St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

Sec. 4-32. – Adoptions.

(a) Any animal signed over to animal control by its legal owner or any stray animal that is unclaimed following a five (5) working day holding period may be available for adoption by the public, or transferred to another licensed animal humane society for adoption, provided that in the opinion of animal control personnel the animal appears to be healthy and of suitable temperament and was not involved in a bite incident. Any person adopting such an animal must agree to abide by all rules and regulations of this or any subsequent ordinance of St. Bernard Parish and must have the animal neutered or spayed within the time frame set by animal control. Failure to abide by said rules and regulations or by the adoption agreement provided by the animal shelter is sufficient cause for animal control to seize said animal and the adoptive owner shall relinquish all rights to said animal. Deposits will be taken at the time of adoption which will be surrendered directly to the veterinarian performing the operation or upon proof that the operation has been performed, said deposit will be surrendered to the owner of the adopted animal.

Sec. 4-57. – At-large dogs and cats.

(a) Confinement of dogs and unneutered or unspayed cats to yard: It shall be the duty of every owner or keeper of a dog or cat in the Parish of St. Bernard except cats which have been neutered or spayed and properly tagged, to humanely confine or restrain such animals so as to prevent the animals from running at large. All animals shall be confined within a fenced yard, or enclosure, when not confined within the owner/keeper’s dwelling or being exercised or transported outside the owner or keeper’s premises. Fencing must be at least four (4) feet high and of a material, style and workmanship reasonably sufficient to restrain the animal, prevent escape and not allow ready and unobstructed access to the animal by the general public. When a dog or cat is not confined in an appropriate enclosure, it must be under the direct control of a competent person, by means of a secure leash, or in the physical possession of the owner or his representative.

(b) Dogs and unneutered or unspayed cats at large not in compliance with this section are subject to immediate seizure and impoundment or the animal control officer may issue the owner or keeper of such animal a citation or, as an alternative, may issue a warning to the owner or keeper.

(c) Redemption of impounded dogs or cats: The owner or keeper of a dog or unlicensed, unneutered or unspayed cat who has been impounded for running at large shall be entitled to resume possession of said dog or cat upon payment of the impoundment and daily board fees as provided in division 7 of this article, and compliance with vaccination and licensing requirements. Application for redemption of said dog or cat, with payment of all required fees, must occur within five (5) working days after impoundment. If no claim is made on such animal within five (5) working days, the animal may be humanely disposed of by animal control.

DIVISION 8. – SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF DOGS

Sec. 4-138. – Spaying and neutering requirements.

Owner or keepers must spay or neuter all dogs over six (6) months old when there is more than one (1) reported violation to the department of animal control on said animal wandering the neighborhood or surrounding area. Proof of spay/neuter or of intact dog permit must be provided by the owner or keeper when requested by animal control. Such request by animal control can only be made following a valid violation of any part of the St. Bernard Parish Code of Ordinances relative to animal control.

Sec. 4-139. – Exceptions.

No person may own, keep, or harbor any dog within the Parish of St. Bernard that has not been spayed or neutered following a single violation of an animal being found at large unless:

(a) The dog is under six (6) months of age;

(b) A licensed veterinarian certifies that the dog should not be spayed or neutered for a specific reason. The certificate must list the veterinarian’s license number and the date by which the dog can be spayed or neutered. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the ordinance from which this division is derived, or within thirty (30) days of taking possession or ownership of an intact dog, the owner or keeper must submit written documentation which can be verified by animal control and the owner or keeper must apply for and obtain an intact dog permit.

(c) The dog has been present in the parish for less than thirty (30) days;

(d) The owner or keeper has obtained, or has submitted, an application for an intact dog permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(e) The dog is used by a government or law enforcement agency or an agent thereof for government, rescue, law enforcement, or other government purposes.

(f) Any of the exceptions noted in section 4-139 shall be reevaluated upon the excepted animal being picked up at-large.

Sec. 4-140. – Requiring an intact dog permit.

Any dog picked up at-large shall be required to apply for an intact dog permit or follow the required spay and neuter regulations set forth in this division.

Sec. 4-141. – Granting or denying a permit.

Animal control maintains the right to grant or deny an intact dog permit. However, an aggrieved owner has the right to appeal a decision of animal control to the parish council within thirty (30) days of the decision.

(a) Animal control shall issue to the owner or keeper of any dog a nontransferable permit that expires annually on December 31st.

(b) If more than one (1) owner or keeper is involved in the breeding process, each party must be listed on the application for an intact dog permit.

(c) A permit is issued for each dog individually.

(d) Permit requirements. The permit may be applied for from the office of animal control if all of the following conditions are met:

The owner or keeper has submitted the appropriate forms and fees required by animal control in order to seek consideration for an intact dog permit including, but not limited to, a written description of the dog, proof of current vaccinations, a photograph of the dog.

(1) The dog has been micro-chipped and the registered micro-chip number is included on the application. The cost of the permit application fee will cover the cost of the micro-chip and implantation if performed by animal control.

(2) The owner can provide proof of current vaccinations for rabies, distemper and parvo virus.

(3) Owners or keepers shall not allow female dogs to breed before eighteen (18) months of age or to have more than one (1) litter per year.

(4) The intact permit number must be displayed when advertising the puppies for sale or adoption.

(5) No animal under six (6) weeks old may be sold, adopted or given away.

(6) Granting or denying a permit. Upon approval of his/her application, the applicant must pay the initial ten dollar ($10.00) permit application fee. At-large dogs permit application fee is an initial one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) fee. Proration will be quarterly based. The annual renewal fee will be fifty dollars ($50.00), due and payable by January 1 ^st of each year.

(7) All at-large dogs are not released until all permit fee and fines are paid in full.

(e) Permit denial. At the discretion of the director of the animal control, the permit may be denied if one (1) or more of the following occur and have not been corrected and brought into compliance within ten (10) days of notification of noncompliance:

(1) The applicant fails to pay the permit fee within two (2) weeks of notification that the application has been approved. If the owner or keeper does not provide payment, the owner or keeper will be cited in violation of this chapter, and all fines and penalties will be applied.

(2) The applicant has failed to meet all permit requirements listed in subsection (d)(1) through (4).

(3) The applicant has been cited for:

a. Allowing dogs to roam at large

b. Has been found to be guilty of cruelty

c. Has had his/her dog identified as dangerous or vicious or

d. Has been determined within the past twelve (12) months to have violated any provisions of Chapter 4.