Celebrate Adopt a {CAT} Month: give a furry friend a fur ever home

BY HAILEY LAWSON

There’s nothing quite like the joy and companionship that comes with sharing your life with a feline friend. Cats bring comfort, entertainment, and unconditional love to our homes, making them the perfect companions. And what better time to celebrate these amazing creatures than during Adopt a Cat Month! This special month-long event, observed in shelters and communities worldwide, encourages individuals and families to open their hearts and homes to deserving cats in need. Join the movement and make a difference in a cat’s life by considering adoption this June!

Why Adopt a Cat? Here are a few reasons why adopting a cat is a wonderful choice:

Ř Save a life: By adopting a cat, you are providing a second chance to a homeless animal. Shelters and rescue organizations are often overwhelmed with stray and abandoned cats, and adopting one not only frees up space but also gives another cat in need the opportunity to find a safe and loving home.

Ř Unconditional Love and Companionship: Cats are known for their independent nature, but they also form strong bonds with their human companions. They provide comfort, affection, and companionship, bringing immeasurable joy to your everyday life.

Ř Health Benefits: Interacting with a cat has been proven to have numerous health benefits. Petting a cat can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even release endorphins, promoting a sense of well-being and relaxation.

Ř Personality and Variety: Cats come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Whether you prefer a playful and energetic feline or a calm and cuddly companion, there’s a cat out there that’s a perfect match for your lifestyle and preferences.

Ř Cost-Effective: Adopting a cat from a shelter is often more affordable than purchasing from a breeder. Many shelters provide cats who have already been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, saving you the initial expenses of these necessary procedures.

If you’re not ready for a long-term commitment, here are some ways you can actively participate in and celebrate Adopt a Cat Month:

Ř Spread the Word: Share the importance of cat adoption on social media and encourage your friends and family to consider adopting a cat. Use the hashtag #AdoptACatMonth to raise awareness and help cats find loving homes.

Ř Volunteer at a Shelter: If you’re unable to adopt a cat yourself, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue organization. You can assist with tasks such as cleaning, socializing with cats, or helping with adoption events. Your time and dedication can make a significant difference in the lives of these animals.

Ř Provide Donations: Shelters always appreciate donations of food, litter, toys, blankets, and other supplies. Check with your local shelter to see what items they currently need and consider contributing.

Ř Foster a Cat: Fostering a cat can be a great option if you aren’t ready to adopt. By providing temporary care and love, you’re helping a cat adjust to a home environment while freeing up space at the shelter for other cats in need.

Adopt-a-Cat Month offers a wonderful opportunity to open your heart and home to a deserving feline companion. By adopting a cat, you not only bring joy and happiness into your life but also save a precious life and make a meaningful impact on animal welfare. So, this June, consider visiting your local shelter, rescue organization, or online adoption platforms to find the perfect furry friend who will provide endless purrs, companionship, and entertainment for years to come.

Allen L. Cox, MD, will retire from the Willis Knighton Health System in June 2023.

Cox received his Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in 1976 and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport in 1980. He completed his Residency in Family Medicine at the Walter Olin Moss Regional Center in Lake Charles, associated with Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans.

He joined the Bossier-Haughton Family Practice where he practiced for over ten years. He then spent a few years at the Bossier Medical Center until opening his own practice, the Cox Family Practice, in 1994. He has been a Willis Knighton physician at Louisiana Family Practice Associates in Bossier since 2001.

Giving back has been an important facet of Cox’s life. He served as a deacon in his church for 15 years and has gone on many medical mission trips with Louisiana Baptist Medical and Dental Association to Mexico, Honduras, China, and Kenya. Cox is a Board Member of the Medical Mission to Haiti. The local mission team in Bossier has connected with a small village in Haiti, also known as Bossier. They work with a local doctor to help provide ongoing medical care, help support the Haitian school, and have gifted goats which brings food, milk, and income to the families in Haiti.

Cox has always been committed to the community. For over 20 years, he provided Sports Physicals to high school students and BPCC athletes. He also coached girls’ softball for over 10 years and played on several local championship tennis teams.

Dr. Cox has been a significant contributor to the local medical community. He proctored many LSU medical students and served over a decade on the Willis KnightonBossier Board of Trustees. Cox holds a Louisiana State Medical License, is Board Certified in Family Practice, a Diplomat of American Board of Family Practice and member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, American Medical Association, Bossier Parish Medical Society, and American Academy of Family Practice. His elected positions have also included Vice President of WK Bossier Medical Staff, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at WK Bossier, Vice President of the Bossier Parish Medical Society, President of the Bossier Parish Medical Society, Delegate to the Louisiana State Medical Society, President of the Bossier Physician Hospital Organization, and Chief of Staff Elect to the Bossier Medical Center.

