Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control's new Director Chip Fitz told the Parish Council during their Monday, October 27 meeting the Animal Control Center will begin opening Saturdays to increase the rate of adoptions from the parish shelter. Animal Control Director Chip Fitz explained to council members the shelter has taken in over 5,400 dogs and cats and adopted out approximately 540. "The animal shelter, Club Deluxe Road, will open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to determine if it makes an impact on adoption rates," Fitz explained.

Among the changes proposed, hiring a new director to the animal-control department to prevent the kennel conditions that parish officials say lead to a disease outbreak and the mass euthanasia of cats and dogs. "Currently the parish is building 24 outdoor kennels to serve as a quarantine area for new incoming animals," Fitz says.

In other parish business Monday night, council members accepted a bid to build a new radio tower at the Parish Government office from Daley Tower Manufacturing Inc., that will be used for the parish's Office of Emergency Preparedness. "This will allow emergency personnel and parish employees to use a 700 megahertz band for communication during disasters," Parish President Gordon Burgess said.