On behalf of animals...

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A man pulled up to the front of the Sanctuary with Elvis, a large, gold-colored hound. He said his neighbor would kill the dog if someone didn’t take him off his hands. Elvis had already been shot in his left hind leg. He was suffering. The decision for the volunteer who met the man at the gate was easy: Take Elvis in, make him safe.

Elvis now has a home with the Humane Society of Louisiana (HSL) for as long as he needs. He may someday find the person of his dreams to take him home, to love him, and to care for him. In the meantime, the staff and volunteers are happy to fawn over Elvis and all of the other animals who live at the Sanctuary.

In a sense, Elvis is lucky the man thought to bring him to a no-kill, humane organization. Many other animals are not as fortunate. They are either dropped at a high-kill facility, or left to fend for themselves. This is usually where HSL comes in.

HSL investigates and acts on nearly 2,000 cases of animal cruelty each year. Since their founding in 1988, the group has improved the lives of more than 45,000 abused, abandoned and neglected animals. The members of HSL are more than just advocates for animals—they are the voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.

The primary programs of HSL involve the investigation and prevention of animal abuse, along with public advocacy for animal welfare. They have lobbied for change within the state legislature, helping to pass tough dog-fighting and other anti-cruelty measures. Cruelty investigators affiliated with the group participate in trials to testify against animal abusers, often resulting in tougher sentences for offenders.

Many times one cruelty investigation will lead to multiple animals in need of care and recovery. HSL provides a Sanctuary for those animals. The Sanctuary is located in a rural area about two hours outside of New Orleans. Driving up, it almost seems as though it is located in the middle of nowhere. But that is a perfect setting for a menagerie of cats, dogs, horses and other small animals who are waiting for new homes.

HSL opened its first shelter—the Safe House—in 2002 on the West Bank of New Orleans. The facility was close for local volunteers and made it easy to travel to adoption days, but it wasn’t large enough to house the number of animals they encountered through cruelty cases. In early 2005, HSL purchased the large piece of property in Tylertown, Mississippi that now serves as the main Sanctuary. The space was initially intended to be developed as a sanctuary for hard-to-adopt animals, or, those who were likely to spend the rest of their lives in HSL’s care. Then came August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina took its toll on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. HSL’s Safe House was damaged beyond repair.

With all of the original Safe House residents evacuated to Tylertown, HSL turned its attention to what it could do for the thousands of animals abandoned on the flooded streets of New Orleans. When they put out the call for help, the response was overwhelming. Volunteers poured in from across the country.

“It really renewed my faith in mankind,” says Johnna Harris, animal services director for HSL. “I’ve seen the worst in people, but now I’ve also seen the best.” The volunteers would search for animals in New Orleans, then care for them back at the Sanctuary. For days, there was little time for anything else, including sleep. Johnna says they lived on Doritos, Coke and water for days. When all was said and done, they had helped more than 2,000 animal victims of Katrina.

When the storm struck, the Tylertown property was mostly undeveloped. Only a run-down, brick house stood on the property. Volunteers helped to quickly put up fencing and worked until the vast acreage evolved into a true sanctuary for animals in need.

Those who came to help out in the wake of the storm formed lasting friendships with each other, and with the HSL staff, Johnna says. They even come back to visit and to spend time with the animals they helped rescue. In many ways, the Sanctuary has developed into a community not only for animals, but for those who love them as well.

Johnna sees a brighter future for the HSL Sanctuary. Volunteers continue to visit, some with carpentry skills to improve the overall space. “We’d like to make it more people and animal friendly,” she says. She hopes the Sanctuary will become a destination for animal lovers interested in a volunteer experience. "People will one day be able to camp out with their pets, grill at night, hook up to wi-fi, and then play with the Sanctuary animals by day."

“It’s good for the animals to see different people. They need to get used to those things that might be experienced in a home,” she says.

The Sanctuary embodies the vision of HSL. It is a safe place for animals, where they have the promise of a new, better day. Whether they find a new home or stay at the Sanctuary for the rest of their lives, these animals will be loved and cared for. Just like Elvis.

For more information about the Humane Society of Louisiana, please visit http://www.humanela.org/.