PAW-ty at the Lake
pet people party
featuring the TOPCATS
May 17, 2009
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free
at Laketown in Kenner
Williams Boulevard at the Lake
Proceeds will go to Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter

Presented by Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter, Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter and City of Kenner, Paw-ty at the Lake, the pet-people to celebrate our companion animals, will be held on Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Kenner’s Laketown (Williams Blvd. at Lake Pontchartrain.) The pet friendly event will feature live music by The Topcats, a mega adoption, health walk, food vendors (for people and dogs), low-cost spay and neuter sponsored by Southern Animal Foundation and special recognition of animal heroes in our animal community, including Anne Bell, founder and director of Southern Animal Foundation.

The event will feature the following:

• Pet-People Health Fair: Local healthcare and fitness organizations will explain the psychological and physical health benefits of the pet/people bond.

• Pet-People Health Walk: Join the Pet-People Health Walk around Laketown beginning at 12:45 to remind everyone that our canine companions make the perfect walking partners.

• Pet Adoptions: Looking for a four-legged companion? Don’t miss our mega adoption with terrific adoptable cats and dogs. Participating groups include Southern Animal Foundation, The Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, LA/SPCA, Animal Rescue of New Orleans, Hope for Animals, Plaquemines Parish Animal Welfare Society, Tangi Adopt a Rescue and others.

• Demonstrations by AKC


• Education & Information by LSTART (La. State Animal Response Team)


• Low-Cost Spay and Neuter provided by Southern Animal Foundation

• Special recognition of the heroes in our animal community


Founded in 1995 by two devout animal lovers, Anne Bell and Paul Berry, Southern Animal Foundation (SAF) has grown from a grass roots organization to a full-service, non-profit animal hospital. SAF rescues and treats companion animals from all over the state, as well as Mississippi. The mission of SAF is to eliminate the need for euthanasia as a means to control the epidemic of animal overpopulation in the greater New Orleans and surrounding areas. They are also committed to eliminating the cycle of animal abuse through education. SAF works with regional as well as national rescue groups to ensure that every cat and dog that comes into their clinic gets the medical care they deserve. “We are like the Charity Hospital for dogs and cats,” explains Bell, SAF director. “Our goal to make preventative animal health and medical care available and affordable to every pet,” she added.

A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Bell was frustrated by the lack of affordable veterinary care in the city, so in the early 1980s she purchased two buildings on the lower end of Magazine Street. In the late 80s, Bell began operating a traditional boarding and grooming business, but one with an atypical feature; the business doubled as a no-kill shelter. SAF began to flourish, until 2002 when it suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the facility. The ever-optimistic Bell took the opportunity to fulfill her life-long dream of creating an affordable, full-service healthcare clinic accessible to everyone. Thankfully through the generosity of The Frances McDonough Memorial Foundation, a bigger and better Southern Animal Foundation was built and within one year of the fire, SAF re-opened as one of New Orleans’ only low-cost, non-profit veterinary clinics.


 A full-service veterinary clinic, 501(c)(3) non-profit and adoption/rescue agency, Southern Animal Foundation has assemble a veterinary healthcare team committed to providing exceptional client service and veterinary healthcare. The SAF team displays an unrivaled commitment to its clients through continuing education, technological advances in veterinary medicine and service, and most importantly, administering compassionate care to all pets entrusted to them. “Our philosophy at SAF is simple; every animal whether rich or poor, pure breed or mixed, deserves care, love and respect, so we’re here to see that they get it,” said Bell.

Southern Animal Foundation is open Monday to Friday from 8am - 6pm and on Saturday from 8am - 2pm. For more information or to donate to SAF, call 504-671-8235 or visit southernanimalfoundation.org.