In our quiet town of Springhill, Louisiana, and throughout the parish, something extraordinary is happening. A bright light is shining for the animals in Webster Parish, thanks to the newly opened LaMa Animal Rescue shelter. But while the doors are open and the hearts are willing, the hands to help are far too few.
With over 130 animals currently in our care, LaMa is facing an urgent need for volunteers. This isn’t just about petting puppies, though there’s certainly that bonus too, this is about stepping up for the voiceless, the vulnerable and the abandoned.
After handling two horrific hoarding cases in the past 3 months, we have been pushed to the limits to take in large numbers of animals all at one time. LaMa came to the rescue and rallied regardless of our small crew, we took them in and many have recovered and found their new families. Each set of desperate eyes longing for love and safety were met with open arms and a promise to inspire and educate people to be better; to be better pet owners and to hold those responsible for their situations accountable.
A Growing Mission Means a Growing Need
LaMa has always operated with compassion, grit, and a deep sense of responsibility to the animals in our community. With the opening of our new shelter, the need has multiplied. Our goal is not just to house animals, but to heal them, prepare them for adoption, and educate the public on how we can prevent the suffering before it starts. Yet with only a small group of dedicated volunteers, we are stretched thin. The truth is: we can’t do this alone. Every volunteer—no matter how much or little time they have—makes a real difference!
How You Can Help
Whether you have an hour a week or several days a month, there’s a place for everyone at LaMa. Here are just a few of the ways you can make an immediate impact:
- Cleaning kennels and ensuring a healthy, hygienic environment
- Walking dogs to provide exercise, socialization, and love
- Brushing and grooming animals to help them look and feel their best
- Organizing supplies and helping keep the shelter running smoothly
- Assisting at events to raise critical funds
- Teaching the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spay/neuter programs
We also welcome those with specialized skills—photographers to capture animal photos, writers to help tell our stories or apply for grants, or builders and handymen to improve our shelter space and do maintenance.
The High Stakes of Inaction
Visualize this: over 1,000 starving, abandoned animals roaming the streets of our small community—digging through trash, dodging traffic, suffering from disease and injury. It’s not just a heartbreaking image; it’s a real possibility if we don’t act now. That is the number of animals LaMa saves each year and helps find new homes for with our partners up east. Those are the ones we can save, but for every one of those, there are many we can’t due to a lack of funds, space or helping hands. The floodgates never slow with the number of requests we get daily.
Unfixed pets lead to more litters, and more litters lead to more strays. One unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce up to 67,000 dogs in just six years. Cats- even more. This is why spaying and neutering is not optional—it’s essential. It’s being a responsible pet owner and being a good citizen in our community. It’s not just an animal welfare issue. It’s a community health issue. It’s a public safety issue. And it’s a moral issue. Turning a blind eye only allows the problem to grow, while a little effort from many people can create lasting change.
This Is Your Community, This Is Your Cause.
Don’t wait for someone else to step in. You are the someone. Whether you’re 16 or 86, there is a role for you at LaMa Animal Rescue. Maybe you can’t foster or adopt, but you can walk a dog. Maybe you can’t donate, but you can hold a leash or wipe down a kennel, or rebuild an animal’s trust with a caring hand.
LaMa isn’t just a shelter. It’s a movement. A statement that our community will not let helpless animals suffer alone. That we care, and we will act.
Join us. Be part of the solution. Volunteer today and help us build a safer, more compassionate future for all of Webster Parish.
To get involved, contact LaMa Animal Rescue through their website, visit us on social media or email us at [email protected]
Your time can be the difference between despair and a second chance.
