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Latest News Items:

Kuranda Bed Raffle! -- Friday August 31st, 2018

Kuranda Bed Raffle

Take a chance to WIN this BRAND NEW Kuranda bed! New, still in the box! Beautiful walnut frame with forest green bed, 35” x 23”, for dogs up to 100 pounds.

Each chance is $10. To buy a chance or chances, please click the DONATE tab. Then just click the Paypal button and make your donation.

You can add a note to tell us this is for the Kuranda Bed. We'll know how many chances you want by how much you donate. Drawing will be August 31st.

As you know, it's been a busy summer, with big vet bills. The funds raised will go a long way to helping us pay those bills.

Thank you and please share our post on Facebook!

FLASh T-Shirts! -- Friday July 27th, 2018

Wear your support for the animals proudly! Order your FLASh shirt! All sizes available. Very reasonably priced. https://www.bonfire.com/flash-shirts/

July 4th Fireworks Safety Tips -- Tuesday July 3rd, 2018

Nothing says Fourth of July like cook-outs and barbeques, but all of the festivities can be frightening and dangerous for our pets. Fireworks and other loud unexpected noises can startle animals easily and cause them to run away in fear. Whether or not you’re planning your own Independence Day celebration, it’s important to take safety precautions to keep your pets safe.

The graphic below, courtesy of thatpetplace.com, is full of fireworks safety tips to help keep your pets safe this 4th of July!

Unfortunately, every year many pets get lost. As July 4th approaches, we know that July 5th will be filled with calls about lost and found pets, who were not kept safely inside and scared by fireworks. Here is a list of suggestions, if you've lost or found a pet, that can be very helpful in getting that pet back home.

Love Changes Everything -- Tuesday March 13th, 2018

Be a part of the world’s largest photo mosaic of adopted pets and their people, and help us win big!

Submit your photos to the Petco Foundation’s Love Changes Everything photo mosaic at petcofoundation.org/snaplove and you could win big while giving us a chance at lifesaving grant awards!

The organization with the most submissions is eligible for a $10,000 grant award! Submit your photos by March 25^th and help us celebrate adoption and save more lives. Remember: The earlier you submit, the better chance we have to win!

And you can win, too! Each day, a photo will be selected as the winner and prize packs will be sent to the submitter.

Help Us Win Big

The organization with the most submissions between March 3 & March 25 is eligible for a $10,000 grant award. By uploading your photos, you are giving us a chance to win this lifesaving grant. When uploading your photos, please spell our organization as Friends of Lafayette Animal Shelter, and our website address as: www.flashlafayette.org.

Daily Prizes

A winner will be selected daily! Daily winners will receive a $100 Petco giftcard, a limited-edition MUTS print and WholeHearted pet food. If you are selected as a winner, we will be eligible for a $500 grant award!

Get the Most Likes

$500 Petco giftcard prize packs will be given to the top 2 most liked photos AND the adopter with the most liked photo will win one year of WholeHearted dog or cat food, plus a custom watercolor of your pet by MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell to the most liked photo.

Thank you for adopting and choosing LOVE!

2017 Data -- Wednesday February 7th, 2018

See the numbers! Click HERE to see the complete database of all the work we did in 2017.

The "short story ":

We took in or assisted with 198 homeless and at-risk cats and dogs.
We
- did 86 adoptions
- helped 13 pets get back home
- moved 13 pets to rescues and homes in another state
- helped 6 community cats stay healthy and safe
- helped 63 pets stay in their homes

We ended the year with 28 pets in our care.

It was a busy year.

A Summer Spay in the Shade -- Monday May 15th, 2017

No Fleas Flea Market! -- Sunday April 9th, 2017

The FLASh No Fleas Flea Market!

