Homeward Bound

Everyone wants a home where they feel safe and secure. No one understands this better than the people at Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). Finding forever homes for abandoned and rescued dogs and cats is what they do best. Just like in the movie Homeward Bound, three dogs cross all kinds of barriers to be reunited with their family. The need for a home for these animals is instinctual. They crave human interaction and in return they offer unconditional love.

ARNO is working on a way to better help these animals’ lives with their new facility. They just had their groundbreaking ceremony this February for its new shelter location that will provide enhanced facilities and care for animals in need. This new shelter will be located at 160 Brookhollow Esplanade in Elmwood and is slated to open in September 2024.

Founded in 2006, ARNO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-based organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the New Orleans area, including responding to the immediate wants of those in need of medical care, or those too old, too young, or too sick, neglected, abused and deprived of love. The organization works tirelessly in the promotion of fostering, adopting or reuniting pets with their families as well as offering neutering services to all companion animals.

ARNO came about in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as founder Jane Garrison was one of the first out-of-town folks on the scene of their ‘rescue headquarters,’ located at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, LA. Jane was the catalyst behind pulling together literally hundreds of volunteers to rescue thousands of animals, and work to assist displaced pets and their families.

I had the opportunity to interview Ginnie Baumann, ARNO Vice President. “I have been around since the inception of the organization helping Jane after Katrina. Where she was a rescuer, I was a feeder, who helped feed and care for the animals rescued. We are a scrappy organization. We take all animals from the very young to the very old and many with medical issues. We take on challenges.”

Their determination and fierce compassion for these animals show in their results. Statistics do not lie. In 2020, they took in 714 animals and had 664 of these animals adopted or returned to their previous owners by year’s end. In 2021, they took in 591 animals and had 530 adopted or returned to their previous owners by year’s end. These results are incredible and, with this new facility, those numbers will increase significantly.

ARNO was the first no-kill shelter in the New Orleans area. A no-kill shelter does not terminate the lives of healthy or treatable animals based on time limits for capacity. The only time an animal is euthanized is when they are suffering a poor quality of life or considered dangerous to the public safety. A standard qualification for a shelter is that it needs to have 90% of its animal intake saved. At the moment, ARNO is hovering at around 98%. Today, ARNO survives on volunteer labor and charitable contributions. ARNO works under the authority and regulations of the local animal control facilities in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, as well as the parishes of St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, Terrebonne and Lafayette.

This new shelter is an incredible milestone for the organization thanks to many donors, but especially Frank and Paulette Stewart, who they have affectionately titled the ‘Angels of ARNO.’ This modernized facility takes the place of their antiquated shelter. Since 2006, ARNO has operated out of an old warehouse in constant need of repair with no central air and heat and limited space for accommodating the increasing number of homeless animals. Over 12,500 animals have found refuge at the shelter.

“We are a grassroots organization,” says Baumann. “Every penny we make except for a few salaries go to the welfare and care of the animals that come through their doors. It is all about the animals. We want to show our donors, whether large or small, that our animals are the top priority, and this new permanent building will be a testament to that.”

This new shelter will allow for a 15% increase in capacity for both dogs and cats with the potential for a 30% increase in capacity down the line. In order to continue to help these animals in need, ARNO can use your help both in donations or volunteering. They are also working on a new brick program for the new building where donors can sponsor a brick from their family or a family pet that has passed over the rainbow bridge. I already see several bricks in my future. Imagine also giving this as a gift to a friend whose fur baby passed to honor them. With your help, ARNO will continue to put in the work needed to create a better life and safe home for these animals in need. For more information, go to www.animalrescueneworleans.org.