ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / May 17, 2000

LAPLACE – St. John Parish President Nickie Monica’s reputation has gone tothe dogs lately. At least that’s the opinion of the Animal Control AdvisoryBoard.

During last week’s council meeting the head of the Animal Control Advisory Board, Kay Durr, accused Monica of not following through on several promises he made to the St. John Animal Shelter.On May 1 the St. John Humane Society was fired as curators of the animalshelter and the parish took over the facility. Monica told the Animal ControlAdvisory Board he would get it help from the St. John Sheriff’s Inmate WorkProgram to help clean out the shelter. He told the board that he wouldremove the rotting trailer that served as a storage house at the shelter.

Supplies like dog food, medicine, cleaning supplies were also promised to the shelter.

According to Durr, none of these promises have materialized.

“Nothing has been done,” said Durr. “This shelter is not humane, and Irecommend that the parish take the necessary steps to renovate the shelter.”Durr is also upset because Monica is thinking of not using land out by the airport to build a new shelter. Instead, he wants to build a new shelter at theold site on Water Plant Road.

Another Animal Control Advisory Board member, Barbara Falgoust, didn’t mince words when she addressed the council.

“We have heard promises, promises, promises, but have received nothing,” Falgoust said.

Right now the shelter is being manned by volunteers, mostly members of the Animal Control Advisory Board. Monica is actively seeking out a qualifiedperson to take over control of the shelter. At the present time, the actingdirector is Lesley Spranley also a member of the board. But Spranley saidshe will only do the job on a temporary basis.

“I’ve done a lot of the cleaning of the dog cages,” said a frustrated Falgoust to the council. “Why don’t you all come on out and do some cleaning? Theadministration has to get off the pot and do something.”In defense of the administration, Chief Administrative Officer Chris Guidry told the council, “The president did act. He fired the other director. He hasdone a remarkable job with this.” “There are problems at the shelter,” Guidry admitted, “but this administration is well into deciding what to do.”Monica backed up Guidry.

“We are trying to negotiate with the sheriff for workers,” Monica said. “If wesell the airport land, we can use the money to build a new shelter.”Monica said Director of Public Works and Utilities Phil DiFranco has already ordered a new trailer for the shelter.

As for hiring the new personnel needed at the shelter, Monica said the bureaucracy is to blame.

“When working within civil service the process is slow,” said Monica, “but it is within the law. When there is a transition, there will be some problems.”Monica said Monday that St. Charles Parish is helping out with the problem.”St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque is sending us one of his animalcontrol officers to help out,” said Monica.

The animal control officer has 11 years experience in running a shelter and catching dogs. The officer will help out the over-worked Melissa Vial, who isthe only qualified animal control officer working at the St. John shelter.”Mr. Laque said we could use this officer as long as we want,” said Monica.This will help out until the administration can hire a permanent shelter director. Plus, Monica said a fence and a utility pole are being moved so thatthe new trailer can be moved into place sometime this week.

“We are doing something,” said Monica.

Return To News Stories