By Christopher Lenois

LAPLACE – Linda Allen would have liked to have been at this week’s meeting of the St. John the Baptist Parish Council when the members finally approved the funding source for the construction of a new animal shelter building, but she was prevented by some personal business, as well as the never-ending duty she accepts as shelter manager.

“I had three 911 calls after 5 p.m. last night,” said Allen, who is accustomed to as many as nine or 10 calls a day regarding dog bites, strays and other animal related emergencies.

Allen said she was trying to watch the proceedings on TV, but missed council member Lester Rainey’s motion to adopt the recommendation by Parish President Nickie Monica and his administration to use $175,000 from a land transaction with the State of Louisiana to proceed with the construction. She was in her yard feeding four stray cats when she received a telephone call with the good news.

“I’ve prayed for this for 10 years,” said Allen. “It’s like a new beginning.”

Current plans for the new shelter call for a single modular building to replace the two trailers and dog kennel currently located by the water treatment plant. Eight acres of land in Reserve had been set aside for the shelter by the previous administration and council.

The new building will have expanded space to accommodate more dogs and cats. Another key feature to the new shelter will be dog runs in each kennel. Currently, the shelter employees have to take each dog residing in their 24 kennels out into the yard for exercise.

The plan seemed to be moving forward rapidly until the March 26 council meeting, when Monica said they were having trouble finding a funding source for the projects. A visibly surprised Rainey said he would meet with Monica to help develop some recommendations.

“Hopefully we’re fine now,” said Rainey after the most recent meeting. “I’m happy to get past it.”

President Monica said the state of Louisiana desired to purchase the ten acres of land to expand the presence of the Louisiana Technical College campus in Reserve. The parish owns about 350 acres of land in the area surrounding the trade school and the St. John Airport.

Allen expressed her gratitude to the council for their support, and praised Monica’s continued efforts on behalf of the shelter, which the parish assumed responsibility for a couple years ago.

“If Nickie had not pushed as much as he has, it wouldn’t even be what it is now,” said Allen.