§ 8-2. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Abandoned means to completely forsake and desert an animal previously under the custody or possession of a person without making reasonable arrangements for its proper care, sustenance, shelter and medical care for a period of 24 hours. This includes abandoning an animal at an animal shelter, animal welfare organization's facility or veterinarian's office.

Adequate grooming means that animals shall be groomed in such a manner to maintain health. Animals shall be provided with hair, hoof, claw, nail, tooth and beak care as appropriate and as necessary to maintain health and comfort.

Administrator of Caddo Parish means that person appointed by the parish commission under section 4-01 of the Home Rule Charter.

Adopted means the transfer of a canine or feline from a shelter to a new owner.

Animal means any living vertebrate creature except human beings, including, but not limited to, mammals, birds, fowl, reptiles and fish, except when referring specifically to the control of rabies where the meaning of the term "animal" shall be limited to mammals, domestic and wild.

Animal establishment means a facility operated as a pet shop, grooming shop, commercial kennel, commercial livery stable, permanent or transient zoo, circus or performing animal act, or for the boarding of dogs and cats or the training of dogs for any purpose. Animal shelters operated by public and private authorities and veterinary medical facilities are exempt from this definition.

At-large stray means:

(1)

Dog: any dog that is not within the confines of its owner's home, dog yard, dog pen, primary enclosure, proper invisible fencing area identified by flags or automobile and that is not on a chain or tether which restricts the animal to the confines of its owner's property, nor on a leash not longer than six feet long shall be considered at large.

(2)

Cat: any cat that is not within the confines of its owner's home, cat yard, primary enclosure or in the owner's physical possession.

(3)

Hunting or stock dogs, show dogs and cats, government or law enforcement dogs actively being worked or trained or other animals being worked or trained or shown under the physically present supervision of their owners or agents or employees of the owners are exempt. During active work or training sessions, orange vests are required to properly identify animals in training.

Backyard breeder means a person or persons who breed animals without the required permits.

Bite means the breaking of the skin of a human being by an animal's teeth, mouth, or beak.

Breeder means any person who breeds a female dog or cat for the purpose of obtaining a monetary gain from the sale of any portion of the litter produced.

Carrier means any airline, railroad, motor carrier, shipping line, or other enterprise engaged in the business of transporting for hire.

Cat means any member of the Felidae (feline) family.

Cat yard means an owner's yard or an enclosure which shall be used to confine a cat.

Circus means a commercial variety show featuring animal acts for public entertainment.

Collar means a band, harness, or other device worn around the neck of an animal in a humane way to which a rabies vaccination tag may be affixed. Collars, harnesses, halters and the like shall be monitored so as to ensure proper fit and prevent discomfort or injury.

Commercial kennel means any person, partnership, or corporation engaged in the commercial breeding of dogs or cats or both for sale individually or in litter lots, or in the boarding, training, sale or hire of dogs or cats for compensation, or operation of a guard dog service. Animal hospitals operated by licensed veterinarians as a part of the practice of veterinary medicine, shelters operated by public authorities, and tax-exempt humane organizations shall not be considered commercial kennels.

Commercial livery stable means any establishment where one or more horses are let for hire to be ridden or driven, or where one or more horses are boarded for a fee.

Cruelly-ill-treat means every act or failure to act whereby unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted.

Dangerous dog means any dog that when unprovoked, shall be deemed a dangerous dog if it:

(1)

Bites, injures, or inflicts a bite on a human being or domestic animal either upon public property or those areas of private property that are unfenced and normally accessible to the public.

(2)

Chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks or public grounds in a terrorizing or menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.

(3)

Bites or injures animals or persons authorized to enter upon the owner's premises such as letter carriers, meter readers, trash collectors, repair persons, delivery persons or business customers provided that the persons authorized to enter upon the owner's premises shall not include unauthorized intruders such as burglars or trespassers in the owner's business, house or apartment or within a fenced area on the premises not normally accessible to the public. The director and/or his agents shall make all determinations that a dog is a dangerous dog.

Dealer means any person, not a public entity, who, as a business, sells, exchanges, or donates or offers to sell, exchange, or donate animals to any person.

Department means the department of animal services and mosquito control, also referred to as Caddo Parish Animal Services (CPAS).

Director means that person designated by the parish administrator or his agent as responsible for the administration of the parish animal services and mosquito control department, and, except where clearly limited by the context, shall include duly-appointed officers and others duly authorized and acting under the authority of the director.

Dog means any member of the Canis lupus familiaris family.

Dwelling means the house or other structure in which one or more persons live. For determining the maximum number of dogs, only one dwelling per subdivided lot will be used to establish the number of dogs permitted.

Euthanasia means humanely terminate an animal's life in a manner consistent with the AVMA euthanasia guidelines.

