Louisiana's first mobile pet shelter to help in emergency situations

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Victims of disasters will no longer be forced to choose between safety and their pets with a new initiative.

A mobile pet shelter was announced at Lamar Dixon in Gonzales on Thursday. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will provide shelter to as many as 55 pets at a time. It will be used to transport and shelter pets during emergencies like hurricanes.

Commissioner Mike Strain says it's a lifesaving tool, because in the past, people have refused assistance if their pets could not get help.

"It's the first of its kind in the United States," says Commissioner Strain. "It's going to be available to help people and their pets anywhere that it's needed.

Strain says he'd like to have between two and five of these pet shelters. Right now, there is only one, and it costs $80,000.

The shelter will be made available to other states if requested.

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