Below is the Chapter 18 Animal Ordinances pertaining to
companion animals in Orleans Parish. If you have any comments or questions,
please email info@la-spca.org.
Click Here to view the complete Chapter 18 Animal Ordinances
with revisions.
CHAPTER 18 REVISED ANIMAL ORDINANCES FAQS
Click here to download a printable version of these FAQs
When did the revised ordinances become effective?
March 22, 2013 - 10 business days after the passage date of
March 7, 2013
Does this mean on March 22, 2013 the LA/SPCA began
implementing the ordinances that have been revised?
No, the LA/SPCA, in conjunction with the City, will do mass
communications to the general public, pet owners, breed rescue groups,
veterinarians, hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities and other impacted
parties before we begin enforcing the ordinances that have been revised.
Where can I get a new copy of the revised ordinances?
Copies of the revised ordinances can be found at the website
address www.la-spca.org/ordinances. A
hardcopy of the ordinances can be requested by writing to LA/SPCA 1700
Mardi Gras Blvd. New Orleans LA 70114 and sending $2.00 for postage.
Are the new laws in the ordinances retroactive?
No, the new laws are NOT retroactive.
Were the ordinances revised only to increase fees and get
more money?
No. The ordinances were revised to promote responsible pet
ownership, address public safety and health issues, and promote the humane care
of animals. Very few ordinance changes
generate any funds for animal control.
I heard that I will only need to get my pet’s rabies
vaccination AND license every three years now?
Does that mean I only need to go to my veterinarian every 3 years?
No. Every pet owner
is still required to get an annual license and tag from a licensed private
veterinarian which indicates that your pet is current on his/her rabies
vaccination. Additionally, it is
recommended that your pet receive other annual vaccinations as determined by
your private veterinarian. The only
change to this ordinance is that the rabies vaccination is only given every 3
years (after the initial puppy series is complete and the first annual).
Note: Because of the high volume of pets at the Palm Sunday
Rabies drives, pet owners who get their pet’s rabies vaccination at this annual
event will not have the option of a 3 year vaccination. Those pets will be vaccinated every year when
they come to the firehouse and receive the license and tag at that time.
So where and how do I get an annual license?
An annual license and tag can be obtained through your pet’s
veterinarian during your annual visit to your vet clinic. The ordinances require that the tag must be
affixed to your pet’s collar at all times.
If I am a licensed veterinarian and I have already purchased
a year’s supply of 1-year rabies vaccines, do I have to discard the vaccines
and re-purchase the 3-year rabies vaccines?
Please talk to your pharmaceutical representative about this
issue. They will be better able to
address the question of what to do with current vaccination products.
When do I need to vaccinate my puppy or kitten?
The owner or keeper of every dog or cat between three and
four months old shall, at his expense, have such dog or cat vaccinated by a
Louisiana-licensed veterinarian with rabies vaccine. Twelve months later, the
animal shall be revaccinated. Thereafter, such dog or cat shall be revaccinated
every 36 months by a licensed Louisiana veterinarian, under rules and
regulations to be prescribed by the director. The veterinarian must provide the
owner the date when the dog or cat must be revaccinated.
Since the rabies vaccination is required every three years,
but an annual license is also required, is there an option available where I
can purchase a 3-year license?
No. While the actual
vaccination (shot) is only required every 3 years, the rabies vaccination
license and tag needs to be purchased every year. Like a brake tag or annual vehicle
inspection, your annual license and tag show that your veterinarian has
certified that you are current on the rabies vaccination requirement.
How will the new 3-yr. rabies vaccine law affect the Palm
Sunday Rabies Drive in 2014, 2015 and beyond?
If an owner chooses to bring its animal to the annual Palm
Sunday Rabies Drive, every animal that is suitable for the vaccination will
receive a rabies vaccination, license and tag each year. Because of the high volume of pets, we will
not be able to verify that a pet is current on the vaccination so all pets will
receive the vaccination and tag regardless of when the last one was given. If a pet owner prefers to get the vaccination
every 3 years, the pet owner will be required to go to a private veterinarian.
