§ 14:207. Redemption of impounded animals.

(a)

All redemptions shall be payable in cash, cashier's check or money order.

(b)

Impounded dogs and cats may be released to the owner or keeper upon payment of all relevant fees and fines as set forth:

(1)

Board, per day or part of a day, shall be charged a reasonable rate set and published by the animal shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances section 14:101.1.

(2)

First infraction by owner requiring impoundment of any animal for running at large:

Infertile ..... $30.00

Fertile ..... 40.00

(3)

Second infraction within a two-year period:

Infertile ..... 60.00

Fertile ..... 80.00

(4)

Third infraction within a two-year period:

Infertile ..... 120.00

Fertile ..... 160.00

(5)

Each subsequent infraction within a two-year period ..... 160.00

(6)

Failure to license or vaccinate for rabies ..... 50.00

(7)

Euthanasia and disposal, shall be charged a reasonable rate set and published by the Animal Shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances section 14:101.1.

(8)

Litter pickup ..... 15.00

(9)

Adult animal pickup ..... 15.00

(10)

Impoundment of animals other than dogs, cats, livestock, wildlife or exotics, shall be charged a reasonable rate set and published by the animal shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances section 14:101.1.

(11)

Animals dropped off from other parishes, shall be charged a reasonable rate set and published by the animal shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances Section 14:101.1.

(12)

Fee for license, fertile dog, cat, or ferret ..... 20.00

(13)

Fee for license, spayed/neutered dog, cat, or ferret ..... 10.00

(14)

Fee for vaccination ..... 6.00

(15)

Impoundment fee for potentially dangerous or dangerous dogs or dogs that threaten, bite, or attack a human or animal:

	Spayed or neutered	Unaltered
a. First offense, per animal	$ 50.00	$ 75.00
b. Second offense, per animal	$250.00	$300.00
c. Per day, per dog boarding at animal shelter	Shall be charged a reasonable rate set and published by the animal shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances section 14:101.1.

 

(c)

Owners of dogs and cats impounded at the animal shelter who cannot produce proof of rabies vaccination and licenses will be required to pay the fees as established by state law and/or the animal shelter in addition to any fines imposed for failure to vaccinate the animal(s).

(d)

Upon proof of current rabies inoculation from other parishes or states, the animal shelter will apply only those requirements as stated in section 14:201.

(e)

Any animals that are seized, except dogs and cats, livestock or wildlife and exotics, may be released to the owner upon payment of a thirty dollar ($30.00) fine.

(f)

All other animals, except dogs and cats and livestock, may be held for a period of time as determined by the director of the animal shelter before disposing of said animal in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter.

(g)

The director of the animal shelter may reduce the adoption cost of animals for special events in which the animal control and rescue center or animal shelter is involved, as long as the licensing, vaccination and spay/neuter requirements are met.

(h)

Any animal which has no identification and has been held for three (3) days or any animal which has identification and has been held for five (5) days, inclusive of the day of impoundment, and which is not reclaimed, redeemed and physically removed after payment of fees or fines by the owner or keeper, is considered abandoned and may be forfeited and disposed of by the animal shelter, in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter. Holidays are not included in the calculation of this holding period. All cats that do not have positive, traceable identification through a currently registered microchip (RFID), license tag, or private identification tag may be assessed by a veterinarian, sterilized immediately upon intake, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped, and released as a community cat in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Ordinances.

(i)

Any animal impounded in the animal shelter which is not weaned and has no mother at the time of impoundment and is considered stray or abandoned may be cause for the animal shelter to humanely dispose of such animal as soon as possible after impoundment in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter.

(j)

A stray, seriously injured, diseased or terminally ill animal impounded the animal shelter shall be cause for the animal shelter to waive the six- or four-day holding period, as the case may be, and euthanize said animal in a humane manner as soon as possible. Euthanasia shall only be performed in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter director.

(k)

The animal control and rescue center is empowered to euthanize severely injured, terminally ill, stray or untagged animals in the field whose owners are unknown and which animals are suffering severe pain without having to hold said animal for the required four- or six-day period. Euthanasia shall only be performed after a decision is made by the impounding officer if in the field. Euthanasia shall only be performed in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter, if the animal is in the shelter.

(l)

The animal shelter shall not be required to accept or hold animals from other parishes. Animals from other parishes may be accepted at a reasonable rate set and published by the animal shelter pursuant to Code of Ordinances section 14:101.1.

(m)

Any stray dog that has been impounded, has no identification and presents a clear and present threat to the life and/or limb of employees or other animals in the animal control and rescue center or animal shelter, may be cause for the animal to be humanely euthanized as soon as possible after impoundment in the reasonable discretion of the animal shelter and its director.

(n)

A photograph of the dog shall be taken and held as evidence with other official records of the case.

(o)

At the conclusion of the impound period set forth in subsection (h) of this section, any former ownership, title, or interest in an animal shall be extinguished. Upon such termination of ownership, title, or interest, the animal control and rescue center or its contractor shall have sole title to the animal, and may dispose of the animal according to the provisions of this title.

(Ord. No. 9634 § 1, 5-26-93; Ord. No. 9766, § 4, 11-24-93; Ord. No. 11627, § 1, 12- 8-99; Ord. No. 11920, §§ 2, 3, 12-13-00; Ord. No. 13097, §§ 1, 2, 10-27-04; Ord. No. 13791, § 3, 10-25-06; Ord. No. 14203, §§ 3, 4, 10-24-07; Ord. No. 15237, § 1, 1-11-12; Ord. No. 15788, § 2, 9-24-14; Ord. No. 16309, § 1, 8-24-16)