Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter — Local services in West Monroe

If you feel compelled to adopt from this shelter - please do! I did! The shelter is always at full capacity and there's so many great dogs and cats available for adoption. With that being said, I feel it's my responsibility to inform people about my experience. My first cat was a stray off the street and she unfortunately had feLV (A terminal illness that dramatically shortened life expectancy) When I went to the shelter to adopt a new cat after she passed away, I made sure to ask if the cats were tested for feLV because I did not want to go through it again. I was told they were tested and later found out at the vet that wasn't true. To be fair, I am assuming the worker who told me they were tested misunderstood me and thought I meant vaccinated so I don't think it was an intentional lie, but it still caused so much stress, worry, and not to mention money spent to test him. In my opinion, this shelter needs to be shut down. Not testing cats for a contagious and deadly virus and then shoving them in small cages together is irresponsible. The dogs are kept in outdoor kennels with hardly any shelter from the sun and heat. The animals live in poor conditions and they are too understaffed and underfunded to take care of the animals they have. I don't think more support would improve the shelter enough to make a difference. I still hope people will continue to support and adopt from OPAS. Just be aware of the negatives before you go in blind. Good luck to...

My FurGrandDog had to be quarantined for 10 days. She "WAS" healthy and her temperature was very loving and easy with my grandchild as well as my 10lb dachshund. She came home SICK. Wasn't sure but I felt it was kennel cough. She was extremely sick though 🤧 Her Mom and Dad was getting married and there was no time to bring her in, so morning after wedding with Honeymoon canceled she was taken to the Vet. She has kennel cough as well as PNEUMONIA!! She did NOT go there sickly or with a cough. She came home EXTREMELY SICK. They gave her shots. Her disposition has changed. Maybe it's due to her feeling very very bad, or it's the fever, but I think someone harmed her while she was there. We do know she was healthy, playful and a happy 1yr old. We pray we get our Roxie back once she gets well. There's NO WAY I would or recommend this shelter to find an adoption pet. They had to know she was sick IF they were cleaning her area and feeding her!!!!! I saw her and within 2 minutes I said "She's sick! Could be bortatella but worse. I think she may have pneumonia!" I called the Vet. The wedding in a couple of hours and times available for visit can't be made. Think twice and examine the facility very well prior to adopting from...

No one likes a kill shelter, I get it. The folks working here probably have to deal with abuse over that fact on a daily basis, which really sucks. I’m giving them the lowest rating possible for their attitude and service. I called to ask about a particular animal I’d seen on a few different Facebook groups, and the lady that answered the phone was terribly rude and unhelpful. Single word answers, exasperated sighs and cutting me off at every sentence. I tried to go in today and look for the dog today but they’re not open, even though their sign and Facebook page says they are. Last summer I brought in a cat around 3 pm, went home with a change of heart so i made some arrangements and went back around 9 am the next day. The cat had already been euthanized in less than 18 hours. I cried in my car in the parking lot. Even if you are trying to take an animal off their hands they still act like it’s a major inconvenience to do their jobs. You know it’s bad when private citizens form a group to raise money to replace a shelter, like is happening with the S.O.S. Movement here in West Monroe. I hope this horrible place gets replaced and has an all new staff. Adopt a pet from here if you want one, but...