St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr., along with FEMA and a host of officials, celebrated Recovery and Growth in St. Bernard Parish with a grand opening ceremony at the site of the new Animal Control facility at 5455 E. Judge Perez Drive in Violet.

The state of the art facility replaces the original shelter destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, and was built with a $250,000 grant from The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization.

"I am happy to get to the finish line with the project and extremely grateful for the partnership with HSUS, LASPCA, Meraux Foundation and our local team," President Taffaro said. "This shelter project offers St. Bernard a state-of-the-art animal control facility that can house more animals and provide better services in more central and easily accessible location."

"The completion of the new shelter is a major step in The Humane Society of the United States' ongoing efforts to help the Gulf Coast Region rebuild in the aftermath of Katrina," said Melissa Rubin, The HSUS' vice president for animal care centers and veterinary services. "We have worked closely with St. Bernard Parish officials since the storm devastated the shelter, and we are proud to have assisted in making their dream of rebuilding a reality."

Mike Karl, Acting Deputy Director of Programs for FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office, echoed his support and promised to continue FEMA's partnership in St. Bernard's recovery.

The construction on the Animal Control facility that will sit on 3.23 acres will be nearly twice as large as the pre-Katrina shelter and will cost $1,251,430 to be paid for with FEMA funds, insurance proceeds and a $250,000 grant from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The new facility has many new amenities that all that meet the national standards, including better drainage, isolation holding cages to separate healthy animals from the sick ones. It has indoor and outdoor holding cages as well as a large play area with equipment in front and back of the building.

The shelter is being moved from its current location on Agriculture Street off of Paris Road in Chalmette to Judge Perez in Violet where it will be located on higher land and easily accessible to the public.

The land the shelter will sit on has been donated to St. Bernard Parish Government by the Joseph and Arlene Meraux Charitable Foundation.

"This is another instance whereby the Foundation is simply following the wishes of the late Arlene Meraux as it has in other areas such as providing space for the current medical clinic, the proposed new hospital, the temporary library and a considerable donation for the cultural arts center that will be completed in the near future, and many other donations," said Floyd Gue of the Meraux Foundation.

The shelter will also be receiving a new custom-built truck purchased by The HSUS and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® at a cost of more than $80,000.

The truck, a Sprinter with 24 built-in animal carriers was built by Mavron, Inc. of Warsaw, Ind., the country's leading manufacturer of animal transport van and truck conversions. This vehicle will help the Shelter bring adoptable animals to larger population areas where they will have a better chance of finding homes.

Besides being the major grantor of money for the new shelter and providing the truck in conjunction with the ASPCA, The HSUS is also assisting the Parish with the funding of the shelter's executive director position for three years.

At the event Monday, Lou Guyton of ASPCA, said she was glad her organization could help with the director's salary and the mobile transport vehicle.

"Not only will it be used to evacuate animals during hurricanes, but it will also be able to be used as a mobile adoption center," Guyton said.

Braithwaite Construction is the contractor, and Meyer Engineers is the firm responsible for the design. Drayfus Guient of Chester Engineers is the project manager as part of the CDM team that is providing oversight for all FEMA-funded projects in St. Bernard. Rick Stierwald of the St. Bernard Parish Department of Public Works is the project manager and resident inspector.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.

The shelter will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Off-site adoptions are held on Saturdays. For more information about the shelter, call 278-1534.

PHOTO BY KAREN TURNI BAZILE: St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr., along with FEMA and a host of officials and funding partners, celebrated the grand opening ceremony of the site of the new Animal Control facility at 5455 E. Judge Perez Drive in Violet. Among the notable guests in front, wearing red, Julia Breaux Melancon, state director of The HSUS, former Parish President Lynn Dean, Deb Drake of The HSUS, Melissa Seide-Rubin, Vice President of The HSUS, Lou Guyton of ASPCA, Kathryn Destreza of the LASPCA, Parish President Craig Taffaro, Jr. Shelter Director Beth Brewster, Mike Karl of FMEA, Judge Kirk Vaughn, Ana Zorrilla, CEO of the LA SPCA, state Rep. Nita Hutter, Stephen Reuther of the St. Bernard Chamber, a resident, Amanda Beheyt of Congressman Charlie Melancon's office, Claudette Reuther of the St. Bernard Chamber, Recovery Director Mike Dorris, Jr., John Gordon of Sen. David Vitter's office, Dan Housey of FEMA, Dennis Tauzin of CDM, Rick Stierwald of St. Bernard Public Works Alan Deogracias, president and owner of Braithwaite Construction, Amy Webbeking of FEMA, Rodney Deogracias of Braithwaite,,. The top row includes Col. David Dysart, parish chief administrative officer with several staff members of the animal shelter as well as Drayfus Guient of Chester/CDM and Council members Mike Ginart and Ray Lauga.