Hopefully Washington Parish’s out-of-control stray animal population is about to come to an end.

With the opening of the Washington Parish Animal Shelter on Yacc Road sometime this year, strays will have a place to go and be treated properly. That is good news for any animal lover.

Much of the work toward building the 4,000-square foot facility has been completed. The facility is scheduled to have a ventilated kennel area with 3-foot-by 6-foot concrete runs, sloped toward trench drains and piping leading to a waste water system.

The plan is to house 20 dogs, but that number could be doubled up in case of overcrowding. Cats will be housed in individual cages atop the waste water system. Sadly, Bogalusa’s Animal Shelter does not house cats.

Funding is a problem with most everything. The parish had approximately $67,000 to go toward the facility at the start.

Washington Parish President Richard Thomas previously said he hoped the parish would operate it.

“We’re hoping to run the animal shelter,” Thomas said. “We’re trying to find the funding to pay someone to operate it. Every penny has been accounted for. We’re trying to be as transparent as anybody can be.”

Bogalusa is working with the Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society to have a no-kill shelter. We think that is a good idea. Certainly, there are enough animal lovers in the area where stray animal can be adopted and not be put down.

The Bogalusa Animal Shelter will have an adoption day on the first Saturday of each month.

Things are looking up for animal lovers and the defenseless animals they want to protect.