Will there be some sort of renewal notification for people
to come for tags/licenses each year?
The City of New Orleans will not send out renewal
notifications. It is the pet owner’s
responsibility to get the annual license and tag. Many private veterinarians send out annual
vaccination reminder postcards or e-mails, but it is the responsibility of the
pet owner to ensure that they have their pets up-to-date on their annual
license/tag and vaccinations.
I heard there is a change in the stray period for stray
animals brought to a shelter. What is the change?
The revised ordinances stipulate that animals impounded
shall be held for a period of 3 days to allow for the owner to claim them, but
is EXPANDED to 7 days from the date of notice
in the case of a dog wearing an identifying collar and tag with the name
and address of the owner:
Animals impounded shall be held for a period of 3 days for
any owner to claim the animal, except dog(s) that at the time of impoundment
are wearing a collar bearing a tag showing the name and address of its owner.
Owner(s) of dog(s) bearing a collar with a tag shall receive written notice of
the dog’s impoundment and shall be allowed seven days from the date of the
notice to reclaim the dog.
Do the revised ordinances make spaying and neutering
mandatory?
No. The ordinances do require that all residents in Orleans
Parish with an intact dog, (a dog that
has not been spayed or neutered/fixed/sterilized), are required to do one of
the following:
•Purchase an Intact Dog Permit (Renewed annually; 1 per dog)
•Apply for an Intact Dog Permit Exemption (requires
veterinarian documentation)
•Spay/Neuter their dog
•Pay a fine for non-compliance
If my dog is intact (not spayed or
neutered/fixed/sterilized) what is the fee?
Intact Dog Permit Application Fee: $75.00
Initial Intact Dog Permit Fee: $20.00
Annual Intact Dog Permit Renewal Fee: $20.00 to be renewed
at the end of the 12 month period based on the initial permit date.
Additionally, if a permit is not renewed on time, a $10.00
per day late fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fee.
Can I keep my dog in my yard on a chain?
No. It shall be unlawful to tether a dog, except as follows:
A dog may be restrained to an overhead running line, pulley, or trolley system
under the specific condition outlined in the ordinances. The length of the tether must be at least 4
times the length of the dog plus provide 12 inches of slack when the dog lays
flat on the ground with his/her head down.
An intact dog may NOT be tethered at any time. All dogs must be removed from the tethers
between 11PM and 6AM.
Some cities have pit bull bans. Is there any breed specific legislation in
the revised ordinances?
No, breed specific legislation is not an effective form of
animal control. What we do encourage is the spaying and neutering of animals,
no matter the breed; and responsible pet ownership and pet care.
Is it against the law for me to have my dog off leash when
walking my dog?
Yes, dogs which are properly licensed and vaccinated as
stipulated in the ordinances may be allowed outside of an enclosure if under a
secure leash and accompanied by their owner or keeper but are not to be allowed
to trespass upon any public property, if so prohibited by another ordinance, or
upon private property. Designated dog parks or "off-leash" areas are
exempt from the provisions of this section. The area of City Park known as NOLA
City Bark generally bounded by Zachary Taylor Drive, Diagonal Drive, and
Magnolia Drive is such an exempted area.
Is the leash law a new law under the revised ordinances?
No, the leash law has always been in effect.
Is it against the law to have my dog riding in the bed of my
pickup truck?
Yes, it is illegal if the dog is not safely and humanely
restrained under the specific guidelines of the revised ordinances. The revised ordinance stipulates: It shall be
unlawful to transport any animal on a public road in any open-bed vehicle
unless the animal is safely and humanely restrained (at a minimum by a harness
with double tethering for dogs) so that the animal is unable to jump or fall
out of the vehicle. If transporting an animal in a kennel or cage in an open
bed vehicle, the kennel or cage must be double-tethered to prevent the kennel
from moving.
