Organizational Background:
USED DOGS is a very unique organization that began its’ work with stray animals over six years ago by responding to the shocking reality of abused and neglected animals in the New Orleans area. Madalin Bernard, founder and executive director of USED DOGS, is a native of New Orleans and after returning home for a visit in 2000, witnessed scarred and starving strays roaming the streets, that had been severely abused, neglected, exploited, sometimes fought for sport and ultimately abandoned. Bernard decided to leave the film industry where she was working in California, move home and directly address the malicious animal abuse that plagued the New Orleans area.
USED DOGS is not a virtual shelter or foster-based organization but instead offers a very unique physical shelter for the stray population, owner surrenders, and in some cases, overflow from local animal control. It also has a major focus on providing Spay/Neuter services for low-income and senior pet owners who inadvertently contribute to the pet overpopulation dilemma. USED DOGS is a 503 (c) 3 non-profit and is currently the only organization on the New Orleans area specifically focused on aggressive, proactive, targeted spay/neuter, as well as running a shelter. USED DOGS was in full-operation rescuing dogs when Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast and well over 300 animals came thru USED DOGS in the days after the storm.
Katrina’s Aftermath:
Hurricane Katrina has presented us with a tremendously unique and important opportunity. Getting our pet population under control is now a real possibility. Therefore drastically reducing the number of healthy companion animals that are senselessly put to sleep in our community, simply because there are too many, Animal professionals agree that there is a 2-year window. If within that window Spay/Neuter is appropriately addressed, we can expect to see a drastic reduction in euthanasia and hopelessness for local homeless companion animals. USED DOGS is determined to take advantage of this opportunity. USED DOGS was one of the very first animal welfare organizations to focus on proactive Spay/Neuter after the storm and was one of the first voucher distributors for Spay Louisiana.
Impact on the Community and Collaborative Efforts
Even before Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, Used Dogs had established a reputation for having the courage and tenacity to operate and rescue at-risk animals in some of the neediest and most dangerous neighborhoods of New Orleans by utilizing proactive and humane approaches to reducing animal abuse and neglect. Rather than relying on out-dated methods for overpopulation control, such as euthanasia, USED DOGS promotes an aggressive and targeted program that addresses at-risk populations of dog owners.
For example, a large percentage of residents in the New Orleans area are low-income and elderly, many of whom cannot afford to Spay/Neuter their pets. In fact, 95% of the Katrina rescue animals were still intact, demonstrating the need for outreach and the direct education of at-risk pet owners. Bernard visits target low-income neighborhoods and distributes free Spay/Neuter certificates. In many cases, she will actually schedule the vet appointment and provide transportation to and from the vet clinic as well.
Research shows that in order to gain control of a companion animal population, these things must happen:
1. 70% of the stray population must be spay/neutered – 80% of USED DOGS’ intake is from the stray population and USED DOGS Spay/Neuters all dogs prior to adoption.
2. Shelter Intake must be limited. Intake comes primarily from low-income pet owners. -USED DOGS works not only on Spay/Neuter in this group, but it supports them in being able to keep their pets, by helping them to find solutions to their pet related problems.
3. Pit bulls MUST be addressed "There won't be any further reductions if the humane community doesn't start suppressing pit bull pit bull proliferation." -Animal People
Pit Bulls are entering shelters at an alarming rate, and the euthanasia rate for them is approximately 93%.
USED DOGS directly addresses all of these issues and currently it is the ONLY organization in this area that does.
USED DOGS is now working on a particularly innovative Spay/Neuter initiative. After consulting with BAD RAP, Bay Area Dog lovers, Responsible About Pit bulls, USED DOGS is developing a pit bull Spay/Neuter pilot program for New Orleans, based on strategies that have proven effective in Oakland CA. Spay Louisiana has just expressed their interest in participating in this program with us.
In order to provide these needed veterinary services, USED DOGS relies exclusively on donations. Local veterinarians and animal clinics provide rescue dogs with vaccinations, heartworm treatment, and Spay/Neuter services. Some of these services are made available to USED DOGS at low or no cost to Ms. Bernard, but not always. The operating expense to sustain the good work of USED DOGS is approximately $3,000 a month. Operating expenses have doubled since the storm due to the fact that USED DOGS’ volunteer support base no longer exists, and USED DOGS must now pay for kennel help. Also, a spay/neuter that cost $40 before the storm now costs $90.
Support and Volunteers
Most of USED DOGS’ donor and volunteer base that existed before Katrina is gone and the local remaining organizations, community centers, and churches are all vying for the same funding and volunteer sources to sustain the community work that is needed to rebuild the Gulf Coast. USED DOGS received its first major grant in 2006 in the amount of $20,000 to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in Katrina. Additional resources are desperately needed to offset the high cost of veterinary care, dog food, and supplies, so that USED DOGS is able to continue with it’s aggressive proactive Spay/Neuter initiatives and maintain it’s shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected animals. All contributions are tax deductible.Sincerely,

Madalin Bernard
Executive Director
USED DOGS
P O Box 741163
New Orleans, LA 70174
www.useddogs.petfinder.org
k9kitten@cox.net