Facing future shelter relocation, Yelp! Baton Rouge dogs need a home

This Tuesday, Yelp! Baton Rouge vacates the home it has occupied rent free.

Thanks to landowner Joe Greco, the local dog rescue has been able to maintain a 50-dog shelter on the Lanier Street for the last four years. But the property is now up for sale.

Yelp has placed approximately 2,000 homeless and neglected dogs and puppies with new families since its inception in 2010. While the nonprofit plans to eventually build or buy another shelter, Yelp is taking this opportunity to expand its foster program.

Fortunately, the public has already begun to help Yelp. Last week, 40 dogs lived at the Yelp House. Thanks to adoption and foster efforts, 25 dogs found new homes. The non-profit now seeks adopters and/or new fosters for the remaining 15 dogs.

Rescuing the dogs from shelters with a high euthanasia rate and showcasing them at the Yelp House adoption center undoubtedly saved many lives. However, Yelp Executive Director Jessica Card says, “Having the dogs in a home environment is even better.”

When they live in a home rather than in a kennel, shelter or rescue, dogs can relax and let their true personality shine through. Many times, foster families discover characteristics that kennel workers may never encounter, such as whether the dog has house manners, knows particular tricks or gets along well with young children, other dogs or cats.

Communicating the personality traits of a shelter animal to a potential adoptive family makes that animal more likely to be adopted than another animal with an unknown background and temperament, research shows.

Just as importantly, foster families benefit from working together to make a difference in their community and save a life.

Card encourages potential fosters and adopters to visit YelpBR.com to view the some of the available animals. Once they determine which dogs they are interested in, families can make an appointment with Yelp staff to meet the dogs.

Creature feature

Among Yelp’s cuddly canines available are:

Found as a stray, Blaze is a striking adult black male lab with a sleek, shiny coat. He is very athletic, obsessed with tennis balls and fetching. Blaze would be best suited to a home without other male dogs.

Lucille is a 1-year-old, female bloodhound. She enjoys the company of people and other dogs.

Duke is a 5-month old terrier mix. A good samaritan saved this puppy right before he was about to be used as a bait dog. Duke likes to play fetch and cuddle. Like all puppies, he will benefit from training and socialization; but, he already has a happy, sweet temperament.

Delilah is a 3-year-old Wheaten terrier/foxhound mix. Her foster estimates her previous owners did not spend any time with her because Delilah soaks up every bit of attention she can get now. She gets along well with elementary school children and other dogs.

Sadie is a 5-year-old Weimaraner. Her owner surrendered this silver beauty when the family moved into an apartment that didn’t allow dogs. Sadie is house-trained and good with children. Since she was an only dog, she is just now learning how to play with other dogs in her foster home.

Jasper is a 2-year-old, 8-pound terrier mix. He is playful, loving boy who is full of life.

These great dogs have all been vaccinated, spayed/neutered, microchipped and heartworm-tested.

Many other puppies and dogs are available at Yelp!BR’s website or Facebook page.