If I am involved with an event in Orleans Parish that will
showcase animals, do I have to pay a fee and how do I do this?
Any person, organization or entity that wishes to hold an
animal exhibition, circus or carnival in Orleans Parish must first obtain a
permit from the City of New Orleans. Fees for these events are as follows:
(1) For activities
involving less than five animals, a 72-hour permit fee of $150.00. (2) For
activities involving more than five animals, a 72-hour permit fee of $250.00
An exhibitor will need an Event Promoter License and
Mayorality Permit from the City of New Orleans Department of Finance-Bureau of
Revenue,
City Hall- 1300 Perdido St., Room 1W15, New Orleans, LA
70112
(504)658-1600/Fax (504)658-1605, revenue@nola.gov
Permit fees in addition to the animal permit fees are
required. The exhibitor must also
receive the approval of the director of the Department of Health.
All permit applications are available online at:
http://new.nola.gov/onestop/
I read that there is a new definition in the ordinance for a
Community Cat. What is considered a
Community Cat?
A Community Cat is defined as a feral or free-roaming cat
that is without visibly-discernible identification of any kind AND has been
sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Community cats are exempt from
licensing, feeding bans and registration requirements.
So is a Community Cat the same thing as a feral cat?
No, a feral cat is defined as a cat that is born in the
wild, is the offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized, or is a
formerly-owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized. A feral cat is not sterilized. A Community Cat has been spayed or
neutered/fixed/sterilized and ear tipped.
If I have a stray cat roaming in my yard, will animal
control remove and impound the cat?
Cats that fall under the definition of Community Cats may be
allowed outside so long as the cats do not prove to be a nuisance to
neighbors. Documentation on the nuisance
will be required in order for any action to be taken. Any ear-tipped cat
collected under the provisions of this section shall be released on-site unless
suffering from an obvious injury or illness. Any non ear-tipped cat collected
under the provisions of this section shall not be returned to its owner until
such time as said owner shall have cat spayed or neutered, ear tipped or
microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies, and all nuisance complaints are
resolved. Repairing damage caused to private property as well as any required
modifications required to abate the nuisance shall be the responsibility of the
registered caregiver. We will try to
first help facilitate a resolution between the person reporting the cat
nuisance and the caregiver before the cat can be removed.
Is there a requirement for my privately owned cat(s)?
Yes, all indoor/outdoor cats that are privately owned must
be microchipped or ear-tipped.
Is it unlawful to have chickens within city limits?
Roosters are NOT permitted within Orleans Parish; hens are
permitted as long as they have proper housing and the housing areas are kept
clean and sanitary.
Are animals defined as wild or exotic animals allowed to be
kept as pets?
No, no person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild or
exotic animal as a pet. These include,
but are not limited to, all venomous snakes, constricting snakes that will grow
to be over 3 feet as adults, monkeys, raccoons, serval cats, exotic animal
hybrid, and roosters.
What animals are defined as wild or exotic animals?
Wild or exotic animals means:
(1) any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk,
wolf, squirrel, coyote, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, serval cat,
or any other warm-blooded animal not otherwise defined;
(2) any venomous or constricting snake (such as Boidae
family) that will grow to an adult size greater than 3 feet;
(3) any tarantula which can normally be found in the wild
state;
(4) any member of crocodilian, including, but not limited
to, alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials;
(5) any exotic animal hybrid; or
(6) any rooster, cockerel, cock, or chanticleer.
Is it against the law to own a “pocket pet?” Are they considered wild or exotic animals?
No, ferrets, non-venomous snakes (other than constricting
snakes that will grow to an adult size larger than 3 feet), rabbits, box or
aquatic turtles, laboratory rats and skunks which have been bred and raised in
captivity which have never known the wild, and pocket pets or pet rodents including,
but not limited to, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, sugar gliders
or hedgehogs are excluded from the definition of wild or exotic animals.
