Livingston Parish enhances animal control and expands shelter services

LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. (Louisiana First) — Livingston Parish authorities have faced a huge problem with stray and abandoned animals. Limited shelter space makes this issue even worse.

Now, a major effort is under way to change that.

Animal advocate Maurice Durbin will help lead a big expansion of the parish’s animal control services. Parish President Randy Delatte chose her for this important role.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Durbin. “I can’t wait – it’ll be at least a year before the building is done. The spay and neuter program is exciting also. It’s an answer to a problem. We already help the town of Livingston.  Now, we can help everyone else in the whole area, which is really underserved right now.”

“When someone calls for an animal complaint, our facility is already full right now and we can’t get to it. It might be a vicious dog and need immediate attention,” said Deatte. “Now, we’ll be able to run true animal control throughout the parish – the rural areas too. We’ll have six to seven animal control officers – they’ll respond to calls around the clock.”

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office also plays a key role in animal-related cases. Major Chad McGovern said that his office receives 40 to 50 calls per month regarding animal cruelty, strays, and abuse, with most coming from rural areas.

The new shelter will more than double the space for adoptable dogs and cats. It is set to open in January 2026. Additionally, a separate building dedicated to a spay and neuter program for cats is set to open in April 2025.

Officials say the multimillion-dollar project is being funded through grants and donations.

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