St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

Sec. 4-51. – Redemption and adoption of impounded animals.

(a) Any person claiming a dog or cat which was seized and impounded under the provisions of this article and proving ownership thereof shall be entitled to possession of such dog or cat only upon proof that such dog or cat has been inoculated with an approved anti-rabies vaccine within a period of twelve (12) months prior to the seizing and impounding of such dog or cat. Such claim shall be made within five (5) business days from the date of the seizure and impounding of such dog or cat.

(b) Any person claiming a dog or cat which has been seized and impounded shall pay ten dollars ($10.00) boarding per day, in addition to claim and microchipping fees. The owner of a non-sterilized impounded animal six (6) months or older, not including dangerous dog impoundments or a licensed veterinarian certifies the dog should not be spayed/neutered for health reasons, are required to pay intact fees or choose sterilization prior to release.

(1) For the first claim, a fee of, if previously sterilized fifty dollars ($50.00); unsterilized two hundred dollars ($200.00) or choose sterilization for one hundred ($100.00);

(2) For a second claim of a dog or cat of which has been previously seized or impounded, shall pay: if previously sterilized one hundred dollars ($100.00); unsterilized four hundred dollars ($400.00) or choose sterilization and pay two hundred dollars ($200.00);

(3) For a third claim of a dog or cat which has been previously seized or impounded shall pay; if previously sterilized two hundred dollars ($200.00); unsterilized eight hundred dollars ($800.00) or choose sterilization and pay four hundred dollars ($400.00);

Sec. 4-52. – Public offering of animals for adoption.

(a) No person shall offer dogs or cats for adoption by the public without obtaining from the adopter a signed pledge that the animal will be sterilized by spaying or neutering within twenty (20) days or by six (6) months of age.

Sec. 4-54. – Animal breeders.

(a) Permit required. No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored or kept within St. Charles Parish to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit. The animal must be microchipped as well. Application procedures and requirements for such permit shall be in accordance with rules and regulation stipulated by the animal control office. The permit period shall be the calendar year and the permit fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each intact female per permit period or part thereof beginning with the first day of the calendar year. Fees shall be paid to the St. Charles Parish Animal Control for the spay/neuter program.

(b) Requirements for holding of permit. All breeders must, in addition to all other requirements of this article, comply with the requirements set forth below. Failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denial of a permit to operate, or revocation of any previously issued permit. All pups must have had their vaccines (for distemper, parvovirus at minimum) at six (6) weeks of age by a veterinarian, been certified healthy by a veterinarian and certified clean of intestinal parasites by a veterinarian. One (1) copy of this certificate must be given to the new owner of the pups and one (1) copy must be kept by the breeder.

No offspring may be sold, adopted, bartered or otherwise transferred, whether for compensation or otherwise, until it has reached the age of at least 8 weeks.

Any holder of a breeding permit who advertises the availability of any dog or cat for sale, adoption or transfer, whether for compensation or otherwise, must prominently display the permit number in any such advertisement. Further, the breeding permit holder must provide the permit number to any person who purchases, adopts or receives any animal from the permit holder and include the permit number on any receipt of sale.

Commercial establishments selling locally bred dogs or cats shall prominently display the breeding permit number(s) of the breeder(s) whose dogs or cats are sold or given away in said establishments and any other information required by the United States Department of Agriculture. Commercial establishments selling dogs or cats not bred within St. Charles Parish shall prominently display the name and address of the breeder(s) of such dogs and cats and any other pertinent information required by the United States Department of Agriculture.

(c) Application for permit; temporary permit. Permit application forms may be obtained from the animal control office. Completed, notarized forms accompanied by the appropriate fee will be brought to the animal control office within five (5) days of notification that the application is complete. If an applicant certifies that all of the requirements of these rules and regulations are being met in his establishment, the animal control office may issue a temporary permit until such time as they can make a physical inspection of the establishment. Such temporary permit, however, shall not be valid for more than three (3) months from date of issue, and shall be revoked at the time of inspection if all permit requirements are not being met. Upon certification by an authorized representative of the animal control office that all pertinent requirements are being met, the animal shelter supervisor shall forthwith issue a regular permit which shall be valid until December thirty-first (31st) of the year issued.

(d) Renewal of permit. Prior to December thirty-first of each year, all holders of animal handling permits must renew same by applying to the animal control office for the appropriate form, executing such form and remitting the current annual permit fee.

(e) Inspection. The establishment of all breeders shall be subject to inspection any time by the animal control office.

(f) Prohibitions. No breeder shall allow any female dog or cat to produce more than one (1) litters in any one (1) continuous twelve-month period and dogs cannot be bred until at least eighteen (18) months of age.

Sec. 4-57. – Breeders, grooming and pet shops.

(a) Minimum standards for care of animals:

(1) Fresh water for drinking shall be available to all species at all times. Containers are to be cleaned and disinfected each day. All water containers shall be removable for cleaning and be mounted so that the animals cannot turn them over.

(2) Cage temperatures shall be maintained at a level that is healthful for the species of animal kept in the cage.

(3) All cages and enclosures shall be a metal or nonporous plastic material for each cleaning and disinfecting. Each cage must be of sufficient size so as to provide the minimum cage area per animal as specified. Cage floors shall be of solid material, or if of open mesh construction at least one-half of the floor area shall be covered with cardboard, multiple layers of paper, plastic sheet or other continuous substantial material.

(4) All animals under three (3) months of age are to be fed at least three (3) times per twenty-four (24) hours. Food for all animals shall be served in a clean dish so mounted that the animal cannot readily tip it over or defecate or urinate in same.

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(6) There shall be sufficient clean, dry bedding in each cage to meet the needs of each individual animal. Boxes of sand or prepared litter shall be provided for cats.

(7) No animals shall be kept in darkness during the daylight hours.

(8) All animals must be adequately fed and watered, and their cages shall be cleaned every day, including Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. (see definitions)

(9) Adult animals of opposite sexes shall not be kept in common cages.

(b) Records. The holder of any permit shall keep available for inspection on the premises a record that shall show the name, current address and telephone number of the owner of each animal kept at the facility, the date such animal entered the facility, the reason for such animal being at the facility such as for boarding, sale, breeding or grooming; the description of the animal, including its age, breed, sex and color. The owner and/or keeper shall place in a visible place the name, address and telephone number of the parish animal shelter, or other party who can be contacted in case of emergency, to assume the care of the animals on the premises. In addition, the holder shall furnish to the parish animal shelter the name address and telephone number of the veterinarian or other responsible party authorized to act on behalf of the holder in case of an emergency.