Once abandoned dogs and cats found new homes Saturday on Pet Adoption Day.

Local volunteers from the Tangi Humane Society hosted the matchmaking day in downtown Ponchatoula where shoppers and passersby found the chance to bring home a furry friend. Tails wagged and kittens purred as onlookers held, petted and adopted the cute animals.

“It makes you feel good when you learn you have saved their lives,” said Randy Stegall, THS founder. “This is so much better then them going to a shelter to be put down.”

Stegall and volunteers coordinate once a month to host a pet adoption day in different areas of the parish. He and his wife, Lynda, currently care for 25 rescued animals at home. They tend to them until they are adopted.

Hosted by Cool Cats/Hot Dogs, the Adoption Day featured rescued puppies and kittens as young as 6 months old. Five mixed puppies demanded most of the attention as they wrestled with toy ducks in their pin, while two Calico kittens purred waiting for a new owner.

“I came down to look but didn’t plan to leave with an animal,” said Samantha Sharp of Springfield. “This one is friendly and came to me when I called her.”

Sharp adopted Chelsea, a multi-colored Calico, because she lost a cat a month before. She calls herself a cat lover and now owns three.

Chelsea was one of the many animals Stegall tends to, averaging almost $1,500 a month in food for the rescued breeds. Like Stegall, fellow volunteer Kelly Blackwell said it takes dedication to care for neglected animals.

“There are so many of them out there,” Blackwell said. “They just need help. I’m an animal lover, and I just want to help.”

Blackwell became a volunteer in November and has already adopted four dogs.

As the day wore on, puppies and kittens began curling up as they prepared for a mid-afternoon nap.

See ADOPTION DAY, 2A

Ethel, a mixed beagle that has outgrown her status as a lap dog, was determined to spend some time with volunteer Corky Henneman.

“She wants to be a lap dog when she grows up, but it’s will have to be a big lap.” Henneman said as Ethel rested on him.

To promote the development of good animal care and to raise dog and cat food donations, Jen Matheny, Midway Elementary first grade teacher and volunteer, is sponsoring a food drive at the school March 3-14. First grade classes will be competing to see who can bring in the most dog and cat food, with the winner to receive an ice cream party.

Matheny said each class will spend a day learning proper pet care, while puppies will also be brought to school for students to pet. The donated pet food will go toward feeding the many animals Stegall and the society tend to.

“They are going to go crazy,” Matheny said. “Right now its all they talk about.”

The Tangi Humane Society is an all-volunteer organization, relying 100 percent on donations from concerned members of the community to provide services and shelter to animals in need. The society is a 501 (c) 3 registered charity and all donations are tax deductible.

For more information on pets that are available for adoption, please go to www.tangihumane.petfinder.com.