If I operate a rescue organization and house rescued or
homeless animals do I have to follow any guidelines in the revised ordinances?
Yes, all facilities with occupancy licenses issued by
Orleans Parish for operating a kennel, animal shelter or housing facility for
rescued animals, homeless or owned animals must meet or exceed the minimum
standards established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians in the
Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelter (2010) and any standards of
veterinary care set forth in the City Code.
A copy can be downloaded from: http://oacu.od.nih.gov/disaster/ShelterGuide.pdf
The LA/SPCA is authorized to inspect these facilities.
Failure to make modifications to meet the standards shall result in a fine of
up to $500 per day. The foregoing provisions shall not apply during an extreme
weather advisory or emergency situation, or in the case of mass seizure or
rescue of animals.
If I am a healthcare provider and I treat someone that has
been bitten by a dog, what are the reporting requirements?
Any health care provider who examines or treats any person
who has been bitten by a dog or upon whom a dog has inflicted serious bodily
injury shall report such bite or injury to the LA/SPCA’s Animal Control
Division. Such a report shall be made immediately, if possible, and in any
event shall be made within twenty-four hours of examining the patient. The
report shall include as much of the following information as is available:
(1) The patient’s name, date of birth, sex, and current home
and work address;
(2) The nature of the bite or injury that is the subject of
the report;
(3) Any information about the location of the biting animal
and the name and address of any known owner; and
(4) The name and address of the healthcare provider.
Do the revised ordinances address mules and horses?
Yes, the revised ordinances require information to be filed
by the person keeping horses or mules. Every person within the limits of the
city, having one or more horses or mules housed or stabled within the city
shall file with the LA/SPCA’s Animal Control Division the following
information:
(a) Name of the owner;
(b) Number and kind of animals housed or stabled on the
premises;
(c) Address of place (street and number) where the animals
are stabled;
(d) Proof of annual negative Coggins’ test result;
(e) Proof of annual vaccinations, including Eastern and
Western Encephalitis, West Nile virus, and rabies; and;
(f) Any other information as the department may deem
necessary for the enforcement of proper sanitary regulations on the premises.
Such information shall also be required for equine exhibited
or used for transportation in parades.
FEE SCHEDULE
Stray or owned animal impounded by the Agency - $35.00 for
the first day, $25.00 each additional day.
Stray or owned animal brought to the Agency by the public -
$25.00 for each day.
Stray or owned animal without current rabies license or
vaccination - $25.00 in addition to the daily care rate.
Stray or owned animal without microchip - $35 for microchip
insertion.
Stray or owned animal with medical conditions requiring
veterinary care – reimbursement of the actual, documented cost of veterinary
services.
Stray or owned animal intact - $50.00 for spay/neuter
surgery.
Minimum standards for animal housing facilities - Failure to
make modifications to meet the standards set forth in the City Codes shall result in a fine of up to $500 per day.
ANNUAL DOG/CAT LICENSE FEES (NO CHANGE)
Annual dog/cat license fee (spayed or neutered animals) -
$9.00 plus $1.00 administrative fee, totaling $10.00.
Annual dog/cat license fee (un-spayed or un-neutered
animals) - $13.00 plus $1.00 administrative fee, totaling $14.00.
Replacement tag (proof of vaccination required) - $8.00 plus
$1.00 administrative fee totaling $9.00.
INTACT DOG PERMIT (INCREASE IN APPLICATION FEE)
Intact Dog Permit Application Fee: $75.00
Initial Intact Dog Permit Fee: $20.00
Annual Intact Dog Permit Renewal Fee: $20.00 to be renewed
at the end of the 12 month period based on the initial permit date.
Additionally, if a permit is not renewed on time, a $10.00
per day late fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fee.
Non Compliance of Intact Dog Permit:
First Offense:
$100.00
Second Offense: $250.00
Third Offense:
$500.00 and impound of dog
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