Hand In Paw
In 2006, Steve and Phyllis Whatley recognized the needs of the homeless animals of Bossier Parish, Louisiana. They had been volunteers at Bossier City Animal Control (BCAC) for a few years and saw how the small Louisiana shelter struggled to meet the needs of the animals received. This was their motive in founding Hand In Paw - Friends of Bossier City Animal Control, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) to provide vet care for Bossier City shelter animals. Over the years, Hand in Paw (HIP) has expanded its mission as necessary, in the ever-changing world of animal rescue.
In 2006, Steve and Phyllis Whatley recognized the needs of the homeless animals of Bossier Parish, Louisiana. They had been volunteers at Bossier City Animal Control (BCAC) for a few years and saw how the small Louisiana shelter struggled to meet the needs of the animals received. This was their motive in founding Hand In Paw - Friends of Bossier City Animal Control, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) to provide vet care for Bossier City shelter animals. Over the years, Hand in Paw (HIP) has expanded its mission as necessary, in the ever-changing world of animal rescue.
However, one thing has been a constant over those years, and that is providing vetting for animals in need. We have been very fortunate in our ability, through fundraisers and donations, to work with local vets to provide emergency, as well as routine care for animals; and, assist with spaying/neutering and additional medical care of animals sheltered at BCAC. As funds allow, HIP also helps pet owners with emergency vet needs, on a case by case basis. Additionally, we have participated in providing shelter and care for animals evacuated during hurricanes and other crisis situations, beginning with Katrina in 2005.
HIP is now a group of Volunteers who work independently, but closely, with Bossier City Animal Control (BCAC) to facilitate and promote the adoption, foster, care and transport of strays and animals surrendered to the Louisiana BCAC facility, with the goal of saving as many precious lives as possible. Sheltering and adoption of any animals posted on Hand In Paw social media is done at the BCAC shelter or through fosters approved by BCAC. HIP is a facilitator of these functions only. In addition, we assist the shelter by posting on HIP social media to share found and stray animal information, requests for fosters and needs for donations.
PLEASE NOTE: While Hand In Paw does work as closely as possible with BCAC staff to post available and lost animals and requests for volunteers, fosters and donations, HIP is NOT part of the BCAC facility or Bossier City Government, and has no input on policies and processes at the facility. BCAC info provided here is for convenience only, and is subject to change without notice.
Besides vetting of shelter animals, HIP is dedicated to promoting spay and neuter of all pets. We donate to Bossier City’s spay/neuter fund, helping to spay shelter animals or provide vouchers to adopters. We also pay for local vets to spay and neuter animals. Additionally, we have coordinated some efforts in the Trap Neuter Release (TNR), resulting in training volunteers to be more knowledgeable about helping the public humanely trap, alter and relase cats back into their colonies, lowering the number of unwanted feral and stray cats on the streets.
Through the years, another constant has been the volunteers who perform Saturday adoptions, at BCAC and PetSmart, as well as offsite on Hand In Paw social media sites and pet adoption events. We host fundraisers at different local restaurants, participate in the Barkus and Meoux parade, Margaritaville pet events, and other venues. These volunteer events are responsible for the adoption of thousands of animals each year.
Twice a year we host a low cost rabies clinic, with the help of Dr. Gia Morgan and Dr. Susan Bradley, in which approximately 800 animals are vaccinated each year. This service helps owners follow Louisiana laws and promotes the health of animals that might not receive this important vaccine otherwise.
HIP is a big promoter of fostering to save shelter animals. Fostering helps with overcrowding in our small shelter. We currently have a wonderful group of fosters and are looking to expand our foster program with a 'foster-on-deck' type program, used by many nationally recognized rescues and shelters across the US. Fostering is of great benefit to our shelter animals in numerous ways. Not only does it decrease the number of animals in the shelter, but cats and dogs behave differently in the shelter environment than they do in a home environment. Fostering provides crucial information to help shelter staff and volunteers answer questions potential adopters have. We look forward to continuing to grow our foster community.
We are excited to be expanding our involvement in the rescue and transportation mission. We are working with BCAC to build a fleet of transporters and reputable rescue and shelter partners to save even more of our precious animals. We provide funding for health certificates required for transports to send adoptable dogs and cats to rescues around the country. Along with this we are working on creating another sanctuary for cats.
