Anna Monica / L’Observateur / April 5, 2000

Some things bother me more than others. The treatment of animals by thepopulation in general bothers me. Fortunately, I don’t know all the horrorstories of how animals are treated. For that I am thankful because it wouldbe difficult to sleep at night if I did. Man’s inhumane treatment of anythingbothers me, be it man or beast. At least man, for the most part, has a brainor, usually, a caretaker.

Therefore, I am bothered by talk about our St. John animal shelter. I believein it, heavily promote it and want the very best treatment for those animals without a home. Especially, though, I want to see the right people running ourshelter and the right people would be those who truly love animals and would put their welfare on highest priority. Plainly put, the thought of anyoneexcept Heidi Hogan of LaPlace being in charge of our animal shelter absolutely frightens me.

I had to talk to Heidi to get some facts. Yes, there have been complaints andindeed I heard some right here in Garyville. As I understand it, the shelter issimply following the laws that govern it. Animals are picked up in this order: (1) vicious and a public safety issue; (2) injured; (3) general strays; (4) dogs which are owned and stray. Talk to police first who will talk to the owner andsometimes they do not have to be picked up. I once had a pet picked up. Itwas making my life miserable and the owner was not responsible. The lawalso says that after five days a dog must be adopted or destroyed although, hopefully, that time is stretched.

According to Heidi, money collected goes back to the parish which handles it for the shelter. The shelter receives from $2,600 to $2,700 a month. Shehas two full time workers and one part-time whom, she claims, works more hours than they are paid for. Heidi takes no salary. When I asked why, shewould only say “the money could go toward something better – repairs, utilities, food, etc.” Last year the shelter picked up nearly 1,000 animals; only 51 were re- claimed by their owners and 140 were adopted. The others were destroyed,except for those carried over to the next year and does that make me absolutely ill. The shelter has only 23 cages. So, you just go look into someof those big, innocent animal eyes and tell me you don’t care if they are destroyed! Heidi’s big dream is to raise enough money for a “no-kill” shelter and I pray that dream is realized.

There are some animals that are meant to be part of our human food chain.

The others have every right to live so I want to dream with Heidi that not only do we get a new, better animal shelter, but that we can also get a “no kill” facility. That would be an almost unprecedented and incredible act ofkindness on the part of the people of our parish.

Originally from Iowa, Heidi has been in our area for about 11 years and having witnessed inhumane treatment of animals in the past, formed the Humane Society when the parish let them come in as volunteers. Then, the Sheriff’sDepartment gave it up and the shelter got a few dollars to help out.

Still the shelter needs us and it especially needs Heidi. What tragedies if itwere to become a political football or just a paid parish job for someone to make a salary yet not meet the needs of the animals with love and compassion. Heidi Hogan is quick to admit, “animals are my life.” Yet, shegives life to animals as well. I have seen it first-hand. We can make calls onbehalf of the shelter and share our concern with parish government for God’s dumb creatures. I believe we are supposed to do that. I believe in thelove of Heidi Hogan. I believe in incredible acts of kindness, many of whichalready have been provided by Heidi. We can provide the rest.

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