Cass County Animal Info

10/05/2025

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12/04/2025

12/04/2025

Wild animals are not friendly. They may be confused, sick, desperate, hungry, and disoriented, but they’re not friendly.

We received a call about Rose today from an animal control agency not immediately local to us, that we’ll leave unnamed. She was, they said, “friendly,” but perfectly healthy. She had been picked up and played with by a member of the public and handled and scanned for a microchip by animal control staff. The person who found her wanted to keep her as a pet.

We made the grave mistake of assuming that animal control staff know what a sick animal looks like. We agreed to take Rose, based on their description, believing that she was someone’s abandoned pet.

Rose arrived with violent seizures, unable to stand or react, and literally foaming at the mouth. She undoubtedly had end-stage viral encephalitis, most likely caused by canine distemper but also, quite possibly, rabies. It took several more hours, and $400 in veterinary fees, to find a veterinarian willing to euthanize this highly contagious animal. Hours that I wish I had been able to spend with my family or taking care of other animals.

I never would have accepted Rose as a patient if her symptoms had accurately been described to me. Now, everything from my handling gloves and clothes to my car and back deck are contaminated with a virus that could destroy every animal here, and she suffered for much longer than she should have. But, because she was described as merely “friendly,” rather than sick, we were forced to take responsibility for her humane euthanasia that animal control could have— and should have— done for free.

These officers have also gravely endangered all of the unvaccinated animals in their possession by handling her without proper precautions. They must have worn their contaminated clothes for all of their captures, admissions, and daily kennel care. All of this suffering was caused by misdiagnosis of “friendly,” in an animal who was not friendly at all, but so sick and weak that she was unable to resist handling.

Please do NOT handle or play with wild animals, no matter how friendly they appear. Wild animals are not friendly for benign reasons, and it endangers them, and us, to assume they are.

01/03/2025

19/01/2025

Cold weather tips from the LSU AgCenter:

Prevent Frozen Pipes — Running just one faucet with a small trickle of water when temperatures drop below freezing can prevent water from freezing in your pipes. The faucets farthest from your water source will make this more effective.

Protect Outdoor Faucets — Use fiberglass or foam sleeves to wrap outdoor faucets and secure them with tape or foil to keep them insulated. If specialized materials aren’t available, household items like old newspapers, rags and towels can serve as effective alternatives.

Heat Safely — Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Not only is this ineffective, but it can also create a fire and fume hazard. Instead, rely on space heaters, but keep these away from flammable fixtures like curtains.

Power Outages — If you lose power, stay in the interior parts of your home to retain heat. When using a generator for temporary power, ensure it is placed outdoors, at least 20 feet away from windows, doors or vents. Never operate a generator indoors, in a garage or under a carport due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Seal Drafts — Check for drafts around doors and windows and seal them with weatherstripping, caulk or rolled-up towels to keep cold air out and warm air in.

Emergency Supplies — Prepare an emergency kit with essentials such as blankets, batteries, flashlights, bottled water and a portable phone charger.

Maintain Safe Heating Practices — Always turn portable heaters or other similar products off when leaving the room or going to bed.

17/12/2024

903 650 6755 Found a great home.

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