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Animal shelter supervisor outlines intake, adoption and preparedness work
Summary
St. Charles Parish animal shelter supervisor Dr. Troxler told the council the shelter took in 489 dogs and more than 1,000 cats in 2025, described adoption and reclaim rates, flight partnerships for national adoptions, donated medical supplies and in‑house surgeries, and urged responsible ownership and hurricane‑season preparedness.
Dr. Troxler, supervisor of the St. Charles Parish animal shelter, told the council the shelter handled extensive intake and care operations in 2025 and emphasized community partnerships and disaster preparedness.
"In 2025 we took in 489 dogs and over 1,000 cats," Dr. Troxler said, summarizing intake volumes and noting the majority were strays or owner surrenders. She reported average lengths of stay of about 13 days for dogs and about 10 days for cats and said the shelter aims to minimize stays to improve animal welfare and reduce staff workload.
Troxler described reclaim and adoption outcomes: a higher reclaim rate for dogs than cats, about 70% local adoptions for cats through a Petco partnership, and additional national placements via flight partners. She told the council the shelter’s flight partnerships typically cost about $30,000 per flight and that partner organizations and manufacturers donated supplies — the presentation referenced roughly $63,000 in donated product support and an estimated $270,000 value for in‑house surgeries performed.
On operating costs, Troxler said the shelter invests roughly $420 on average to care for each stray animal in intake and initial medical care; nominal redemption fees include a $50 fee if an animal is already spayed/neutered and an additional $50 for spay/neuter performed by the shelter.
She outlined grant support (including ASPCA and Petco grants and a pit‑stop grant for bully‑type dogs), volunteer contributions (more than 1,200 volunteer hours reported), spay/neuter campaigns, microchipping events before hurricane season, rabies clinics, school outreach, and exercises with neighboring parishes for disaster decontamination. Troxler noted the shelter budgets $40,000 annually for medical care and typically stays under that budget.
Council members asked for clarification on how the shelter distinguishes "potentially dangerous" from "dangerous" dogs. Troxler explained the shelter uses behavior and containment history (for example, repeated at‑large incidents or menacing chasing) and that dogs declared dangerous face requirements such as a 6‑foot fenced pen and other containment measures.
The presentation concluded with Troxler inviting questions and emphasizing the shelter’s community services, education programs and hurricane preparedness efforts.