This group is dedicated to networking the animals. Just like in business, sometimes it isn't what you know, but who you know!! We post pictures of the available BCAC cats and dogs on social media. HIP will also post photos of missing pets, important animal information and sometimes just fun animal loving things. Our pages have several admins and we strive to answer any and all questions about the animals. Contacting HIP with stray and found animals, allows us to post information on social media, and finders of strays are asked to hold them if able. We can post a request for fosters during the stray hold as needed.
The only way our group can provide these services is through donations from the public!! Please click HELP NOW!! to find out how YOU can help or DONATE for PayPal donations. Thank you for caring about and helping our animals!
About Us
If you have found a stray animal, fill out the BCAC found animal form.
If you have lost your pet, fill out the BCAC lost animal form.
Fill out the BCAC adoption application to visit with or adopt any animal shown.
All visitations must be scheduled with BCAC in advance. Please bring all family members (including fur babies) for visit.
All visitations must be scheduled with BCAC in advance. Please bring all family members (including fur babies) for visit.
Fill out the BCAC adoption application to visit with or adopt any animal shown.
All visitations must be scheduled with BCAC in advance. Please bring all family members (including fur babies) for visit.
Facebook
Facebook
Give Money
Give Money
PayPal: Use 'donate' button on our website
Use the 'donate' button on any post
Amazon Smile: Shop at smile.amazon.com or on the Amazon shopping app, choose Hand In Paw - Friends of Bossier City Animal Control as your charity and Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to HIP - no fees, no extra cost.
Requires a Kroger digital account. Choose Hand in Paw - Friends of Bossier City Animal Control as your charity and Kroger will make donations based on your shopping, at no additional cost.
Mail check to:
P.o. Box 8004
Bossier City, LA 71113
P.o. Box 8004
Bossier City, LA 71113
Take cash or check to:
3217 Old Shed Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
(see map below)
3217 Old Shed Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
(see map below)
Help us
SAVE THEM ALL!!
Help us
SAVE THEM ALL!!
BCAC is currently closed to volunteers in the shelter due to construction. Please follow us on Facebook or check back here for notices of change.
Foster volunteers are always needed!
The longer an animal stays in any shelter or large group, the greater the posibility of illness. Therefore, BCAC is partnering with HIP to start a 'Foster on Deck' style program, to build a list of fosters in the Bossier City and County area in which to place homeless animals while waiting for a furever home, or rescue placement. If there are no animals that fit your specific availability profile currently, you will be added to the list and contacted when a profile match occurs.
Submit your foster application and note the perameters of type of animal, size, age, personality, etc that you believe will work best in your home.
Volunteer or Foster
Volunteer or Foster
They need your help NOW!!
They need your help NOW!!
Donate Items
Donate Items
Amazon wishlist: HIP for Bossier City Animal Control
Chewy wishlist: Coming Soon
Ship or deliver item donations to:
Hand in Paw C/O Bossier City Animal Control
3217 Old Shed Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
3217 Old Shed Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
General Needs
- Potty pads
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfectant wet mop wipes
- Bleach
- Blankets (new or gently used)
- Towels (new or gently used)
- Vienna Sausages
- Pill pockets
- Vienna Sausages
- Pill pockets
- Dramamine
- Hair remover mits
- Flea & tick shampoo
- Microwave heating pads
- Animal feeding bottles
DOG NEEDS
- Canned/wet dog & puppy food
- Enrichment & Tuff toys (kongs, etc)
- Peanut butter, spray cheese
- Replacement puppy milk
- Sweaters
- Treats
CAT NEEDS
- Canned/wet cat & kitten food
- Washable toys
- Replacement kitten milk
- Treats
- Feliway area
Contact Us
Tel: 318) 741-8499
Fax: 318) 741-8494
Email: bossiercityanimalcontrol@gmail.com
3217 Old Shed Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
Bossier City, LA 71111
(see map below)
Bossier City Animal Control
P.O. Box 5337
Bossier City, LA 71171-5337
Email: handinpawbc@gmail.com
Bossier City Animal Control can also help with most questions
NOTE: HIP is NOT part of the BCAC facility or Bossier City Government, and has no input on BCAC policies and processes.
All BCAC info provided here is for convenience only, and is subject to change without notice.
QUICKEST RESPONSE:
P.o. Box 8004
Bossier City, LA 71113
Hand In Paw does not have a physical location. All animals are housed with BCAC or Foster Volunteers.
Legal 501(c)(3) Registered Address
*NO ANIMALS/VISITORS*
C/O Phyllis Whatley
1337 Whitehall Drive
Bossier City, LA 71112-4549
Hand in Paw - Friends of Bossier City Animal Control Inc
Mail
Bossier City Animal Control