Shreveport, Louisiana - JOHN ROBERT ALLENDER DVM, SEPT. 8, 2026.

Dr. John Allender DVM passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Allender (Dr. John) was born April 23, 1951 in Columbus, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his father, George William Allender of Grafton, West Virginia, his mother, Carolyn Tapia Allender of Bayou La Batre, Alabama and his brother, James Hudson Allender, M.D. of Fort Worth, Texas.

John graduated from Richardson High School in Richardson, TX in 1969 after having spent his formative years in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and California. He received B.S. Zoology from Oklahoma State University in 1971 where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He was hired as a zookeeper by the Audubon Park Commission in New Orleans and rose to become the Assistant Director/General Curator of the Audubon Zoo. John always wanted to be a veterinarian and was finally accepted to LSU Veterinary School in 1982, where he was responsible for the care and management of the Bengal tiger school mascot 'Mike IV".

After graduation in 1986, he joined the equine racetrack practice, Equine Medicine and Surgery, based at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA (where he met his wife Susan) as an Associate Veterinarian, becoming a partner in the practice in 1990. In 2006 he became the State Regulatory Veterinarian for the Louisiana State Racing Commission until his retirement due to Alzheimer's.

His love of fishing and the sea were nurtured spending childhood summers with his Grandfather, Dr. Mose Hudson Tapia of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The love of fishing continued with fishing excursions to the Chandelier Islands off of Ocean Springs, MS. and of course, Dauphin Island, AL. Johns other recreational passion was golf. He was able to check off his bucket list attending The Masters and playing a round at Pebble Beach and Spy Glass.

John is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan; son David Cook Allender, a musician in Franklin, TN; sister in law Marinda Allender of Ft. Worth, TX; and nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center in Shreveport; or LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Special thanks to Dr. Robert Savory and everyone at Willis-Knighton Hospice.

A Celebration of Remembrance for Dr. John will be held at 3:00 on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Osborn Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 2:00 p.m.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. John, please visit our floral store.

https://obituaries.nola.com/obituary/dr-john-allender-1094027537

Published on September 13, 2026.