Animal Shelter

Shelter Manager Valerie Robinson

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I lose my pet?

Post on social media immediately. Post a few good pictures of the animal on your social media page, the "Lost Pets of Terrebonne Parish" facebook page, community facebook pages, and the "Next Door" app. Social media has successfully reunited owners with their pets in record speed!

Next, immediately go to the shelter and look for your pet. DO NOT WAIT!! Bring a good picture of your pet along with you to the shelter. If your animal isn't at the shelter at that time, it may come in at a later time. Be sure to complete a Lost Report at the shelter before leaving. CHECK OFTEN at the shelter for your animal. Although our staff is dedicated to reuniting pets with their owners, remembering the face of every lost/found animal isn't always possible due to the hundreds of animals that cycle in the shelter each month.

Finding Rover is an online tool that uses facial recognition to help lost pets reunite with their families. Finding Rover is user-friendly and all you need is a picture of the lost/found pet. Finding Rover offers a FREE lifetime registration and sign up is simple at www.FindingRover.com.

If you absolutely cannot make it to the shelter, send an e-mail to animalshelter@tpcg.org with "LOST ANIMAL" in the subject line with a few good pictures of your animal and the following information:

  • your name, address, phone number(s)
  • date, time and location you lost the animal
  • breed
  • color (primary and secondary)
  • sex (spayed/neutered)
  • age
  • temperament
  • markings (scars, microchip, tattoos, ear-tip, etc.)
  • collar/tags (color of collar)
  • approximate weight

Make flyers with a good picture of your pet and multiple phone numbers. Post them in your neighborhood and at veterinary offices, pet stores, boarding/grooming facilities, animal establishments, etc.

Spread the word!! Tell neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. to be on the lookout for your animal.

Also, contact the local newspaper(s) to place a free ad with a brief description (and picture) of the animal.

The Courier
(985) 850-1100
news@houmatoday.com
Daily Comet
(985) 448-7600
news@dailycomet.com

DON'T GIVE UP!! Owners have been reunited with their animals after 6 months or more of being lost.


What do I do if I find an animal?

Post on social media immediately. Post a few good pictures of the animal on your social media page, the "Lost Pets of Terrebonne Parish" facebook page, community facebook pages, and the "Next Door" app. Social media has successfully reunited owners with their pets in record speed!

Next, contact the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985)873-6709 or e-mail animalshelter@tpcg.org with "FOUND ANIMAL" in the subject line and send a few good pictures of the animal along with the following details:

  • your name, address, phone number(s)
  • date, time and location you found the animal
  • sex
  • approximate age
  • temperament
  • markings (scars, tattoos, ear-tip, etc.)
  • anything else that is significant that might help find its owner

Next, bring the animal to a veterinary office or the TPAS to have it scanned for a microchip.

Finding Rover is an online tool that uses facial recognition to help lost pets reunite with their families. Finding Rover is user-friendly and all you need is a picture of the lost/found pet. Finding Rover offers a FREE lifetime registration and sign up is simple at www.FindingRover.com.

Also, contact the local newspaper(s) to place a free ad with a brief description (and picture) of the animal.

The Courier
(985) 850-1100
news@houmatoday.com
Daily Comet
(985) 448-7600
news@dailycomet.com

Extra steps to reunite the animal with its owner include:

  • Making flyers of the animal and posting them around the neighborhood and at veterinary offices, pet stores, boarding/grooming facilities, animal establishments, etc.
  • Spread the word!! Tell neighbors, friends, relatives, etc.

You should continue to actively seek the animal's rightful owner for a minimum of 14 days.


What do I do if I see an animal in distress?

Terrebonne Parish - Call the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 873-6709. If after-hours, contact the Houma Police Department at (985) 873-6371 (within city limits) or Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office (outside city limits) at (985) 876-2500. Animal Control responds to emergencies 24/7 through law enforcement.

Lafourche Parish - Call Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 446-3532 or the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office (985) 446-2255.


What do I do if I see a stray in my neighborhood?

Post on social media immediately. Post a few good pictures of the animal on your social media page, the "Lost Pets of Terrebonne Parish" facebook page, community facebook pages, and the "Next Door" app. Social media has successfully reunited owners with their pets in record speed!

*Dogs - Call the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 873-6709. If the animal is injured or aggressive, please notify the dispatcher when you call. We accept strays from Terrebonne Parish during business hours.

*Cats - A community cat is an unowned cat that lives outdoors. Community cats with a tipped ear, have been spayed/neutered and given immunizations. They may be friendly, or in some cases, not socialized with/by people. Don't worry; community cats are already used to living outside and are happier this way. Community cats can provide a free and natural form of pest control for neighborhoods. If you find a community cat without a tipped ear, the best thing to do is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). TNR is the process of humanely trapping and transporting community cats for spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, and ear-tipping. After the procedures, the cat is returned to their outdoor home. All cats that are outdoors, even for just a short period of time, need to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Find out more on our community cats page.

Lafourche Parish - Call the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 446-3532 or the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office (985) 446-2255.


What do I do if I am bitten by an animal?

Immediately report the bite to the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 873-6709. If it is after-hours, contact the Houma Police Department (inside city limits) at (985) 873-6371 or Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office at (985) 876-2500 (outside city limits). Follow up the next day with the TPAS if the bite occurred after-hours to ensure that we have all of the pertinent information regarding the bite.

Get as much information about the dog and owner as possible at the time of bite. This is critical.

Bite case animals are quarantined according to the law for a period of 10 days to observe for signs of rabies.


What do I do about disposal of animal remains?

If your animal dies, you are responsible for disposal.

Bayou Paws Pet Crematory
(985) 594-9832
Bayou Paws Pet Crematory is a private pet crematory located in Terrebonne Parish.

Please contact Waste Management at 985-851-0278 for animal disposal through waste management. Waste Management provides disposal services for dead animals found on roadways. They will not remove dead animals found on private property.


What do I do if I see an animal being cruelly treated?

Report the abuse to the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985) 873-6709. Come forward as a witness. Without witnesses, it is very difficult to prosecute cruelty crimes. We need citizens who are willing to stand up against this senseless act.


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