By Pat Culverhouse
Nearly 40 animals, including 28 dogs, were rescued from a Doyline residence when a Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office animal control officer responded to a complaint of animals at large on Horseshoe Loop.
Sheriff Jason Parker said the animals were found in conditions that he described as beyond deplorable.
“I don’t know that words can adequately describe what our officer found when he went inside that residence,” Parker said. “Officer David Robertson had to contact an agency to send out breathing apparatus in order to remain inside during his investigation.”
In addition to 28 dogs, two of which were deceased, officers found ducks, chickens and rabbits inside and outside the residence, Parker said.
“The conditions were just beyond deplorable,” he said. “We aren’t going to tolerate this kind of abuse to animals.”
The investigation is continuing.
All the animals were taken from the residence with the assistance of LaMa Animal Rescue, a non-profit volunteer group from Springhill which partners with the Sheriff’s Office to provide care for neglected animals.
“We help pick up non-aggressive animals and take them to a veterinarian in Springhill,” said LaMa’s Michelle Lewis. “In this case, we picked up all 26 dogs, took them to the vet for assessment and shots and had them spayed and neutered.”
Lewis said the assorted ducks, chickens and rabbits taken from the Doyline location have already found new homes. The dogs will be fostered until they can find their forever homes.
“We find these animals homes in Maine, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.,” she said. “It helps to move them to a new environment and it’s been very successful.”
Last year, Parker said LaMa helped the Sheriff’s Office move more than 700 animals from horrible conditions of neglect and abuse to new homes.
“This is the very best alternative for these animals. It’s sad to see the conditions these animals are subjected to,” Parker said. “I cannot understand why people want to keep animals if they do not intend to care for them.”
LaMa is made up of five volunteers and covers northwest Louisiana. The organization receives its operating capital through fundraisers and donations, Lewis said.
“It’s expensive to operate, but the results are rewarding,” she said. “Just in the month of May, our expenses were $40,000. We keep operating on faith and the generosity of those who support our work.”
More information on the organization is available at lamaanimalrescue.org. Donations may be made at venmo@LaMa-Animal Rescue, or through the mail at P.O. Box 224, Springhill, LA 71705.
