Looking for a Home
Demolition puts strays back on street
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp Alexis Estrada, 2, cuddles a puppy as she plays along Beadle Street in Lane City. Her parents are watching several dogs that belong to a neighbor whose home will soon be demolished.

LANE CITY - The smile on 2-year-old Alexis Estrada's face couldn't be bigger as she chases a pair of puppies down Beadle Street.

When she finally catches one, she scoops it up in her arms and holds it as close as she can, grinning as it licks her face.

Only one of the puppies belongs to her. But Alexis doesn't seem to be aware of this as she chases them Thursday morning; she's simply having too much fun.

Alexis's parents, Judy Estrada and David Wingo, keep a close eye on their daughter as she plays. In addition to the visiting puppy, there are a slew of other dogs roaming around the street. All belong to Kathryn Gagnon, who lives across the street from Judy Estrada's father, Julian. Judy, David and Alexis are temporarily staying with Julian while their home is being built. So are most of Gagnon's pets.

The animals - 11 dogs, 15 cats and two ferrets - are currently homeless. Gagnon's residence, their former home, is in the process of being demolished as part of a county sponsored home rebuilding program. Gagnon has already had to vacate the premises and is currently living with her son in Alvin.

The pets won't be able to go with her.

"I've been trying to find a place for my animals. I have a place to stay, but they don't," Gagnon said in a phone interview on Thursday.

The majority of the animals were strays - many dumped in the country by owners who no longer wanted to bother providing for them. A natural born animal lover, Gagnon couldn't help but take them in.

"I've taken a lot of animals that people didn't want. I just love animals," she said.

But now disabled, she has had difficulty providing for her throng. Gagnon said she has had to rely on friends, out of town relatives and neighbors like the Estradas to send money and donate supplies to feed the animals.

Such assistance is needed even more now.

With her 9435 Beadle St. residence scheduled for demolition over the next month, the animals must all be moved off-site.

Boarding them at a veterinarian's office is out of the question, Gagnon said.

"I can't afford it," she said.

That's especially true considering her recent health problems. Gagnon recently suffered what appears to have been a mild heart attack. She was released from a Houston hospital just a few days ago.

She now has to be chauffeured around. She has not seen her pets in several days, but their well-being has remained on her mind.

Something must be done. Gagnon's residence is due to be demolished soon as part of Wharton County's HOME program. The program offers economically disadvantaged residents who live in decrepit houses a chance to get a brandnew home for free.

State grants cover the necessary funds, while county labor helps with the demolition, said County Judge John Murrile. He said 12 homes are being built under the program countywide.

"It's good for the county's tax base and it brings pride back into these peoples' homes," he said.

Construction normally takes about three months, but homeowners must move out about two months before it starts.

"The homeowners have to find a place to live and that can be hard to do," Murrile said.

Especially if they have a slew of pets, Gagnon discovered. The Estradas are doing what they can to feed and care for the animals in the interim.

"We don't mind helping out," Judy Estrada said.

But a more permanent solution is needed. Gagnon is making a public plea to area animal lovers to help out by adopting some of her pets. Anyone interested can call her friend, Bonnie, at 979-216-7492.

Gagnon is praying that enough folks come forward.

"People say just take them to the pound and dump them, but I can't do that," she said.