§ 8-39. Cruelty to animals prohibited.

(a)

Any person who intentionally or with criminal negligence commits any of the following shall be guilty of simple cruelty to animals:

(1)

Overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, or overworks a living animal.

(2)

Torments, cruelly beats, or unjustifiably injures any living animal, whether belonging to himself or another.

(3)

Having charge, custody, or possession of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, unjustifiably fails to provide it with proper food, proper drink, proper shelter, or proper veterinary care.

(4)

Abandons any animal. A person shall not be considered to have abandoned an animal if he delivers to an animal control center an animal which he found running at large.

(5)

Impounds or confines, or causes to be impounded or confined in a pound or other place, a living animal and fails to supply it during such confinement with proper food, proper drink, and proper shelter. No animal shall be left unattended in a vehicle if it subjects the animal to cruel conditions. An animal control officer, upon a complaint of this nature and in the presence of at least one witness shall be permitted to use all reasonable means, including breaking a window, in order to free a suffering animal in the following circumstances, all of which must be met:

a.

The animal shows physical signs of heat exhaustion, convulsions, or other symptoms which require immediate action by the animal control officer in order to save the animal's life.

b.

The animal control officer receives approval from a supervisor prior to taking the action, provided that a supervisor is readily available and obtaining approval will not seriously impede the rescue of the animal. Prior approval is not necessary if, in the judgment of the animal control officer, the delay in obtaining such approval would jeopardize the life of the animal.

c.

Reasonable effort to contact the owner or driver of the vehicle has been attempted and is unsuccessful.

(6)

Carries, or causes to be carried, a living animal in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner.

(7)

Unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any domestic animal or unjustifiably exposes any such drug or substance, with intent that the same shall be taken or swallowed by any domestic animal.

(8)

Injures any animal belonging to another person.

(9)

Mistreats any living animal by any act or omission whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused to or permitted upon the animal.

(10)

Causes or procures to be done by any person any act enumerated in this subsection.

(b)

Any person who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal shall stop at once and render such assistance as may be possible and shall immediately report the injury or death of the animal to the animal's owner, if the identity of the owner is apparent. If the owner cannot be ascertained or located, such motor vehicle operator shall report the accident to the department or the appropriate law enforcement agency.

(c)

No person shall color, dye, stain, or otherwise change the natural color of baby chickens, ducklings, other fowl or rabbits; nor shall any person possess for the purpose of sale any chickens, ducklings, other fowl or rabbits which have been so colored.

(d)

Ponies used at concessions consisting of a wheel-like device to which they are attached must be given sufficient resting time. Resting time shall be one-half hour after working one hour.

(e)

No one previously convicted of cruelty to an animal shall be issued an animal establishment or kennel permit, or be permitted to adopt a pet pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(f)

This section shall not apply to the lawful hunting or trapping of wildlife as provided by law, accepted veterinary practices, accepted livestock and poultry production practices, and activities carried on for scientific or medical research governed by accepted standards. Steel leg hold traps are banned, except if permitted by Caddo Parish Animal Services to remove dangerous or nuisance animals and permits are current from any other pertinent agency.

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