§ 8-5. Animal services board.

(a)

The parish commission shall appoint an animal services board which shall serve without pay, meet not less than six times per year and which shall consist of seven persons including a veterinarian actively practicing in the parish for a minimum of five years immediately preceding his appointment, a law enforcement officer from a law enforcement agency located in the parish, an at-large citizen representing a parish municipality other than the City of Shreveport; a representative nominated by the Caddo Parish Health Unit, a representative from a tax-exempt humane organization; an at-large member residing in the City of Shreveport; a representative nominated by the Caddo Parish Health Unit, a representative from a tax-exempt humane organization; an at-large member residing in the City of Shreveport and recommended by the parish administrator, and a permitted animal establishment operator. The director of the animal services and mosquito control department shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the board.

(b)

The animal services board shall:

(1)

Conduct hearings pursuant to duly adopted procedures to consider the director's decision of declaring any animal vicious as specified in section 8-67 and to require owners of vicious animals to have the same destroyed or surrendered to the director to be humanely euthanized;

(2)

Conduct hearings pursuant to duly adopted procedures to consider the director's decision of declaring any dog as dangerous as specified in section 8-67 and instruct the owners of the dangerous dogs to either adhere to the requirements as set forth, have the dog euthanized, or surrender it to the director;

(3)

Conduct hearings pursuant to duly adopted procedures to consider the director's decision to restrict the number of indoor dogs or his denial of a noncommercial kennel permit as specified in section 8-37 and instruct the owner to comply with restriction as set forth;

(4)

Elect from its voting members a chairperson whose term shall run from January 1 through December 31 of each year; and

(5)

Operate in all respects as a public body as contemplated by R.S. 42:13 and 44:1.

(6)

Publish minutes on the www.caddo.org website.

(c)

Each member appointed shall serve for a term of four years. Upon the occurrence of any vacancy, the parish commission shall appoint a person from the same category as the person vacating the position to fill the unexpired term.

(d)

Board members may be removed from office for cause. Such cause shall include, but not be limited to, failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the board, or a majority of the meetings held by the board during a calendar year, or a clearly demonstrated conflict of interest.

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