Excessive barking means unprovoked animal noises of such a loudness, intensity and duration as to prevent or interfere with a person's ability to enjoy his property, included, but not limited to, situations where:

(1)

On more than one occasion has awakened the complainant up from sleep; or

(2)

Continues in such a manner so as to cause mental anguish or suffering, loss of sleep or a disturbance of the peace.

Feral means a cat not socialized to humans and is not an owned cat.

Grooming shop means a commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise groomed, excluding animal shelters.

Guard dog means any dog that is utilized at a commercial establishment or that is used by a commercial entity to provide security protection for employees, employers, property, goods and/or equipment.

Horse means any horse, pony, donkey, or mule.

Indoor dog means any dog that:

(1)

Lives inside a dwelling.

(2)

Is not left outside unattended.

(3)

Eats and sleeps in a dwelling.

Isolation means the secure, humane confinement of a dog or cat that has been bitten by a known rabid animal so as to prevent such dog or cat from coming in contact with any other animal. Isolation enclosures shall be so constructed and secured that entry will be limited to the owner of the confined dog or cat, with the primary enclosure so located within a secondary enclosure to prevent accessibility to the public.

Micro-chip means an identification device approved by Caddo Parish Animal Services which is intended to be implanted within an animal for identification purposes.

Neuter means permanently render an animal incapable of reproductive function.

Noncommercial kennel means a private residence which exceeds the maximum allowable number of dogs in which the director of Caddo Parish Animal Services has deemed it appropriate to issue a noncommercial permit. The kennel must be in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws.

Nuisance by an animal means the damaging, soiling, defiling, urinating or defecating upon, or repeatedly trespassing upon property other than its owner's, excessive barking or noise making so as to disturb the peace and repose of persons living or working nearby, molesting, threatening, attacking or interfering with persons on private or public property, chasing motor vehicles or bicycles, attacking other domestic animals, or disturbing or turning over garbage or trash containers, or causing unsanitary conditions or odors on or about the premises of its owner by urination or defecation.

Owner means any person who has a right of property in an animal, or who keeps an animal in his care, harbors an animal, acts as custodian for an animal, or who permits an animal to remain on or about his premises.

Pet shop means any person who obtains animals for sale, exchange, or barter, to the general public, or who grooms animals, as a principal or agent, or who holds himself out to be so engaged.

Primary enclosure means any structure used to immediately restrict an animal to a limited amount of space such as a house, room, pen, run, cage, compartment, or hutch.

Private animal welfare society means an organization organized and operated exclusively for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Proper food means the daily food of sufficient quality and quantity provided for each animal to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

Proper shelter means adequate shelter provided for each animal from the elements as required, preventing unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

Proper veterinary care means veterinary care provided for each animal sufficient to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering by the animal.

Proper water means daily water of sufficient quality and quantity provided for each animal to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

Public carrier means and includes any motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers or freight for hire over any streets by a route or to a destination controlled by the hirer. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to include carriers by motor vehicle subject to the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Public Service Commission under R.S. 45:161 et seq., or engaged solely in interstate commerce.

Rabies vaccination registration tag means a suitable tag, issued by a licensed veterinarian or Caddo Parish Animal Services, indicating the year for which the tag was issued. Rabies vaccination registration tags are issued only upon vaccination or proof of vaccination against rabies.

Rescue organization means any person or organization that is a 501(c)(3), has signed a Caddo rescue partner agreement and that accepts pet animals for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes for the animals.

Signage means signs or a system of signs used to show information.

Spay means to permanently render a female animal reproductively infertile.

Sterilization means the act of spaying and neutering an animal.

Vaccination against rabies means the injection subcutaneously or otherwise by a licensed veterinarian, or by a person under his supervision, of animal rabies vaccine approved by the state health officer or the director.

Vaccination certificate means a serially numbered certificate on a form approved by the director, and signed by a veterinarian or his representative, stating the name of the owner of the dog or cat to which issued and a description of the dog or cat to which issued, indicating the year for which issued, certifying that such dog or cat was inoculated or vaccinated against rabies, and stating the date thereof. Vaccination certificates are required to register dogs, cats and ferrets in Caddo Parish.

Vicious dog means a dog which has:

(1)

Attacked and caused severe and gross injuries or death to a human being.

(2)

Previously been classified as "dangerous" and subsequent thereto a violation of section 8-67(a) occurs.

(3)

Previously been classified as "dangerous" and is found to be at large two or more times.

(4)

Exhibited behavior which enables the director or the animal advisory board to reasonably conclude that the animal may not safely coexist with people. No dog shall be deemed vicious simply by its breed.

Working days means, for purposes of computing time periods referenced in chapter 8 of this Code, Mondays through Fridays, excluding legal holidays recognized by the parish commission.

( Ord. No. 5580 , 5-19-2016)