USED DOGS – A Unique Animal Shelter, aggressively addressing pet overpopulation.

Big Paw Designs is working with USED DOGS pet rescue in New Orleans to help our furry friends find homes. Big Paw Designs has created a unique pet gift with the Woof Fleur de Lis collar charm, also available as a keychain. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Used Dogs. The charm makes a great dog gift, pet lover gift or fleur de lis gift and gives back to dogs in the big easy....still reeling from the Katrina disaster.


USED DOGS, in the New Orleans area, provides a unique sheltering environment where animals recover from abuse and neglect and learn to be better pets. USED DOGS currently has some amazingly wonderful dogs available for adoption. Many are house/crate trained, know how to sit and have decent dog manners.
There are several beautiful pit bulls available for experienced owners. And a few are special needs dogs.
USED DOGS is a very unique organization that began its’ work with stray animals over six years ago by responding to the shocking reality of abused and neglected animals in the New Orleans area. Madalin Bernard, founder and executive director of USED DOGS, is a native of New Orleans and after returning home for a visit in 2000, witnessed scarred and starving strays roaming the streets, that had been severely abused, neglected, exploited, sometimes fought for sport and ultimately abandoned. Bernard decided to leave the film industry where she was working in California, move home and directly address the malicious animal abuse that plagued the New Orleans area.


USED DOGS is not a virtual shelter or foster-based organization but instead offers a very unique physical shelter for the stray population, owner surrenders, and in some cases, overflow from local animal control. It also has a major focus on providing Spay/Neuter services for low-income and senior pet owners who inadvertently contribute to the pet overpopulation dilemma. USED DOGS is a 503 (c) 3 non-profit and is currently the only organization on the New Orleans area specifically focused on aggressive, proactive, targeted spay/neuter, as well as running a shelter. USED DOGS was in full-operation rescuing dogs when Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast and well over 300 animals came thru
USED DOGS in the days after the storm.

USED DOGS directly addresses all of these issues and currently it is the ONLY organization in this area that does.

Spay/Neuter initiative
USED DOGS is now working on a particularly innovative Spay/Neuter initiative. After consulting with BAD RAP, Bay Area Dog lovers, Responsible About Pit bulls, USED DOGS is developing a pit bull Spay/Neuter pilot program for New Orleans, based on strategies that have proven effective in Oakland CA. Spay Louisiana has just expressed their interest in participating in this program with us.

In order to provide these needed veterinary services, USED DOGS relies exclusively on donations. Local veterinarians and animal clinics provide rescue dogs with vaccinations, heartworm treatment, and Spay/Neuter services. Some of these services are made available to USED DOGS at low or no cost to Ms. Bernard, but not always. The operating expense to sustain the good work of USED DOGS is approximately $3,000 a month. Operating expenses have doubled since the storm due to the fact that USED DOGS’ volunteer support base no longer exists, and USED DOGS must now pay for kennel help. Also, a spay/neuter that cost $40 before the storm now costs $90.

Support and Volunteers
Most of USED DOGS’ donor and volunteer base that existed before Katrina is gone and the local remaining organizations, community centers, and churches are all vying for the same funding and volunteer sources to sustain the community work that is needed to rebuild the Gulf Coast. USED DOGS received its first major grant in 2006 in the amount of $20,000 to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in Katrina. Additional resources are desperately needed to offset the high cost of veterinary care, dog food, and supplies, so that USED DOGS is able to continue with it’s aggressive proactive Spay/Neuter initiatives and maintain it’s shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected animals. All contributions are tax deductible.

Executive Director: Madalin Bernard
USED DOGS
P O Box 741163
New Orleans, LA 70174
www.useddogs.petfinder.org