Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter (TPAS) has recently updated the Animal Shelter webpage with up-to-date information on frequently-discussed topics. Below is a summary of some of the added topics. The topics include maintaining a nuisance-free home/property, caring for community cats and kittens, and surrendering a pet. 

Nuisance Wildlife

Louisiana is home to many different species of wildlife. At some point, most citizens here will come across some of the neighborhood critters. Here are some ways you can keep your home and property critter free.

• Repair any opening in your home where animals can gain entry (dime-sized holes are access points).
• Screen open windows.
• Cap your chimney.
• Close the open space of a raised home with cement blocks or lattice.
• Use artificial owls, hawks, or snakes to discourage small birds and squirrels in fruit trees.
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper around gardens/flower beds to keep wildlife from digging them up.
• Secure your trash can with a tight lid or bungee cord.
• Prevent toppled trash cans by placing the cans in an anchored rack or tying them to the fence.
• Remove all cat and/or dog food after mealtime but before dark every day.
• Clean up spilled birdseed under and around bird feeders.
• Lay a wire mesh flat around the edges of a pond with some extending into the water to deter wildlife from eating the fish. The wire is unstable, and they won't stand on it.
• Wrap plastic/metal guards around tree trunk 5-6' high to limit access to trees and roof tops.
• Trim back tree limbs several feet from your roof top.
• Lock all pet doors at night to keep raccoons out of the kitchen or garage.
• Spray fox scent to deter raccoons away from your property.

Wildlife Removal

• Healthy Nuisance Wildlife Removal: The removal of healthy nuisance wildlife is typically handled by residents themselves or by a professional, private wildlife trapper.
• Sick/Injured/Orphaned Wildlife Removal: For sick/injured/orphaned wildlife, citizens can contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
• Emergency Wildlife Response: If a rehabilitator is not available to assist with sick/injured/orphaned wildlife or wildlife in the primary living space (not in the attic, garage, etc.) of a residence, citizens can contact Animal Control at (985) 873-6709.

Community Cats

What is a community cat? A community cat is a cat that lives outdoors that has been spayed/neutered and given immunizations, including rabies, and can be identified by having a tipped ear.

If you find a community cat without an ear-tip, the best thing to do is TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). TNR is the process of humanely trapping and transporting community cats for spay/neuter surgery, rabies vacation, and ear-tipping. After the procedures, the cat is returned to their outdoor home.

Community cats can provide a free and natural form of pest control for neighborhoods.

Abandoned Kittens

When you find a litter of kittens, the best thing to do is leave the kittens alone. The mother cat will likely return shortly. It’s critical that the kittens remain in her care as she offers the best chance for survival.

If you find the kittens and are extremely certain that they are orphaned, you can step in and help by caring for the kittens until they’re old enough to find homes. The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter has launched a program called Milk Man. This program is designed to make it convenient for people who care for newborn kittens in their home. The animal shelter will provide all the necessary tools to ensure the kittens get off to a healthy start and help find forever homes for the kittens when they are ready.

Pet Surrender

If you feel you can no longer care for your pet and must surrender him/her to the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, you must be a Terrebonne Parish resident with a valid ID and make an appointment with TPAS.

An alternative to surrendering your pet to a shelter is finding your pet a new home.

• Notify friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers that you need to find a new home for your pet.
• Post signs at your local veterinarian’s office or pet-related business advertising rehoming your pet.
• Use social media to help spread the word about finding a new home for your pet.
• Use the Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet or Home to Home website to list your pet to rehome. They offer expert advice and safe meeting zones to provide a safer alternative to online classifieds.
• Contact rescue organizations to see if they may be able to help with placement.

If it is a behavioral issue, there are local professional trainers that are here to help:

• Canine Etiquette - Cathy Stevens (ABC Certified, GDC)
• John Denison (ABC Certified)
• For basic obedience, visit a pet store like Petsmart or Petco to enroll your pet in obience classes.

For more information on any of these topics, visit the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter webpage.

If you are interested in adopting, fill out an adoption questionaire to start the adoption process.