Natchitoches is home to many furry friends, yet some of these animals end up without a home and an abundance of pets, leaving Natchitoches with an overpopulation of dogs and cats.
Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals (FAUNA) is a nonprofit organization that helps shelter and spay and neuter dogs and cats. The organization is an adoption center that provides people with low-cost spay and neuter treatments for their pets.
FAUNA came about after combining Hope for Paws and The Humane Society both organizations decided to come together to form FAUNA in 2022. FAUNA uses both of the old facilities but facilities are not open to the public.
“We’ve got 141 dogs in our care, so they’re not all at the sites. Probably 45 of them are at the sites and then the rest of them are in foster care. We have a lot of good fosters, but it’s never enough we’re always getting calls and messages daily about animals that need our help,” Karn Richoux, secretary of FAUNA, said.
FAUNA relies heavily on foster parents along with volunteers to help take care and house some of these pets. They are open to receive volunteers and you can volunteer by filling out the applications on their website.
Once pets are under the care of FAUNA, whether they are in the facility or in a foster home, they are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and stay up to date on heartworm treatments.
“In terms of foster parents, the financial needs are provided by FAUNA. So food and veterinary care are provided by our organization unless the person wants to contribute themselves, but they are basically just providing the space for the animal until they can be adopted or transported to another organization,” Leah Forsyth, vice president of FAUNA, said.
People interested in becoming foster home members can apply and fill out a form on FAUNA’s website.
FAUNA also works with Northwestern State University of Louisiana and its veterinary program.
Each year NSU’s Department of Veterinary Technology houses around 15 to 20 dogs and cats for the program. Animals are kept in the NSU facilities to help veterinary students get the training they need.
“The program provides food, shelter, some basic medical care and necessary surgical procedures that may be needed for the animals that are housed here. In turn, our students are able to learn some essential veterinary skills that are transferable to clinical practice,” Douglas Landry, department head of Veterinary Technology and assistant professor, said.
Although NSU Veterinary Technology does not keep these furry friends for long, the ultimate goal is to find them a home. If the animals are not adopted out by the end of the semester, they are taken back to FAUNA in hopes of getting adopted there.
FAUNA is in the process of expanding its efforts by the creation of a new facility. Specific details on the new facility are to be announced.
If you or someone you know is looking for a furry friend or two, make sure to tell them to visit FAUNA’s website and check out some of the cuties they have waiting for a home.
