Ridgecrest grants resident animal shelter building after open letter to Governor

RIDGECREST, La. (KNOE) - Collen Bell of Ridgecrest is calling for resources to help animals in rural areas.

She sent an open letter to Gov. Jeff Landry urging him to take action.

“I’m basically asking the Governor to get in board with us here in animal rescue and foster,” Bell said. “They are literally breeding faster than we can save. We have no resources for these animals.”

Bell lives in Ridgecrest and has nearly two dozen animals under her roof. She says stray cats and dogs are a major problem in Concordia parish...a parish only has one animal shelter. She takes the animals in with the hope they will get adopted, but has become a strain on her and others like her.

“We have Concordia Paws,” Bell said. “They are completely full all of the time.”

Concordia Paws along with the Louisiana Humane Society of Louisiana gives Bell money and resources in her efforts.

On Tuesday, The Village Board of Alderman provided Bell an exception to a new rule that limits five animals per home. The Board also announced they will work with her to secure a building for a animal shelter.

While Bell says this is a start, she also says this is a statewide issue.

“I think we got to have a sustainable shelter here, a Humane Society, Something to help us with the influence of the dogs that are continuing to take over our streets and communities,” Bell said.