New hours listed for animal shelter

The new shelter for the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services will have extended Saturday hours beginning Saturday. The shelter has been open to the public on Saturdays from 8 to noon.  The public will now have access to the shelter from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.  

“We hope this will provide greater opportunity for the public to visit the shelter on Saturdays, which is for many the only day of the week they can make it,” said Melisa Sullivan, director of the Department of Animal Services.  

In addition, the Department of Animal Services is looking for volunteers to help bathe, walk and socialize adoption dogs at the shelter. These services are an important part of preparing an adoption dog to go to a new home. Foster parents for young puppies and kittens who are too young for surgery are needed as well.

Animal Services sometimes receives young litters of puppies or kittens who have been orphaned, and the little ones need foster care until they are old enough to be put into adoption.

“The public can really get involved in our efforts,” said Sullivan. “We want every healthy adoptable dog and cat to find a home, and this is an important part of the process.”

Those interested in volunteering at the shelter or fostering puppies or kittens should contact the St. Tammany Department of Animal Services at 882-4454.

The shelter is located at 31078 Louisiana Highway 36 in Lacombe.