Annie in the Sky with Diamonds -- Thursday January 12th, 2017

You all may remember, Annie, the little blind puppy with a neurological disorder, who we rescued back on Dec. 7. She was being given away free on FB. :( Her conditions are the result of very poor breeding. (The owner breeds and sells Pit Bulls, locally. What we refer to as a BYB, backyard breeder.) Well, our AMAZING foster, Marian, stepped up to care for her, and Annie made wonderful progress. Annie received top-notch vet care, as well as fantastic physical rehab with Marian. And last Thursday, thanks to some beautiful teamwork, Annie flew to Salt Lake City, UT, to The Utah Animal Advocacy Foundation , a stellar rescue that specializes in special needs animals. Annie was escorted and accompanied on her flight by Renee Reick, a member of DART, Delta Animal Rescue Team, a group of flight attendants who volunteer their time to escort rescue animals on flights to their brighter futures. Wow..... Thank you, Marian, Jennifer , Renne, Cheyenne, Shelleyand UAAF, and DART.

Santa Paws 2016 -- Thursday December 1st, 2016

Shop and Donate, at the Same Time! -- Saturday November 5th, 2016

Did you know that Friends of Lafayette Animal Shelter has a unique AmazonSmile link that makes it easy for you to support FLASh?

Click the pic below!

No Fleas Flea Market -- Sunday October 30th, 2016

Mark your calendars! Our semi-annual No Fleas Flea Market is happening soon! October 30th!

(We have items for kitties too. )

Lifesaving Grant Granted to FLASh -- Tuesday July 5th, 2016

Petco Foundation Invests In the Lifesaving Work of FLASh!

Grant of $2500.00 will extend efforts to save more animal lives in the Lafayette area

FLASh is very happy to announce it has been awarded a $2500.00 grant from the Petco Foundation to support its work with surrender prevention, to keep homeless and at-risk pets from ending up at local shelters. The Petco Foundation investment will help FLASh be able to help pet owners provide veterinary care such as vaccinations and spay/neuter, assist with pet food, and to rehome, if necessary.

“Petco Foundation is an amazing organization, so very true to their mission of helping local animal welfare organization, who are the 'boots on the ground' and encounter the daily needs of pets at risk and families in need of help. We are honored to be a partner, and to be selected as a recipient of funds,” said Patty Meehan, FLASh's director.

For more information about the Petco Foundation, visit www.petcofoundation.org. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #PetcoFoundation.

About the Petco Foundation At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $167 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

Kitty Needs a Hero -- Monday May 30th, 2016

We are looking for a very kind and compassionate super hero in our community - someone who is willing to foster or adopt a special needs cat. Meet MISS KITTY! MISS KITTY is eight years old - she is amazingly gently and loving. MISS KITTY is either completely blind or has very little vision. As most animals do, she has learned to compensate for this with other senses.

Sweet Kitty lost her home when her person passed away. We were asked to help her, so of course we said yes. Our emergency foster home has several other pets, including several dogs, which is a little much for Kitty. She will do very well in a home that is a little quieter.

She is spayed and up to date on vaccinations. This beautiful kitty needs a home where she will be a totally indoor cat for obvious reasons, and she needs someone who will be patent with her, while she adjusts to new surroundings. If you can be that super hero for her, please contact us at contact@flashlafayette.org. Thank you!

Meowza! -- Tuesday May 24th, 2016

KITTENS! KITTENS!

Everywhere!

It's Kitten Season! Calling all FLASh friends! We are in big need of foster homes for kittens. Tis the season when the kitten population increases dramatically. We are working very hard to save as many as possible. But we need you! We supply all vet care and kitten supplies, including food.

Please email us if you can open your home to a kitten or two for a few weeks. contact@flashlafayette.org

LPA PR May 2016 -- Wednesday May 18th, 2016

Contact:

Cydra Wingerter

337-291-8012

May 17, 2016

LCG Partners with Target Zero for No Kill Initiative

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mayor-President Joel Robideaux outlined the plan to implement best practices to lower the animal euthanasia numbers and increase the rescue and adoption rates at the Lafayette Parish Animal Control Center.

Robideaux announced that Lafayette Parish has been accepted into a fellowship program through Target Zero, a national nonprofit organization which works with community animal shelters in obtaining a no kill status. “I am looking forward to working with Target Zero to lower the euthanasia rate and increase live outcomes at our Animal Control Center. Target Zero has a proven track record helping communities like ours implement best practices to achieve no kill.”

