Lagord Animal Shelter Faces Financial Crisis with Nearly €200,000 in Debt — President Calls for Urgent Support

The SPA de Lagord animal shelter in Charente-Maritime is facing a severe financial crisis, with its president warning that the refuge has only about two months of operating funds left. Xavier Leclerc, who has led the shelter for five years as a volunteer, stated that the organization has approximately 50,000 euros in liquidity, which he said provides just two months of visibility to cover essential costs.

The refuge, located near La Rochelle, requires around 500,000 euros annually to operate, covering salaries for its six staff members (one administrative agent and five animal carers), veterinary care, food and facility maintenance. Despite this require, the shelter’s income falls significantly short, creating a growing deficit that Leclerc described as “ingérable,” or unmanageable.

According to Leclerc, the shelter’s debt has reached nearly 200,000 euros, a figure that has continued to rise over recent years. He questioned whether an association performing a public service mission should be expected to absorb such operational deficits, particularly when the refuge also manages the municipal fourrière service, taking in over 500 animals each year.

The financial strain has been ongoing for several years, with the shelter reporting a deficit of 172,000 euros in 2025 alone. Leclerc noted that over the past three years, the refuge has lost approximately 400,000 euros, a shortfall previously offset by legacy donations and reserves that are now exhausted. The organization currently has only three to four months of financial visibility, down from a previously more stable position.

Leclerc emphasized that the shelter relies heavily on volunteers to supplement its small paid workforce, but even with this support, the rising costs of veterinary care—estimated at nearly 150,000 euros annually—and food and staffing expenses make sustainability increasingly difficult without external aid.

In response to the crisis, Leclerc has appealed to local elected officials, particularly the newly appointed leadership of the Communauté d’Agglomération de La Rochelle (CDA), urging them to increase financial support for the refuge. He specifically called on the CDA, which was scheduled to meet on April 23, 2026, to provide additional funding to prevent potential staff reductions and ensure the continuation of the shelter’s public service missions.

The president also encouraged public donations and legacy gifts, referencing a single legacy of 45,000 euros received two years prior as an example of how such contributions can make a meaningful difference, though he acknowledged such windfalls are rare and unpredictable.

Despite the challenges, Leclerc expressed hope that increased municipal support could stabilize the refuge’s finances, allowing it to continue its work caring for abandoned and lost animals in the La Rochelle area. He stressed that without intervention, the shelter may no longer be able to fulfill its role in animal welfare and public service.