VIDALIA &045;&045; Perhaps no other commodity is more coveted than the spirit of care this Christmas at the Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter and Rescue.

The non-profit group currently shelters animals through a network of foster parents, but hopes to open an actual shelter by the spring.

In addition to monetary donations, building materials, chain link fencing and kennels, the agency always needs more foster parents to keep animals that are up for adoption.

&uot;We get so many calls from people wanting to get rid of animals.

It’s hard to find people willing to keep an animal for a short time before they are adopted,&uot; vet-tech Lisa Smith said.

The agency plans to convert an existing metal building on First Street in Vidalia into its adoption center and construct a new intake and evaluation center next door.

Smith said the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Department has offered to provide inmate labor for the project.

&uot;Our goal is to be finished by March or April, and that’s a good time to open, because there is always an influx of animals in the spring,&uot; she said.

The shelter will serve both Concordia Parish and Adams County.

&uot;The Natchez facility is overburdened.

We believe a lot of the animals there come from over here.

We should be able to provide some relief there,&uot; Smith said.

One Concordia Parish resident&045;&045; also named Lisa Smith&045;&045;recently adopted a five year-old golden retriever named General after fostering the pet.

General quickly attached to his new family, including a female black lab named Zoee.

&uot;He really bonded with Zoee.

When we had to take her to vet he whined the whole time she was gone.

It was pitiful,&uot; she said.

All animals are evaluated for health and temperament before being offered for adoption. The shelter also needs supplies such as cat litter, Science diet foods and pet toys.

To donate, or for information about providing foster care or adopting animals, call 318-757-0937 or visit the agency online at www.petfinder.org/shelters/caws.