The partnership between Bogalusa District D City Councilman Scott Ard and the Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana is progressing. The plan is to trap, spay or neuter, and then release stray or feral cats.

“The District D project is ongoing; there’s no end date,” said Magnolia Chapter’s Kay Gantham. “August 12 is the first time we will have cats from that project at the spay/neuter clinic.”

After Ard became a councilman, he said he got many complaints about stray and feral cats, including one person who got bitten and was out of work for two weeks while undergoing expensive medical treatment.

The Magnolia Chapter, a non-profit organization, is willing to provide the services to a limited number of cats at no cost, Ard said. The plan now is to trap, spay or neuter, and release about three stray or feral cats a month. Ard and his wife Melynda hope to provide a model for other districts throughout Bogalusa.

Melynda Ard said they’ve got a volunteer lined up to provide post-op care on the first batch of cats, but they need more volunteer trappers.

“We want it to be successful, so we’re going to start with just a few,” she said. “And then we want to expand it across the city.”

For that to happen, the Magnolia Chapter has to cover its expenses, and that means donations to their website at magnoliahumane.rescuegroups.org.

“We need outside support,” Melynda Ard said. “We want to ensure it can continue and grow.”

To volunteer, to report a cat-related problem, or for additional information, contact Ard via email at scott@asi-services-llc.com or by phone at 985-750-1123. Melynda Ard can be reached at 985-516-1052.

The Magnolia Chapter regularly offers low-cost spay/neuter events. Cats are spayed or neutered for $35, and dogs will get the job done for $65. The fee for both includes a rabies shot.

Grantham said the clinic is full for Aug. 12 and the next date would be Aug. 26. Call 985-241-4290 to schedule an appointment.