff Would Love A Home to Call His Own!

2011-05-03T23:28:00.001-05:00

From the Stray Cat Room at East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control:

Heathcliff stole my heart the instant I met him in cage 7 at animal control. Every time I walked around the corner to look at the other kitties, he called me back. He did everything in his power to keep my attention on him front & center. Needless to say, I took him home with me to foster. After getting him all up-to-date on his medical care, microchipped & neutered, he's hanging out at the Luv-A-Pet center at Petsmart on Millerville Road. Hopefully he'll snag a home while there, if not, he'll be coming back to his foster home until the perfect person comes along for him. Could it be you?

Find out more about him on Petfinder:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19458064

Itty Bitty Kitties coming soon to a Project Purr kiosk near you (okay, the Mall of LA one anyway)

2011-04-10T23:03:00.002-05:00