§ 8-37. Owner's responsibilities.

(a)

No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog, cat or ferret over the age of three months within the parish without having:

(1)

The dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at three months of age initially, revaccinated one year later and then on at least a triennial basis thereafter, except in case of injury or any other medical condition that would preclude proper rabies vaccination of the dog or cat or endanger the health of the animal and only upon receipt by Caddo Parish Animal Services of a letter signed by a licensed veterinarian requesting an exception until the medical condition is resolved to the point that vaccination is no longer a threat to the health of the animal.

(2)

Registered the dog, cat or ferret with Caddo Parish Animal Services upon presentation of a certificate of such rabies vaccination, as hereinafter specified.

(3)

Tagged or microchipped the animal as hereinafter specified.

(b)

Rabies vaccination registration. It shall be the duty of the owner of every dog, cat or ferret to register the same with Caddo Parish Animal Services directly or through a Caddo Parish veterinarian, and to obtain and to retain at all times the certificate of rabies vaccination registration, giving the name and address of the owner, a description of the animal by sex, color, date of birth or estimated approximate age and weight, the breed of the dog or cat if known and the name of the animal. All Caddo Parish veterinarians and Caddo Parish Animal Services shall record all such information in the CPAS computerized database. The rabies vaccination registration tag shall be securely fastened at all times to a collar or harness which must be worn at all times by the dog or cat for which the registration tag was issued.

(1)

Exemptions from wearing rabies registration tags:

a.

Law enforcement and fire department dogs.

b.

Hunting dogs while being worked or trained.

c.

Show dogs or cats while being worked or trained and/or shown under the supervision of their owners or owners' employees.

d.

Ferrets.

e.

Dogs or cats while under veterinary care.

(2)

The rabies vaccination registration renewal date shall be one year from the date of rabies vaccination and initial registration, on an annual basis. There is no fee for annual rabies vaccination registration. New residents must make application for rabies vaccination registration within 30 days of establishing residence in the parish.

(3)

Persons failing to obtain a rabies vaccination registration certificate within the yearly period specified in this section will be subjected to a fine of $50.00.

(4)

A 30-day grace period shall apply to owners who have failed to fulfill the requirements of this section after the rabies vaccination registration due date has expired. If the owner fulfills the requirements within the grace period, the $50.00 fine shall be waived. However, all other fees shall still apply.

(5)

All establishments where animal vaccines are sold shall post a sign, supplied by Caddo Parish Animal Services, in a conspicuous location stating:

a.

All animals must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at three months of age initially, revaccinated one year later and thereafter vaccinated at least triennially.

b.

All animals must be registered annually with Caddo Parish Animal Services.

c.

All animals must be tagged with the rabies vaccination registration tag on a collar or harness, except ferrets.

d.

All animals must be prevented from running at large and/or causing a nuisance.

(c)

Rabies vaccination registration tags/microchips. It shall be the duty of all Caddo Parish veterinarians and Caddo Parish Animal Services to issue rabies vaccination registration tags or microchips containing the registration number and the year for which such tag is issued. The color and shape of tags shall be changed each year. Each tag is valid only for one year from the date of issue.

(1)

In lieu of a rabies registration tag, an owner may elect to have their animal permanently microchipped. An annual rabies registration shall still be required.

(2)

Tags issued by legal registering authorities of other parishes of this state and counties of another state shall be recognized if the animal owner is able to produce a certificate of rabies registration from the other jurisdiction issued within the preceding year.

(3)

Any person who attaches a tag to an animal that was not registered with that tag shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 1-8.

(d)

Owners of dogs and cats shall be responsible for compliance with the following:

(1)

All dogs and cats, except cats which have been properly vaccinated for rabies, neutered or spayed and properly registered and tagged, except any dog that is being trained for, or being used for the common and accepted practices associated with search and rescue and the legal hunting of game, including birds and animals, and the herding of livestock, shall be kept from running at-large and must be confined. The owner of a cat or dog which causes damage to another person's property shall be responsible for that damage. If a cat is shown to have damaged, with its claws, another person's property, the director of Caddo Parish Animal Services (CPAS) may instruct the owner to either have the cat declawed, claws trimmed or confine the cat indoors. If a dog causes damage to another person's property, the director may classify the dog as dangerous and enforce the guidelines as set forth in this chapter. Failure of the owner to follow the instructions of the director may result in the animal being seized and humanely disposed of.

