Gathered around its new director, Keith Larcher, the team of the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA), based in Mérignac, is embarking on an unprecedented adventure for them: the association has been looking for volunteer foster families for a few days house a cat or dog for several weeks before it is adopted by other people. Their primary mission will be to “socialize” these animals, especially kittens or unweaned puppies accompanied by their mothers or even doggies in convalescence, before entrusting them…
Gathered around its new director, Keith Larcher, the team of the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA), based in Mérignac, is embarking on an unprecedented adventure for them: the association has been looking for volunteer foster families for a few days house a cat or dog for several weeks before it is adopted by other people. Their primary mission will be to “socialize” these animals, in particular kittens or unweaned puppies accompanied by their mothers or even convalescent doggies, before entrusting them to new masters. “You should know that the refuge is a stressful place, anxiety-provoking for some, analyzes Keith Larcher. These families, driven by the desire to participate in animal welfare, will have to prepare the adoption candidate as well as possible to give him a chance to adapt well later. The food is provided by the shelter. Interested persons can fill out a form on the site spa33.fr
“Everyone must understand that adopting an animal is a real commitment. A cat or a dog is not a stuffed animal »
An employee for twelve years in the Bordeaux and South-West Animal Protection Society, independent of the national SPA, Keith Larcher knows the house well from having worked in various administrative positions. His arrival comes as part of the renewal of part of the board of directors, operated in November 2022 around Alain Arnaud, the new president of this association recognized as being of public utility.
Living comfort
This initiative clearly marks a new shift in the policy of the SPA of Mérignac, as confirmed by Caroline Pham, administrator. A new way of seeing things, focused more than ever on respect for the animal, against any suffering that could be imposed on it. In this context, euthanasia of convenience is now banned. Programmed death is possible only in the event of an incurable disease or of great danger. It now happens at the Bordeaux and South-West SPA to call on service providers to educate, for example, an overly aggressive dog. This is the case of Sparo, a little mastiff who could not bear to be locked in a box. It was recently entrusted to the Domaine de Lacombe in Cestas where it is cared for. “We are trying to test new solutions to rehabilitate certain animals while improving their living comfort,” continues Caroline Pham.
Keith Larcher, the new director of the Mérignac establishment including the pound and the refuge.
Stéphane Lartigue / “SOUTH WEST”
“Free Cats”
Another novelty that is not specific to the Mérignac association: the certificate of commitment and knowledge which must be signed by each adopter since October 2022. This document, which reminds each volunteer of the basic needs of the animal and the obligations of the person who welcomes it, implies a reflection period of seven days. “The idea is to avoid compulsive adoption, pure consumerism,” says the director. Everyone must clearly understand that adopting is a real commitment and that a period of adaptation is necessary. Sometimes you have to be patient. The animal is not a stuffed animal and it can squeak at night, during the first days. It happens that some bring it back to us 24 hours after having taken it! Note that each animal adopted, in exchange for a fixed contribution which varies from 175 to 290 euros, is identified, vaccinated and sterilized.
Sterilization, precisely, is currently in season and is often the subject of awareness campaigns in municipalities. It is also an important element in the management of “free cats” or stray cats that have no owners and breed both in town and in the countryside in vacant lots, warehouses or cemeteries.
pound and shelter
Two different activities are entrusted to the Mérignac SPA team, made up of around twenty employees and around sixty volunteers: the pound and the management of the refuge. The association is linked with 238 municipalities of Gironde by a public service delegation and must carry out research in order to identify the owners of vagrants captured on the public highway and taken to the spot by individuals, municipal services or animal carriers. If these investigations do not succeed, the animal will be transferred to the refuge, fed all year round by the abandonments. The capacity of the shelter is 250 dogs and 100 cats, without forgetting the new pets (NAC) such as ferrets or mice. In 2022, 1,244 adoptions were finalized.
