Pets Are Worth Saving. That is the belief of a dedicated group called Concordia PAWS. In mid-August, PAWS was finishing renovations to the former Concordia CAWS building in Ferriday. The plan was to have a holding facility for the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office to place animals that officers rescue from abuse or neglect. PAWS President Sherrie Jacobs (now mayor of Ferriday) had been working with a small group to bring awareness to the terrible dog fighting and abuse problems in Concordia Parish.

Nobody was prepared for the late night CPSO bust of a dog fight in progress. Forty-four dogs, including two sets of puppies, had to be placed somewhere for safety immediately. Through the efforts of Concordia PAWS and trustee labor from Concordia Corrections, the shelter was finished in a matter of days. Thanks to the wonderful PAWS volunteers, dogs and pups were fostered in people’s homes and local kennels. Thanks to social media, generous donors have brought blankets, food, kennels, treats and more people have stepped up to volunteer.

Since mid-August the trustees have become skilled handlers. They have worked to heal the wounds, calm the fears and give love and care to these sweet dogs. The puppies were adopted out.

Some dogs were adopted, and some had to be euthanized. More dogs have come from another smaller dog fight, from abandoned houses, from random places where they were staked without food and water. PAWS members know we are just beginning to address the terrible neglect and abuse problem that exists in our parish, as well as across the river.

Many dogs are also being stolen in our area. We know dog fighters steal dogs to use as “bait” dogs.

None of the dogs we have rescued have been microchipped, so we could not find their owners. A small microchip can be injected into the skin in your dog’s neck. You register that chip number in a program online. If your dog is found anywhere in the country, a vet can scan him and get your beloved pet back to you. If you are interested in having your dog microchipped, you can have that done by Concordia PAWS for just $25.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Concordia PAWS is having a big fundraising event. We will be microchipping pets at Haney’s Big House in Ferriday. We will have rescued pets that are eligible for adoption for you to meet. We will also have a big garage sale right across the street at Rockabilly Plaza. All funds raised will go to support Concordia PAWS and all donations are tax-deductible.

To find out more about Concordia PAWS, friend us on Facebook, e-mail us at concordiapaws@gmail.com or call the facility at 318-719-0940.
Donna Jones is a member of Concordia PAWS.