(2)

Owners shall be responsible for practicing a flea and tick program.

(3)

Owners of animals that bite an individual are responsible for notifying CPAS.

(4)

It shall be the responsibility of the owner to confine outside animals in an enclosed area. The primary enclosure should contain a minimum of 48 square feet (six feet by eight feet) per animal. Note: There shall be no tethering of animals with chains, cables, ropes or any other such device in lieu of a proper enclosure. Outside animals that reside in a neighborhood with fencing restrictions must be kept inside or confined in an outside kennel with the minimum square footage as stated in this subsection (4). Any animal found in violation will be seized. The owner will have five days to correct the discrepancy or the animal will become the property of CPAS. Whether or not the animal is redeemed, the owner will be responsible for all fees. Whoever is found to be guilty of failing to provide the proper enclosure shall be fined not less than $250.00 nor more than $500.00 or serve five days in jail.

(5)

The owner of any dog housed outside shall provide a proper shelter which will provide adequate protection from the elements. This includes, but is not limited to, a doghouse, enclosure, or ready access to an already existing structure. The shelter must provide basic protection from the elements. In addition, the owner shall provide the dog access to an adequate water supply. The owner shall provide adequate food for the dog and must feed the dog at least once per each 24-hour period. Any fenced or walled enclosure will consist of a chain link, wood, brick, vinyl fencing or any other material deemed appropriate by the director of Caddo Parish Animal Services. The barrier will be a minimum of four feet high but at all times will be of a sufficient height to preclude the dog from escaping over the barrier. No fence or wall will have openings greater than two inches in diameter.

(6)

No owner shall tether a dog to a moveable object in which the dog must physically move the object in order to move about the enclosure.

(7)

No owner shall position his dogs in a manner that would prevent emergency personnel from gaining safe and immediate access to main entrance to the residence.

(8)

It shall be unlawful for any occupant or owner of a dwelling to keep or allow to be kept outdoors on the premises of any dwelling more than four dogs, except that a litter of pups may be kept for a period of time not exceeding five months from birth. This provision shall not apply to any establishment where dogs are lawfully kept for breeding, sale, sporting purposes or boarding. In a case where the number of dogs exceeds the legal limit, the owner may apply to the director for a noncommercial kennel permit. The director will approve the permit if the following conditions exist:

a.

There is adequate space to house the dogs.

b.

The additional dogs do not create a health risk for the humans or other animals which occupy the residence.

c.

The additional dogs do not degrade the environment for the surrounding residences.

d.

All animals on the property have been properly vaccinated and registered with CPAS.

e.

There is an adequate tick and flea control program and heartworm preventative program.

f.

The applicant is in compliance with all other portions of this chapter.

g.

The applicant and/or owner/caretaker of the dwelling have not been convicted of any offenses involving animals.

If the director finds that all of the conditions listed under this subsection exist, he may issue a noncommercial permit. If the director finds that one or more of the conditions as listed under this subsection are not in compliance, he may deny the permit and the applicant will be required to come into compliance. If the applicant disagrees with the decision of the director he may appeal that decision as stated in subsections (e)(1) and (2) of this section.

(e)

For indoor dogs, there shall be no limit unless those dogs create a nuisance. The director may enforce the maximum limits as stated for outdoor dogs for any owner who permits his indoor dogs to create a nuisance.

(1)

If the owner disagrees with the decision of the director, he may appeal that decision to the animal services board. The director's decision shall be revoked only by a majority vote of the animal services board. If the board does not revoke the decision, the owner will have an additional ten days to request an appeal. If an appeal is not requested, the owner must comply with the director's decision and the number of dogs must be brought into compliance. The owner must be present or legally represented at the hearing or any right to the appeal will be deemed waived and the ruling of the director will be final.

