Baja St. Martin

Thanks so much to Sally Angelle for arranging to have a vet come over to the Belle River recreation center on April 25 to give rabies injections. It was a great success and so much fun. Veterinarian Cole Delhomme and several helpers gave shots to 37 dogs and cats, and I strongly suspect it would have been a lot larger number but the weather was truly ominous. As a matter of fact, the last few customers – owners and pets – had to run through drenching rains to reach the building.
The clinic would have been held outside in the parking lot but as I said, the weather was looking pretty nasty at noon when the vet arrived and we all figured it would be safer to set up inside just in case. Even the porch looked pretty iffy. Anyway, everyone behaved wonderfully. I think bladders and bowels must have been constricted from all the noise and excitement because there were only two “accidents.” A puddle on a chair and a little deposit on the floor, both quickly and easily cleaned up.
For some reason, the acoustics in the building are not great, so the sound of people talking, cats meowing, dogs barking was tremendous. Only one little dog let out an ear-piercing screech when the needle went in. The rest didn’t make a peep. Dr. Delhomme was amazing. She pinched a bit of fur, poked that needle in so quickly the animals scarcely knew they’d been touched! She took care of all pets in just a bit under an hour and that included setting up. I believe she said she’d vaccinated over 100 animals in Breaux Bridge in the same amount of time. She is one efficient woman.
I hope that Dr. Delhomme will come back next year for the same.
Thanks to Principal Staton and Sandra Gros at Stephensville Elementary who sent home flyers with the kids announcing this clinic. I had a good time petting cats and dogs and chatting with friends. Dr. Delhomme laughingly said it looked like everyone in Belle River had Chihuahuas. A few big dogs but mostly little ones.
The Belle River meeting room is now, finally, officially open for business. It’s been used already obviously, but now we have the OK to advertise the use of the building. Birthday parties, baby and wedding showers, club meetings, small weddings, whatever. There are bathrooms inside and out, a kitchen with microwave, sink, two coffee pots, refrigerator, cupboard, pass through window, lots of tables and chairs (thanks to the VFW and Dee Hymel). Two nice rockers on the porch compliments of state Rep. Karen St. Germain and Joe and LauraNell Pipsair. If you want to hold an event there, give me, Linda Cooke a call at (985) 513-8622 or Charlotte Ratcliff at (985) 518-3607 for details and reservations.
With the help of whomever and everybody, we, the recreation board, hope to finish the Belle River park. The walking trail will be doubled in length, a playground put in for kids, a pavilion for picnickers, bigger parking lot, and way down the road, a seawall and docking facility onto Belle River. The current walking trail is not that long, but it is in a lovely location with cypress and willow trees casting shady patches.
The St. Martin Parish Council will be meeting in the Belle River meeting room on May 19 at 5 p.m. Those of us on Hwy. 997 welcome the opportunity to tell the council how grateful we are for their continuing support in the FAS/levee situation. By that time we may know the DNR decision. Council meetings are open to the public and we urge “SAY NO to FAS” friends to attend to show their appreciation.

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@gmail.com.