How many animals does Companion Animal Alliance care for each year?
Companion Animal Alliance cares for more than 9,000 animals annually, making us Louisiana’s highest-volume open-intake animal shelters. We accept stray animals found in East Baton Rouge Parish, owner-surrendered pets from parish residents, and animals brought to us by East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control.
Do you pick up stray animals?
No. Companion Animal Alliance does not provide animal pickup services. If you have found a stray animal, please contact us for admission information or contact Animal Control if the animal is sick, injured, aggressive, or poses an immediate public safety concern.
EBR Animal Control: 225-774-7700 (after hours dial 311)
What's the difference between Companion Animal Alliance and Animal Control?
Companion Animal Alliance (CAA) operates the open-intake animal shelter for East Baton Rouge Parish, providing housing, medical care, and placement services for homeless animals. East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control enforces local animal ordinances, investigates animal cruelty and neglect, responds to calls about stray or dangerous animals, and transports animals to CAA when necessary.
How long do animals have to be adopted?
There is no set time limit for animals in our care. We are committed to finding the best possible outcome for every animal and will continue to care for them as long as we can safely meet their physical and behavioral needs.
However, the shelter environment can be stressful. Over time, some animals may experience significant fear, anxiety, or deteriorating mental and physical health that affects their quality of life. When an animal's suffering cannot be adequately relieved, or no safe, humane placement options remain, humane euthanasia may become the most compassionate choice. These decisions are never made lightly and are made with the animal's welfare as our highest priority.
Why can't every animal be adopted?
Finding homes for thousands of animals each year is a community-wide challenge. Since the pandemic, shelters across the country have experienced declining adoption rates while intake continues to rise.
Factors such as housing restrictions, rising costs of pet ownership, and limited access to affordable veterinary care all contribute to longer shelter stays and increased overcrowding.
Animal Control & lost pet FAQs
What should I do if I see an animal in distress?
Contact East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control at 225-774-7700 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm).
After hours, call 311 or 225-389-2070.
Does my pet have to be on a leash?
Yes. East Baton Rouge Parish has a leash law requiring pets to be properly contained or restrained when off their owner's property. Animals found running at large may be impounded by Animal Control.
Learn more about the East Baton Rouge City/Parish Animal Ordinance here.
What happens to animals picked up by Animal Control?
Animals picked up by East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control are transported to Companion Animal Alliance, where they receive shelter, care, and every opportunity to be reunited with their owners.
What should I do if my pet is missing?
Visit our shelter as soon as possible to complete a lost pet walk-through. Because animals arrive throughout the day, we recommend checking back regularly until your pet is found.
You should also:
File a lost pet report
Check local lost-and-found pet groups
Contact nearby veterinary clinics
Ensure your pet's microchip information is current
Animals picked up by East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control are transported to Companion Animal Alliance, where they receive shelter, care, and every opportunity to be reunited with their owners.
Learn more about lost & found pets here.
Unanswered Questions?
Please visit our contact page to direct your question through the appropriate channels or email inquiries@caabr.org.
What types of animals do you accept?
While most of the animals in our care are cats and dogs, we also accept small companion animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, reptiles, and birds. We also provide temporary shelter for stray or seized livestock. For wildlife, healthy animals are returned to the wild whenever possible, orphaned or neonatal wildlife is transferred to licensed wildlife rehabilitators when appropriate, and sick or severely injured wildlife may be humanely euthanized to prevent suffering.
Who can bring an animal to CAA?
As the designated open-intake shelter for East Baton Rouge Parish, we accept:
Stray animals found in East Baton Rouge Parish
Owner surrenders from East Baton Rouge Parish residents
Animals brought to us by East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control
Owner surrenders and found animal admissions are by appointment. Please contact intake@caabr.org for current availability.
Is CAA a no-kill shelter?
No, CAA is NOT a “no-kill” shelter. Companion Animal Alliance is an open-intake municipal shelter, which means we are legally required to accept animals in need regardless of age, health, behavior, or available space.
We work every day to achieve positive outcomes through adoption, foster care, rescue partnerships, reunification, and transport. While we strive to save every healthy and treatable animal, humane euthanasia is sometimes necessary to prevent suffering or when no safe placement options remain.
Learn more about what “no-kill” really means here.
Does CAA euthanize animals for space?
Like many shelters across the country, we continue to face an ongoing pet overpopulation crisis. When our shelter exceeds its capacity to provide humane care, difficult euthanasia decisions may become necessary.
These decisions are never made lightly. We first pursue every available option, including adoption, foster placement, rescue partnerships, reunification, and transport, to give each animal the best chance at a positive outcome.
Why do you transport animals to other states?
We partner with shelters and rescue organizations in regions where there are fewer homeless pets and higher adoption demand. These transports help more animals find homes while creating much-needed space for the animals continually entering our shelter.
Even with transport, we always have wonderful pets available for adoption here in Baton Rouge.
What should I do if I find a stray animal?
Before bringing the animal to the shelter, please make every effort to locate the owner by:
Checking for identification or a microchip
Posting on local lost-and-found pet pages
Asking nearby neighbors
If you're unable to locate the owner, found animals are accepted during designated intake hours or by appointment. Email intake@caabr.org for assistance.
What is a community cat?
Community cats are free-roaming cats that do not have an owner. Many are part of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs and can be identified by a small ear tip, which indicates they have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
Learn more about the Community Cat Management here.
How long are stray animals held?What happens to animals picked up by Animal Control?
State and local regulations require stray animals to be held for a designated period to allow owners an opportunity to reclaim them.
The hold period varies depending on the species and whether the animal has identifiable ownership, such as a collar, ID tag, or microchip.
Dogs that enter our care without any signs of owner indication are held for 3 days. Dogs that enter our care with signs of owner indication are held for 5 days.
Any animal that enters our care with traceable owner information is held for 5 days.
All livestock is held for 6 days.
In alignment with community cat ordinances, only cats with traceable owner information are held for 5 days. Community cats are defined as: Any free-roaming cat that is not owned and that may be cared for by any person of the immediate area and may or may not be feral.
How do I reclaim my pet?
If your pet is at Companion Animal Alliance, you will need to provide proof of ownership, such as veterinary records, registration paperwork, or photos.
Redemption fees vary depending on the circumstances of impoundment, length of stay, and any veterinary services provided. Proof of a current rabies vaccination is also required. If your pet is not current on its rabies vaccination, one will be administered before release.
Please email intake@caabr.org for assistance with the redemption process.