(2)

Any person aggrieved by any action of the animal services board may appeal said action to the parish commission. Written notice of such appeal must be submitted to the clerk of the parish commission within three working days of the action of the animal services board from which the appeal is taken or the right of appeal will be deemed waived and the ruling of the board will be final. The parish commission shall hear the appeal at the first available regularly scheduled meeting after receipt of said notice of appeal by the clerk of the parish commission. To overturn the rulings of the animal services board, it will require a majority vote of the parish commission. An issue so appealed shall be taken to the First Judicial District Court by filing an appropriate petition within ten days of receipt of notice of the decision of said body. Failure to timely file said petition shall constitute a waiver of the right of appeal and the decision of the parish commission will be final.

(f)

Must ensure that any guard dog is registered with the CPAS.

(g)

Owners of dogs that have been declared dangerous must register the dogs with CPAS and abide by the provisions set forth in section 8-67.

(h)

Owners are responsible for limiting the number of cats in their possession as to when they will not create a nuisance.

(i)

Minimum requirements for dog and cat pens.

(1)

Dog and cat pens shall meet the following minimum requirements:

a.

Pen floors shall be constructed of concrete or other impervious material and shall be constructed so as to prevent animal escape.

b.

Dogs housed in any primary enclosure shall be provided as a minimum floor space equal to the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of its tail plus six inches expressed in square feet. Cats housed in a primary enclosure shall be provided a minimum of two and one-half square feet of floor space.

c.

Dog pens shall be sloped to a drain connected to a sanitary sewer or an approved individual sewerage system. This requirement shall not apply to dog pens containing less than two dogs.

d.

Dog pens shall be equipped with a curb at least three inches high around the perimeter. The top of the curb shall be at such elevation that the surrounding surface water cannot drain into the pen.

e.

Dog pens shall be provided with a hose bib and water under pressure.

f.

Cleanliness.

1.

All dog pens shall be hosed down, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected as often as needed and in no case less than once a day.

2.

It shall be unlawful for any person keeping or harboring animals to fail to keep the dog or cat pen where such animals are kept free from offensive odors to the extent that such odors are disturbing to any person residing within reasonable proximity of said premises.

3.

It shall be unlawful to allow animals or pens where animals are kept to become infested with ticks or fleas or other animal-related parasites by failing to diligently and systematically apply accepted methods of insect/parasite control as indicated.

g.

Dog pens shall be located a minimum of ten feet from the nearest property line and a minimum of 50 feet from any residence other than that of the owner.

h.

The pen must meet all subdivision restrictions or zoning laws or ordinances.

i.

The above requirements shall only apply to pens located in recognized subdivisions in the parish.

j.

Pens located outside of a recognized subdivision shall meet the specifications as set forth in b., f., g. and h. of this subsection.

k.

Town houses, apartments or condominiums need only comply with paragraphs b., f.2. and 3. of this section.

l.

Caddo Parish Animal Services shall be empowered to order all animals removed from affected pens until the owner comes into compliance with this section. The animal shelter shall be entitled to charge a reasonable boarding fee for animals so held to be set and published in accordance with this section.

m.

Animal establishments are exempt from the requirements of this section.

(2)

Tethering as a secondary means of restraint to a proper enclosure. As a secondary means of restraint in a proper enclosure, an animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system providing that:

a.

Subsection (d) of this part is complied with:

b.

A running cable line or trolley is set inside a proper enclosure.

c.

Only one animal may be attached to each running cable line or trolley system.

d.

This device must provide for humane, unrestrained range of movement for the animal to ensure that the animal is not exposed to hazard or injury and shall not prevent the animal from having food, water, shelter, adequate ventilation, protection from the elements.

e.

Tethers and cables attaching the animal to the running cable line or trolley system must be made of a substance which cannot be chewed by the animal.

f.

No animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system for more than 15 hours in a 24-hour period.

g.

The tether must be attached to a properly fitted harness or non-choke collar that weighs no more than one-eighth of the animal's body weight. The running line must be at least ten feet in length and provide the animal with a minimum of 64 square feet of space to freely move about.

h.

The area must be kept free from unsanitary conditions and vermin-harboring debris.

i.

The dog may not be tethered outside during periods of extreme weather, including extreme heat or near-freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms or hurricanes.

j.

While participating in training sessions for hunting or competitive events, dogs shall be tethered with leashes of a minimum of ten feet. The tether must allow the dog ample room to sit, lay down and turn around. Water shall be provided at all times. No dogs shall be left unsupervised by the responsible party when tethered for these purposes.

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