Some of the measures to be implemented include:

Live Outcome Team – A “live outcome team” will be established in an effort to reduce the number of animals that are put down in the shelter. The team, which will include the shelter veterinarian and two key staff members selected by Robideaux, will make all euthanasia decisions.

Community Cat Diversion – In partnership with local veterinarians and SpayNation, outside cats at the shelter will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear tipped.

Adoption Events – Increased public adoption events will be planned as part of the new shelter policies. The goal is to increase the number of animals which are quickly adopted.

Surrender Prevention – Friends of the Lafayette Animal Shelter (FLASH) will work to offer alternatives to pet owners seeking to voluntarily surrender their animals to the shelter. A staff person or trained volunteer will coordinate with FLASH to handle all inquiries regarding surrender.

Software Upgrade – As a component of national best practices, new animal management software will aid in proper tracking and all decision making with regard to animals that are received at the center.

Working with Target Zero, the Lafayette Animal Control Center will immediately begin implementing best practices in the form of policies and procedures to increase the number of adoptions, lower unnecessary intake and work more closely with local stakeholders to steadily increase the rate of live outcomes until no kill status is achieved. A shelter is considered to have achieved no kill status when all healthy, adoptable animals are saved from euthanasia, which is generally recognized as a live outcome rate of 90%.

Dr. Sara Pizano, Program Director of Target Zero stated, “We are pleased to enter into this fellowship with Lafayette Consolidated Government to achieve no kill at the Lafayette Animal Control Center. We look forward to working with Mayor-President Robideaux, the shelter staff and local stakeholders to implement proven best practices to increase adoptions, lower the euthanasia rate and increase live outcomes. Through this work, Lafayette Parish can join communities across the nation who have successfully achieved no kill.”

By the year 2020, Robideaux hopes Lafayette Parish will have achieved the no kill status. Achieving no kill is not only a more humane approach according to Robideaux, but is also more cost effective because it eliminates expenses associated with euthanizing animals. “I am thankful to Dr. Sara Pizano and Target Zero for their willingness to work with Lafayette Parish to achieve this important goal. We know that it won’t be easy and it will require the entire community working together. I am committed to ensuring we make meaningful and steady progress toward achieving no kill status at the Lafayette Animal Control Center,” said Robideaux.

Longer-term plans in accomplishing the no kill goal include building a new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art animal shelter for Lafayette which will increase capacity. The current 6,000 square foot facility on Pont Des Mouton Road was built 25 years ago and is not large enough to house all of the animals that are currently taken in. The estimated $6 million cost of the new facility will be funded by the existing Public Health Millage.

Visit www.target-zero.org for more information on Target Zero.

###

Santa Paws 2015 -- Saturday December 5th, 2015

Take Your Pet's Photo with Santa!

Heros with Hearts -- Tuesday December 1st, 2015

The 2016 calendars are here!! Order yours today!! We are so excited about our calendars, a fundraiser for FLASh, done in partnership with the St. Martin Parish Animal Shelter. Handsome heroes and their hounds. The calendar is a full-sized wall calendar, measuring 11 inches wide and 17 inches tall, when opened up. The date squares are large enough to write important information. Order yours online at www.flashlafayette.org/shop . Or just click on the Heroes with Hearts Calendar link on the left menu of the home page.
All proceeds go to helping us help the homeless pets of the Acadiana area.

Raising Funds with Raising Cane's -- Tuesday October 6th, 2015

Mark Your Calendars! Sunday, Oct. 11, from 4:00-9:00 pm, Raising Canes on Kaliste Saloom Rd. is donating 15% of all sales when you mention FLASh!! WOW!!

Be sure to mention FLASh when you go!

Introducing: Project Fix Dat -- Monday August 10th, 2015

For Immediate Release
Date: 8/9/2015

Contact: Jeff Dorson, Chair, Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council (901)-268-4432

Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council Distributes $24,000 to Worthy Charities and Veterinary Clinics

(Baton Rouge, LA) The Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council recently awarded $24,000 to 13 different humane organizations and veterinary clinics as part of their mission to help reduce pet overpopulation.

The Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council was established in 2002 by Act 85, authored by then State Representative Melinda Schwegmann. The Council is charged with distributing funds raised for low-cost spay/neuter operations through the sale of Animal Friendly License Plates. Funds are awarded through grants made to qualifying veterinarians, veterinarian clinics and non-profit humane societies.

Because of technical errors and a lack of funds, the Council was previously unable to distribute the funds as provided by law. Legislation authored by Sen. J.P. Morrell during the 2014 Legislative Session corrected those errors and allowed the Council to properly manage the funds generated from the sale of Animal Friendly license plates and has been able to distribute them according to the guidelines established in the original 2002 bill.

These awards are the first in a two-part cycle of grants to be distributed this year. The following non-profits and veterinary clinics were chosen for the awards:

Cat Haven

Feliciana Animal Welfare Society

Friends of Lafayette Animal Shelter

Feral Cat Consortium

Union Humane Society

Robinson's Rescue

Project Spay/Neuter, New Orleans

Baton Rouge Spay/Neuter

Amite Veterinary Services

Companion Animal Alliance of Baton Rouge

Lovers not Biters, New Orleans

The Loveabulls Project

Spay Neuter Iberia Project

"We are pleased that all the previous issues regarding the collection of these funds and their distribution have been resolved, so that these monies can spent to support low-cost spay/neuter initiatives and programs around the state. By distributing these funds on a twice-a-year basis, we hope to reduce the number of unwanted litters, and over time, we hope to see fewer animals enter shelters or roaming our streets and alleyways," says Jeff Dorson, Chair of the Advisory Council.

“The Pet Overpopulation Fund is designed to help animal welfare organizations and veterinarians provide affordable spay and neuter services for pet owners in need,” says Sen. Morrell. "As author of this legislation, I'm pleased to help fight pet overpopulation and encourage responsible pet ownership across the state."

Citizens can contribute to the Council’s mission of reducing pet overpopulation by purchasing an Animal Friendly License Plate. The cost is $25 in addition to regular plate fees. To learn more about purchasing a plate and more ways to help, visit the Council’s website at www.louisianapetoverpopulation.org.

Tails for Ales -- Saturday July 25th, 2015

Saturday, July 25, 2015, from 3:00-7:00pm we are taking over the Tap Room in River Ranch. They are giving us 20% of all sales during those hours. All you need to do is show them the flyer in the comments. They have great food + great drinks! Live music starts at 4:00pm and they will have adult sno cones to cool you off. So join us for a great time for a great cause.

Funds for Flower -- Tuesday June 16th, 2015

Funds for Flower

Sweet Flower was abandoned at the Lafayette Animal Shelter, severely malnourished and matted, and heartworm positive. And with very bad haircut. Apparently, someone thought that it would be funny to try and give her a poodle cut. The shelter staff has taken the time to cut her down all the way to give her a fresh start, cosmetically.

The shelter adoption manager has reached out to FLASh for help saving Flower's life. Absolutely. We have arranged for a rescue for her, but first, she needs to be treated for heartworms.

Heartworm treatment is very expensive, so we are reaching out to you for help. Any amount helps.

She is a very gentle giant, and does not show ANY aggression at all, even when giving blood. She also does great with other dogs.

Flower will be in a foster home, while going through treatment.

Please visit her YouCaring website to donate to Flower's future.

Thank you so very much.

Pet Memorial Donation Program -- Sunday March 22nd, 2015

It's hard to know what to say when someone has recently experienced the loss of a pet, but you can let them know you are thinking of them with a touching memorial gift. Make a donation in their pet's name to FLASh. FLASH will send them a wonderful little book, For Every Dog an Angel, or For Every Cat an Angel, with a personal message from you. For more information, please contact FLASh at contact@flashlafayette.org.

Big Adoption Day -- Sunday February 1st, 2015

Yesterday was a big day for two of our foster dogs. Both Sadie and T-Fred were adopted and went to wonderful homes. We are so excited for them.