DeSoto Parish, Louisiana

Sec. 14-22. – Impoundment of dogs and cats, disposition, identification and classification.

(g) Any person adopting an unspayed or unneutered animal from the T. B. Yopp, Jr. Animal Facility must sign an adoption agreement to have the animal spayed or neutered within 30 days or by six months of age for a female or a male, and must pay the adoption fee which includes vaccinations and a low cost spay/neuter fee established by resolution of a “fee schedule” by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury. The animal facility staff will issue a receipt for said adoption fee and the amount thereof will be paid only to the veterinarian(s) selected by the animal facility to perform the surgery. The animal facility shall perform follow-up investigations to confirm compliance with this section, and failure to comply shall constitute a waiver of all rights of the adopting party in and to the animal, returning full custody of the animal to the animal facility and shall further constitute forfeiture of all fees paid by said party in connection with the adoption.

Sec. 14-46. – Adoption.

Any adoptable animal held by the T. B. Yopp, Jr. Animal Facility may be adopted by a new owner provided the director or his designated agents deem it suitable for release and the prospective owner agrees to the adoption contract set by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury and makes payment of all fees imposed. No dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being spayed or neutered or without written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that the animal will be altered within a specified time.

Sec. 14-47. – Sterilization required.

(a) Provisions shall be made for the sterilization of all dogs and cats sold or released for adoption or purchased from any public or private animal facility:

(1) Providing sterilization by a Louisiana licensed veterinarian before relinquishing custody of the animal;

(2) Entering into a written agreement with the adopter or purchaser guaranteeing that sterilization will be performed by a Louisiana licensed veterinarian in compliance with a sterilization agreement that shall contain the following information:

a. The date of the agreement;

b. The name, address, and signature of the releasing agency and the adopter;

c. A description of the animal to be adopted;

d. A sterilization completion date which shall be either: The 30th day after the date of adoption in the case of an adult animal, The 30th day after a specified date estimated to be the date an adopted infant female or male puppy or kitten becomes six months of age,

e. A statement printed in conspicuous bold print, that sterilization of the animal is required under this article and R.S. 3:2472.

(b) Except as provided by this subsection, an adopter that signs an agreement under this article shall have the adopted animal sterilized on or before the sterilization date stated in the agreement. If the sterilization completion date stated in the agreement falls on Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline shall be extended to the first day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The releasing agency may extend the deadline for 30 days on the presentation of a letter or telephone report from a Louisiana licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of the adopted animal may be jeopardized by sterilization. There shall be no limit to the number of extensions that may be granted for this reason.

Sec. 14-48. – Confirmation of sterilization.

The releasing animal facility shall consider the animal sterilized upon receipt of written confirmation signed by the Louisiana licensed veterinarian who performed the sterilization.