17-04-2025
Metairie cat adoption center facing closure, requesting donations for GIVENOLA Day
METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — A Jefferson Parish thrift store and cat adoption center is being forced to close its doors after 10 years.
Owners of SpayMart said the facility has been an 'anchor of support for more than a decade' serving as a safety net for thousands of animals in Louisiana and Mississippi.
'He had a future': Anti-hazing billboard goes up in Central Business District
'We've lost our home base, but we haven't lost hope. With community support, we can rebuild—and keep helping the animals who need us most,' said Lynn Chiche, the SpayMart president.
Chiche says the adoption center was a quiet, low-stress haven for cats awaiting families. In 2024, the center:
Performed 1,496 spay/neuter surgeries
Administered 3,136 vaccines
Distributed 8,388 pounds of pet food to families in need
Covered $183,685 in veterinary expenses
Placed 728 cats and kittens in loving homes
Through the years, funds from the thrift store funded veterinary care, food distribution and emergency rescue. They are now calling on donations for GIVENOLA Day on May 6.
'For us, GiveNOLA Day isn't just another fundraising campaign—it's our lifeline,' said Chiche.
New Orleans group hosts free Easter basketball camp
The organization also has a sanctuary in Picayune, Mississippi which is home to 150 rescue cats. Some are then transported to New Orleans for adoption.
One rescued cat is 14-year-old Roseanna, who survived a gunshot wound after a surgery funded by SpayMart's emergency fund.
This year, SpayMart is working to raise $135,000, a goal powered by a dollar-to-dollar matching gift challenge of up to $25, half of NOAA's Regional Climate Centers' websites go dark due to 'lapse in federal funding'
'Horrible thing': President Trump gives remarks on FSU shooting
Bill expanding ticket writing power of Louisiana park rangers advances
39,000 apply for Louisiana private school scholarship program
Rapper Azealia Banks says she regrets Trump vote
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
