Prevention of Cruelty to Animals fundraiser

Riverlands Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will hold its 14th annual Bark after Dark fundraiser from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the New Bull’s Corner at 1036 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace.

Angela Hill, WWL-TV news anchor, returns as chairperson and will serve as host of the party featuring food, silent auction, Balloon Blast and live music by Secondhand Alibi.

"Our dream is that all parish governments will realize that prevention is the cheapest and most humane solution to animal overpopulation and that they will provide some financial assistance towards that end," said RSPCA spokeswoman Betty Everitt.

Everitt said that adoptions have been slow this year and the RSPCA continues to look for new venues for showing animals. Most animals they rescue come from the River Parishes and Jefferson Parish. Friends of the group in the Baton Rouge area help with adoptions and work in the spay/neuter arena.

The RSPCA continues its spay/neuter efforts thanks to grants, donations and help from the Southern Animal Foundation. The RSPCA helps provide the low cost service for 15-20 animals each month, thus preventing the birth of hundreds of unwanted cats and dogs over the next few years. Making low cost s/n available enables many finders or owners to keep the animals rather than taking them to animal shelters or turning them loose to produce more unwanted litters. The program is also available to yard cats and feral cats.

More and more areas all over the country are operating TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs for humane control of feral and semi-feral cat populations. The RSPCA hopes one day the approach will become the standard procedure here.

The cost is $50 per attendee. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 985-652-SPCA or contact bevrtt@att.net for more information.