Feature
August
12
Finding Forever Homes
by Terry Trahan, Jr.
Ten years ago, Tracy Lapeyrouse and Leslie Matherne started My Heart’s Desire, an animal adoption center that has given new life to thousands of neglected, homeless pets that face an untimely end at local shelters.
“We are well into 5,000 or more animals in the 10 years,” Tracy says. “People want a place to go that doesn’t have the negative emotions.”
She refers to pet owners’ remorse in the decision to bring their furry friends to parish shelters. At My Heart’s Desire, the animals remain free from the threat of euthanasia as they await a permanent stay in their forever homes.
Tracy and Leslie incorporated the adoption center in 2007 and haven’t looked back since. The rescue team houses about 25 dogs and just as many cats at any given time, but felines and canines are not alone. The “small and furries” like guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits and even a hairless rat share the space, all looking for adoptive parents to take them home and love them.
My Heart’s Desire exists to keep innocent animals from dying needlessly due to the lack of space in local animal shelters. In Terrebonne Parish, the shelter keeps an unclaimed animal for up to seven days before euthanizing the animal, the unfortunate way out for 80 percent of the animals. The Lafourche Parish shelter offers room and board for up to five days.
“We’re not in it to make money,” Tracy says, noting that the adoption center does rely solely on donations to continue its mission. “Every penny that comes to us goes right back to the animals.”
The donations play a significant role in maintaining the pets’ health, whether it’s feeding and bathing them, paying for annual vaccinations or ensuring that the local animal population remains controlled through spaying and neutering procedures. My Heart’s Desire was the first animal adoption center in Terrebonne Parish to offer a low-cost spay-and-neuter program. Tracy and Leslie load up to 20 dogs and 20 cats in a shuttle bus and bring them to the Southern Animal Foundation on Magazine Street in New Orleans to get the procedures done. The operation costs $150, on average, for dogs. Through the program, pet owners can spay or neuter their pets for about $60 or $80, depending on size.
“Most of us waste the amount of money that it would take to get our pets fixed,” Tracy says.
It’s an investment that would prevent unwanted litters from experiencing the same neglect that unwanted animals experience on the streets and in shelters.
My Heart’s Desire doesn’t take in animals from caretakers who no longer want them. Instead, the center suggests placing a free ad in a local newspaper to find a loving home for their pets. The animal adoption center focuses on rescuing animals from parish shelters’ ticking time schedules. It’s an effort that requires caring volunteers who want the best for the animals.
“They know if they go to the shelter, they have no chance,” Tracy says. “Most of them are very adoptable and did not choose to be born.”
It’s a sad reality, but that’s exactly what My Heart’s Desire fights for—those innocent furry friends just looking for their forever homes.
Did you know that:
black dogs are the most common, yet hardest breeds to adopt out? My Heart’s Desire plans to make the adoption process even easier. For the month of August, approved adopters can take a black dog to its forever home without having to pay the adoption fee. And don’t miss Bowl for Rescue hosted by My Heart’s Desire on Aug. 21 at Bowl South. The bowling tournament benefits the adoption center and features gift certificates and cash prizes. There will also be door prizes, a raffle and a silent auction. Have something you’d like to donate? My Heart’s Desire will help get that item off your hands. There’s still time to take advantage of the low-cost spay-and-neuter program. The next bus leaves on Labor Day, Sept. 6. Stop by My Heart’s Desire, 246 N. Hollywood Road, in Houma on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 3 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. To learn about the adoption center or My Heart’s Desire’s programs and events, call Tracy Lapeyrouse at 985-226-4693.