Cox is married to his wife, Donna, and they have two daughters, Laura and Leslie. Upon retirement he and his wife will be leaving the area to be closer to family and look forward to seeing what the next chapter holds!

Q&A with Dr. Cox

What was your favorite part of your career?

My favorite years were the early years as we were trained to handle a wide variety of problems from children to the elderly including emergency room, hospital, nursing home, and occasional home visits. We even delivered babies for a few years.

What will you miss the most?

What I’ll miss most is patient relationships. It was a gift to get to know families, sometimes members of 4 generations. Sharing in their celebrations as well as their times of grief was a privilege.

How has your profession changed since you first started practicing medicine?

As the technology advanced and more specialists were available, the Family Practice emphasis shifted to preventative medicine and managing chronic health issues. My goal became an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure to prevent bad things happening.

Do you have any advice for new doctors?

My advice for young physicians is to remember that you’re not treating a disease but a person. If you listen to the patient, you have a better understanding of what the diagnosis is.

Do you have any special plans for retirement?

I am looking forward to being a professional grandparent, traveling with my wife, and having more time for medical missions.

In honor of Cox’s retirement, Bossier City Mayor Thomas H. Chandler has proclaimed June 23, 2023, as “Dr. Allen L. Cox Day” and in doing so, urges all citizens to join in offering sincere congratulations to Dr. Cox in his retirement.

Providence

CLASSICAL ACADEMY EXPANDING

Providence Classical Academy hosted a “Building the Next Generation”

Groundbreaking Ceremony for their new High School Building on Tuesday, May 2, in the back field of their current campus, located at 4525 Old Brownlee Road, Bossier City. The initial scope of the project not only includes the high school building, but it will also have increased parking and a second entrance to the campus.

The High School Building will feature the following:

• Approximately 51,000 square feet

• 16 Classrooms

• 2 Science labs

• Art room and library

• Large commons room

• Outdoor classroom/amphitheater

• Administrative offices

• Over 180 new parking spots

• Locker rooms which double as a storm/tornado shelter

Softball/Baseball fields will be part of the initial phase of the athletic expansion, with a state of the art 12,000 square foot, 500 seat gym (competition court with seating configuration or 2 full courts), soccer field and a track coming later. Phase 2 for completing the master plan for the Providence campus includes a performing arts wing, which will be approximately 10,000 square feet. This wing will feature a choir room, 450 seat theater with stage and backstage, and a band room. Projected opening late 2024.

SHREVEPORT COUPLE’S GIFT WILL SUPPORT RAPIDLY GROWING LSUS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Sidney and Hollisann Kent want LSU Shreveport to continue expanding programs that prepare the next generation of business professionals. A generous gift from the couple will fund the Hollisann and Sidney Kent Endowed Professorship in Business at LSU Shreveport. The LSU Shreveport College of Business has expanded rapidly in the past decade, in part because of the demand for the university’s Master of Business Administration program. The new endowment will support a College of Business faculty member’s professional development and related activities to promote excellence in teaching.

“I’m an LSU football fan, and I like LSU Baton Rouge, but LSU Baton Rouge doesn’t need us as much as LSUS needs us,” Sidney says. “With my background in business, it was a good fit to create a professorship in the LSUS College of Business.”

Hollisann also grew up in Shreveport and graduated from Byrd – a few years later than Sidney –before heading to college at LSU. She married while in college and left school to focus on motherhood. She was active in her children’s education and community organizations that support education, including the Junior League of Shreveport. Hollisann is a longtime member of the Shreveport Symphony Guild and the Hypogeum Society, which encourages lifelong learning and supports a lecture series that brings distinguished speakers to Shreveport.

“I’m very supportive of our teachers,” Hollisann says. “I think children should be brought up with morals and ethics and commitment and a work ethic. Our children are the future, and it’s very important to instill those values.”

She and Sidney instilled those values in their respective children and watched with pride as the youngsters matured into adults with families of their own. Their children actually introduced Sidney and Hollisann more than 30 years ago when Sidney was a widower and Hollisann was single after a divorce. They became inseparable.

“Hollisann is 85 and I’m 94, but we still travel a lot. We still go to the symphony,” Sidney says. “We still like to do good in the community. We hope we live long enough to do more good.”