§ 6-113. Animal establishment; minimal care standards for private owner.

(a)

Fresh water for drinking shall be available to all species at all times. Containers shall remain clean. All water containers shall remain free of fecal matter, urine and other debris and shall always remain easily accessible to the animal.

(b)

All animals shall be fed a food that is free from contamination, is wholesome, and of a sufficient quantity and nutritive value to meet the normal daily requirements of the animal. All animals shall be fed in clean containers which shall be easily accessible to the animal.

(c)

All animals are required to have proper shelter. In the case of an animal that is kept outdoors, a shelter must have a minimum of three sides, a waterproof roof and a floor. Such shelter shall provide proper protection from the sun, rain, cold and the wind. Housing for animals shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair. Housing for the animal shall allow, as a minimum, enough room for the animal to stand, sit and to turn around comfortably. Proper housing shall always remain easily accessible to the animal at all times.

(d)

All dogs and cats shall be inoculated by a licensed veterinarian for rabies in accordance with the State of Louisiana Sanitary Code Title 51, Part II, Section 103 and shall wear the metal rabies tag given by the veterinarian at all times.

(e)

All animals must be provided proper veterinary care in cases of illness or injury where professional expertise is required. Such care shall be provided in a timely fashion upon need. In a case where professional veterinary assistance is required and cannot be sought due to financial constraints or limitations, the animal shall not be allowed to continue suffering, if in severe physical pain, and shall be surrendered to animal control immediately.

(f)

All animals shall be kept from running at large at all times.

(g)

Female animals in heat shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent unplanned breeding.

(h)

It shall be unlawful to leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or wellbeing of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of food, or lack of water that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal. An animal control officer, upon a valid complaint of this nature and in the presence of at least one witness who will supply a written statement on the incident, 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:

(1)

A determination must be made before damaging the property that the case may be prosecuted by the office of animal control as cruelty to animals.

(2)

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

(3)

Any such action by the animal control officer will require approval from the director or the person who is acting director at the time of the incident; provided, however, that a director is available upon a timely fashion as not to seriously impede the rescue of the animal if required immediately (i.e., after-hours emergency calls).

(4)

All reasonable attempts to contact the owner or driver of the vehicle must have been thoroughly exhausted.

If all of the circumstances of subsection (h) of this section are met, the animal control officer, office of animal control and the city will be deemed not liable for any reasonable property damage in any such action taken so long as the intent was to save the animal and the damage to the personal property was limited to what was absolutely necessary.

(i)

It shall be unlawful to keep a dog continuously chained on a fixed chain. A fixed chain is one that is secured on one end to the dog and on the other end is secured to a fixed stationary object. Such chain or other material which is used to secure the dog shall in all cases have a minimum length of 12 feet. Temporary fixed chaining is acceptable, but in all cases the dog shall be periodically taken off the chain for exercise. Any area where a dog is chained shall be cleaned of debris and any possible entanglements.

(j)

All animal containment areas shall be maintained in order that excessive fecal matter and urine does not build up and create unsuitable living conditions for the animal and humans who enter the containment area; and does not create a health hazard and/or offensive odor to adjacent neighbor or neighbors. All animal containment areas should remain free of excessive water buildup and/or excessive flooding or continuous standing water.

(k)

It shall be unlawful for any private owner or private kennel to offer for sale or trade any animal that is known or suspected to be ill, sick, injured, diseased or the carrier of a disease.

(l)

Minimum kennel sizes shall be as follows:

1 to 20 pounds — 100 square feet (10x10) — 2 dog maximum

21 to 50 pounds — 150 square feet (10x15) — 2 dog maximum

Over 50 pounds — 200 square feet (10x20) — 2 dog maximum

Outdoor kennels shall have at least one half of the floor area made of solid material so as to prevent the dog from living in adverse conditions.

(Code 1966, § 4-25; Ord. No. 3558, 2-9-2010; Ord. No. 3848, 2-21-2017)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 3848, adopted Feb. 21, 2017, changed the title of section 6-113.