For nearly two decades, Robinson Rescue has reshaped the animal welfare landscape in Shreveport by focusing on one powerful idea: prevention. Founded 17 years ago as a low-cost spay neuter clinic, the organization emerged at a time when euthanasia rates in Caddo Parish exceeded 85 percent and shelters were taking in roughly 10,000 animals each year.

“Robinson’s Rescue is a low-cost spay neuter clinic and we offer free and low-cost spay neuter services for our community,” shared Dr. Andrea Master Everson, CEO and Medical Director of Robinson Rescue. “We work with 32 different rescues and shelters making sure dogs and cats are spay and neutered before adopted. We are here to decrease the overpopulation of pets and increase the awareness of being a responsible pet owner.”

The impact has been measurable and profound. As surgery numbers have increased year over year, shelter intake has dropped and euthanasia rates have fallen below 35 percent. “It’s pretty amazing,” she said, crediting collaboration with local rescues and long standing community support for making that progress possible.

That work happens early and often. A typical day at Robinson Rescue starts before most people are awake, with animals discharged from overnight recovery and the clinic fully cleaned and disinfected before a new round of check ins begins. “We do about 40 to 45 surgeries per day,” she explained. “We check in 35 to 45 animals a day. We do all their exams and then we start surgery.”

Beyond the operating room, outreach plays a major role. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for community events and education, including programs like SSNIP, the subsidized spay neuter incentive program that provides free services for income-qualified citizens in underserved areas.

While the operational challenges are significant, rising costs have not translated into higher prices for pet owners. “We could not do this without the community support because we’ve not had to increase our prices,” she said. “Prices of suture and anesthesia and just overhead costs have increased tremendously.”

Emotionally, the work carries its own weight. “You see them and check in that morning. You perform their surgery. You make sure they’re okay over the evening. And then the next morning, you check them out, but you sometimes never see them again,” she shared. Still, the mission makes it worthwhile. “The most gratifying thing is that you know that there’s not going to be a litter of unwanted kittens or dogs left on the side of the road.”

Robinson Rescue – Best in Sheaux 2026 Fundraiser

That mission is also at the heart of Robinson Rescue’s largest annual fundraiser, Best in Sheaux. This year’s theme, Tails of the Wild West, promises a high-energy evening centered around a runway dog show and community celebration.

“It is our largest fundraiser and all the funds go directly to our spay neuter programs and allow us to provide that set low cost fee and that free service,” she said. “It includes a runway show. There’s 12 dogs in the show and it’s $5 a vote. So we’re there to celebrate each animal and see who will be the next Best in Sheaux.”

The event draws inspiration from the Westminster Dog Show, but with a heartfelt twist. “We just really had a dream that every shelter animal, every animal on the side of the road would have that kind of life and would be able to feel special on the runway,” she explained. Each dog’s story is shared, and attendees get to vote for the top honor.

Best in Sheaux 2026: Tails of the Wild West takes place March 21st at 6:30pm inside Riverview Hall. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. “Everyone get their western gear and giddy on down!”

With food, music, raffles, and a silent auction, the evening is designed to celebrate not just the animals, but the community that supports them year-round. As Robinson Rescue looks ahead, the need continues to grow, with appointments booked weeks in advance and a call for additional veterinarians to help expand services.

Through prevention, education, and a lot of heart, Robinson Rescue continues to prove that saving lives does not always start in a shelter. Sometimes it starts long before, with a surgery, a supporter, and a community willing to show up.

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Hernandez/Robinson Rescue.