§ 8-4. Authority and duties of director.

(a)

The director shall administer the department, shall have the authority and duty to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and shall be authorized to represent the parish in all actions resulting from enforcement or attempted enforcement of this chapter.

(b)

The director shall appoint animal control officers who shall have the authority to investigate complaints and to enforce the requirements of this chapter.

(c)

The director shall exercise every reasonable care to prevent injury, illness, death, escape, or pilfering of an animal with which he deals in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(d)

If, in the opinion of the director, the incidence of rabies or other disease transmissible by animals to man, either directly or indirectly, is such as to justify control measures more stringent than provided herein, the director shall determine and proclaim the existence of a state of emergency in the interest of public health. All parish departments and agencies and personnel therefrom shall be made available to assist in carrying out necessary control measures during the existence of such emergency.

(e)

The director shall grant, deny, revoke and suspend permits required by section 8-41.

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