Leksi Glass and Maegan St. Marie, volunteers at the Plaquemines Animal Shelter, monitor the young kittens in their cages still waiting for adoption.
Photo by William Dilella

The ribbon-cutting for the new Plaquemines Parish Animal Shelter officially opened the facility on F. Edward Hebert on Sept. 10.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, Animal Control Superintendent Raymund Ferrer, and WWL reporter Angela Hill were present for the facility’s ribbon cutting.

Hill, who made a significant contribution toward the new facility and had been personally following its progress, lauded the efforts made by the Parish. Hill’s relief over the site was triggered by the terrible conditions she saw in the old PAWS warehouse facility, which was never meant to hold animals.

“You promised, and you are going to be better as a community,” Hill said. “Shelters don’t have to be filled with sorrow. They can be joyous places, happy places, and places of victory.”

Nungesser also spoke before the ribbon was cut.

“We have come a very long way from the humble designs of our previous animal facility to the great, new Animal Shelter we now have,” Nungesser said “It’s staffed by a team of dedicated, caring individuals.”

Before the ceremony was over, Nungesser was carrying his own newly adopted dog, his eighth.

“I expect everyone else to leave with a pet,” Nungesser announced.

For those interested in adoption, the Plaquemines Parish Animal Shelter is at 455 F. Edward Hebert, just across from the temporary Courthouse.