For a city its size, Baton Rouge offers pet owners a remarkable array of comforts, services and products. Here are just some of the advantages, amenities and initiatives enjoyed by local pooches, kitties and exotics.
Finding the perfect match
Beaucoup Adopt-Don’t-Shop Options: The easiest way to be a hero and save a life is to adopt or foster a homeless pet. Mixed-breed rescues are overflowing with wonderful pets, even “designer dogs.” Meanwhile, local breed-specific rescues offer everything from ducks, horses and rabbits to ferrets, bichons and Persian kittens.
For more information, visit our “City Lynx” list or visit petfinder.com and click on local shelters.
Roadside Sale Ban: In 2008, Mari Presedo, an animal advocate and rescuer of Chinese cresteds, created—and pushed the Metro Council to approve—a ban on the roadside sale of animals. That ban has halted the appearance of unscrupulous puppy, kitten, chick and bunny vendors who once frequented flea markets and parking lots where they sold sick animals for outrageous prices. The first of its kind, the Baton Rouge ban is being adopted all over the state.
Party animals
Dog Parks: BREC has opened five lushly landscaped spaces for the running of the hounds. Find out more at brec.org.
Krewe of Mutts: Now in its 12th year, this Mardi Gras pet fęte benefits the city’s oldest rescue, Capital Area Animal Welfare Society.
LSU Tiger HATS: Twenty years ago, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Instructor Stephanie Johnson launched a Human Animal Therapy Service (HATS) as a way for vet students to participate in an animal-assisted therapy program. Nearly 100 dog-owner teams from throughout the community now frequent 17 sites, including nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, oncology units, libraries, a children’s halfway house and a developmental center. While these trained therapy dogs go on 5,000 visits annually, the local requests from new venues still far exceeds capacity.
Happy and healthy
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Faculty: Baton Rouge is one of only 28 cities in the country lucky enough to have world-class specialists and state-of-the-art, high-tech veterinary care available at a moment’s notice. Virtually any kind of specialized care pet owners might seek for themselves at a human hospital is available for pets at LSU.
Glen Dupree: This St. Francisville veterinarian uses a holistic approach to animal illness and employs the use of homeopathic medicine to treat pets suffering from acute or chronic diseases.
Larry McCaskill: Pet owners come from all corners of the state to Jefferson Animal Hospital seeking treatment from this Chinese-trained certified veterinary acupuncturist.
Javier Nevarez: Director of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, LSU’s exotic animal specialist is the primary care doc for unusual pets from boa constrictors and hawks to potbellied pigs and sugar gliders.
Carrie Schultz: The HousePet Housevet makes housecalls to take care of anything from newborn check-ups to chronic care and hospice services for older animals.
Haute dog
Baton Rouge Petsitters’ Network: From Central to Southdowns and Siegen Lane to Denham Springs, this group of professionals offers everything from dog show handling and pet taxi service to in-home grooming by Liz Lacoste, the city’s only mobile groomer.
Canine Earth: Entrepreneur Kylee LeJeune originally developed an organic shampoo to soothe her Westie’s sensitive skin. Her line of organic dog products is now available nationwide and in Asia.
The Dog Run: Owner Tammy Bourgoyne employs clicker training to teach young and old dogs some new tricks and manners.
Funkadelic Pet Portraits: With the eye of an artist and the soul of a rescuer, Simon Baxter captures the essence of pets’ personalities in whimsical portraits. His work has delighted judges at exhibitions and enhanced the homes of many local pet owners.
Most Delightful Dog Bites: In 2007, dietician Marlene Most was inspired to launch an organic line of mutt munchies when her dogs kept craving a granola recipe she concocted for people. Since then, she has developed dog cakes, snack mix, and frozen and baked treats.
Petz Plaza: At its locations on Perkins Road and Jefferson Highway, this posh pet palace offers doggie daycare and deluxe suites with Yappy Hour—and even a few cat condos for the feline kind.
Retirement options and the Rainbow Bridge
Hospice of Baton Rouge Pet Peace of Mind Program: Since March 2010, Hospice of Baton Rouge has administered this Banfield Pet Hospital program that encourages patients to keep their pets at home throughout the owner’s end-of-life journey. Trained volunteers help with in-home pet care, work with area vets to make sure pets remain healthy and facilitate adoptions upon the patient’s death.
Best Friend Gone Project: In 1991, LSU Instructor Stephanie Johnson, a social worker who specializes in bonds between animals and humans, created this counseling program and support group to help owners deal with the death of a cherished pet.
