Grand Opening of FOTA’s Adoption House – Friends of the Animals invites Baton Rougeans to the grand opening of its adoption house.

Friends of the Animals invites Baton Rougeans to the grand opening of its adoption house at 8476 Highland Road (Map it!). The event kicks off at 4 p.m.

Besides an opportunity to meet adoptable canine companions, the event includes refreshments and features the work of 10 local artists.

The first of its kind in the city, the house offers an opportunity for 40 rescued dogs and puppies to meet the public.

“It’s a place away from the shelter that’s a home-like environment where dogs can relax, and adopters can see their personality,” FOTA founder Paula Schoen says.

The selection of dogs showcased at the Highland Road location changes daily. These dogs have either been surrendered, or are in danger of being surrendered by their owners, to East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control. To be eligible for the Adoption House, puppies and dogs must first enter Companion Animal Alliance’s or FOTA’s foster programs.

All of the adoptable dogs at the Adoption House are living with families rather than in a kennel. That means the foster caregivers can provide potential adopters with insight into the dog from diet and activity level to behaviors, housebreaking status and even favorite toys.

“We’re removing obstacles to pet adoption by making the dogs accessible to adopters,” Schoen says. “We’re making it easier to foster animals by providing exposure and enrichment for the dogs during the day. We hope to increase adoptions and add to our corps of foster caregivers, so we can move more dogs out of the shelter.”

Since it opened for business in early June, the Adoption House has been a howling success. Of the 162 dogs FOTA has removed from the shelter, more than 100 have been adopted from the Highland Road location.

The house’s hours are Monday-Friday 1 p.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. No appointment is necessary.

In addition, the non-profit hosts weekly adoptions at Orvis on Saturdays and Sundays at noon-3 p.m. and at the Downtown Arts Market the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m.-noon.

Additional parking for the grand opening is available at Frameworks across the street with a park-and-ride available.

These are among the lucky dogs adopters might encounter at FOTA’s Adoption House.

Allie is probably a corgi/Chihuahua mix. At little less than a year old and weighing less than 10 pounds, this sweet, happy little girl gets along fine with people and dogs. Due to her small size, Allie is best suited to a home without toddlers; but, she would be a great addition to any family.

Libby is an 11-year-old, 15-pound poodle. She came to FOTA because her elderly owner could no longer care for her. While Libby loves playing with her toys, she is happiest when she’s in a lap. Libby is afraid of other dogs and cries when they approach, so she is best suited to being an only dog.

Abby is a gorgeous four-year-old Brittany spaniel. Although a purebred animal, Abby was unloved and severely underfed before she came into rescue. This very sweet girl is blossoming in foster care. She’s great with dogs of all sizes. She’s kennel trained, knows how to sit on command and appears housebroken.

Snoopy is a four-year-old schnauzer/Yorkie mix. Sweet and affectionate, this 20-pound girl loves to lie in your lap for as much petting as she can get. Snoopy needs to be the only dog in a calm home. She’s nervous around other dogs, and loud noises or voices cause her to run and hide. Sweet Snoopy needs an owner to help her feel safe and know how much she’s loved.

Hunter is a three-year-old, 44-pound German Shepherd/hound mix. He is housebroken, knows basic obedience commands and is leash and crate-trained. This friendly, loving, energetic boy craves human attention. Smart, eager-to-please and sociable, Hunter gets along with adults, children and other dogs.

Kaiser is a very handsome, 50-pound German shepherd. This happy boy loves to fetch and play with squeaky toys. When playtime is over, Kaiser is happy just chilling right along side his humans. While this one-year-old is crate trained and housebroken, he still needs to learn some doggie manners. Kaiser loves all people and has gotten along well with the other dog in the house. He would do best in a home without small children.

All these pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested and microchipped. Many other adoptable dogs are available through Friends of the Animals.