It was a rainy Monday afternoon, and I was sitting on the couch watching "Courage the Cowardly Dog" with a 65-pound furball pure of heart.
Meet Cognac, a 7- to 8-year-old pit bull mix, who I met through the program at Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge. The program transitioned to include public participation in January, allowing animal lovers to take a dog out for a date, on outings like a walk around the LSU lakes, grabbing a pup cup or hanging out at home.
For Cognac and I, it was watching cartoons on a gloomy summer afternoon. He laid on the couch, nodding off halfway through an episode of "Courage the Cowardly Dog" while cuddling a Saints blanket that I caught in this year’s Spanish Town parade.
Cognac nods off while watching Courage the Cowardly Dog.
By Maddie Scott
CAA is a nonprofit that began in 2010 and is the only open-intake shelter in East Baton Rouge Parish. The shelter has a contract with East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control, and by law, CAA can’t turn any animals away unless they’re found outside of the parish, according to Collins Fairley, programs director at CAA. This includes livestock, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, birds and more.
How it works
Fairley oversees a handful of programs, including Date-A-Dog, which began about three and a half years ago as a volunteer-only program during COVID. In January, the program opened to anyone interested.
“We wanted more of our animals to get outside of these four walls and be seen,” Fairley said. “And by being seen while they’re out there, we’re learning about them. You’re going to see personality traits that you just do not see in this shelter.”
Companion Animal Alliance gives volunteers a drawstring bag with two bowls, waste bag, a resource card, plus the collar, leash and “adopt me” bandana worn by the pup.
By Maddie Scott
Fairley said the shelter’s chaotic environment can start to weigh on the animals physically, so with this program, dogs can catch a break.
“Any dog that’s been in the shelter for over 30 days, we’re going to start working a little harder to find placement, because every 30 days, you’re going to start to see behaviors compound,” she said. “You’re going to start to see physical changes in the dog.”
How to sign up
To partake in the Date-A-Dog program, those interested can visit CAA at 2550 Gourrier Ave., fill out a Google form (which is accessible through a QR code near the front doors), watch a quick orientation video and pay a $5 participation fee.
Cognac hits the sploot after going for a walk.
By Maddie Scott
“That participation fee is a donation,” Fairley said. “It comes back to our shelter and ideally allows us to keep the supplies needed for Date-A-Dog but also to our enrichment program.”
From there, participants get to pick a dog from a curated list. To get on the list, dogs must meet three criteria: they must be spayed or neutered, microchipped and rabies vaccinated. Dogs also make the list based off length of stay.
Once both the human and dog are date-ready, participants can pick up a pooch during CAA’s operating hours. Be sure to drop your date back off by 5 p.m.
After the date, the shelter encourages participants to fill out a “report card,” an online form that asks how the date went. Where did you go? How were the dog’s leash manners? Did your date know any commands?
Cognac the cutie pie
Cutie pie Cognac takes a selfie with reporter Maddie Scott after hanging out for a few hours.
By Maddie Scott
During my day with Cognac, the sky couldn't decide whether it wanted to rain or not, so we kept busy with indoor activities, other than a short walk around the neighborhood.
I saw a lot of personality in Cognac. He’s a laid-back sweetheart who followed me wherever I went. When I washed dishes, he joined, plopping on the kitchen floor until I was done. When I sat next to him, he always rolled onto his side to ask for belly rubs.
I tried to give him a Slowpoke Pokémon stuffy, but he wasn’t interested. Cartoons seemed to suffice.
I’m happy to report that Cognac was adopted on July 18, just five days after our date. If you’re interested in taking other dogs out on a date, visit Companion Animal Alliance. Or better yet, adopt!
Companion Animal Alliance, 2550 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge. Date-A-Dog pickups are available noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.