Homeless animals are getting a new lease on life through Baton Rouge’s Companion Animal Alliance, which is committed to becoming a no-kill shelter where animals are only adopted and not euthanized.
And CAA’s efforts have begun to pay off, according to Director Debbie Pearson.
“As of now, we have had a 100-percent adoption rate for the past eight weeks,” Pearson said, meaning no animals from the organization’s last-minute rescue list have been put down. 
CAA uses the Internet to help with the adoptions of its animals. Pearson said through the use of a Facebook page, Last Minute Hope for Baton Rouge Animals, followers are able to see all of the animals available for adoption.
“It is a lot of work, but this list helps capture the hearts of future adoptive families,” Pearson said. “It is always a huge relief to not have to euthanize these animals at the end of the week and to see them go home with a new family.”
When Pearson and CAA took over the city’s old pound, East Baton Rouge Animal Control and Rescue, the euthanasia rate was 80 percent, she said. Euthanizations hit an all-time high in 2007, when 10,851 animals were put down. That number was nearly cut in half by 2010, which saw 6,023 euthanizations. And as the shelter has sustained a 100-percent adoption rate over the last two months, it’s getting closer to Pearson’s vision of a no-kill facility.
CAA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals that was formed with the help of other animal support organizations, like Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge and No Kill Baton Rouge.
Animals are euthanized when adoptive homes can’t be found, space is limited or animals are too dangerous, Pearson said. To end the euthanizations, all animals at the shelter would have to find a new home. But each adoption means there is space to care for another animal.
“When you adopt one animal, you save the life of another,” Pearson said. “You are allowing another dog or cat the chance to live.”
A group of dog and cat lovers worked diligently to transition the old pound into what is now CAA, Pearson said. The goal was to create a more humane space for the animals, with a focus on limiting euthanasia.
“Most dogs or cats, all they need is a proper home,” Pearson said. “It is our job to give them that second chance.”
Pearson said the recent decline in euthanizations is definitely a start, but in order to continue successfully, the shelter needs to further educate the community about adoption and euthanasia.
“Most people don’t like to talk about euthanasia because it is a sensitive issue,” Pearson said. “It is sad, but we need to expose the problem.”
Pearson is dedicated to making sure people know that euthanizations do happen to animals when they are not adopted.
“These animals do not deserve death,” she said. “Most of the time, people just don’t want to adopt them. It isn’t the dog’s fault.”
Pearson said it is also important to educate the community about spaying and neutering animals. The shelter needs to reduce intake of animals and increase the outflow, she said.
“The more we can educate the public, the less of a problem this will be,” Pearson said.
Pearson said she’s hopeful that the shelter will become a no-kill facility one day.
“We will continue to offer a clean, well-run facility, grow as an organization and save more dogs each year,” Pearson said.
 
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Contact Lauren Duhon at [email protected]