§ 6-24. Licensing; failure to license.

(a)

It shall be the duty of every owner residing in the parish to obtain from the animal shelter and retain an annual license for each dog and cat three months of age and older. The license certificate shall include the name and address of the owner, a description of the dog or cat including its breed, color, gender, and date of birth or estimated age, and the year and number of the license tag. The annual license fee shall be $5.00 for each spayed or neutered dog or cat, and $10.00 for each dog or cat which is not spayed or neutered. Every animal seized, stray, owner surrendered, impounded or otherwise in the custody of St. Martin Parish Animal Shelter must be micro-chipped prior to being retained by owner or adopter and micro-chip number recorded on the reclaim or adoption application. A statement from the vet must be provided if it is recommended that the animal not be micro-chipped due to medical reasons.

(b)

For the purposes of this section, a dog or cat shall be considered spayed or neutered whenever any of the following is applicable:

(1)

Upon presentation of a certificate issued by any licensed veterinarian stating that the dog or cat, if female, was made incapable of producing young by spaying by the veterinarian, or, the dog or cat, if male, was made incapable of producing young by neutering by the veterinarian.

(2)

Upon examination by a licensed veterinarian any dog or cat, whether male or female, is certified by the veterinarian to be incapable of producing young.

(3)

If the dog or cat has been previously licensed as a spayed or neutered dog or cat.

A male dog or cat may be considered neutered if upon examination it has evidence of castration.

(c)

Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "seeing-eye" dogs or dogs used to assist deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing-ear" dogs shall be licensed as other dogs herein provided for, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not be required to pay any fee therefor.

(d)

The owner of five or more dogs may procure a kennel/breeder license and pay a kennel/breeder license fee in lieu of the individual dog licenses and license fees provided for herein. In every case where all animals on the property are spayed/neutered, a 60 percent discount on the applicable kennel/breeder license fee shall be applied and all animals must be microchipped.

(e)

Any person with five or more dogs on his property and who breeds and sells dogs retail, wholesale, or to the public is required to procure a kennel/breeder license and pay a kennel/breeder license fee in lieu of the individual dog licenses and license fees provided for herein. Animals must still be micro-chipped.

(f)

Any person with the desire to keep up to five animals in an unaltered state with or without the direct intention of breeding their pet, is required to procure a kennel/breeder license and pay kennel/breeder license fee of $50.00 in lieu of the individual dog licenses and license fees provided herein. Animals must still be micro-chipped.

(g)

The annual kennel/breeder license fee is:

(1)

Fifty dollars if no more than five dogs over the age of six months are harbored on the premises at the time of application;

(2)

One hundred dollars if more than five dogs but no more than ten dogs over the age of six months are harbored on the premises at the time of the application; and

(3)

One hundred fifty dollars if more than ten dogs over the age of six months are harbored on the premises at the time of the application.

(h)

Upon the issuance of a kennel/breeder license, the applicant shall be furnished a number of license tags equal to the number of dogs harbored on the premises.

(i)

No person that breeds, buys, or sells dogs retail, wholesale, or to the public shall maintain more than 20 dogs, excluding dogs which are spayed or neutered, over the age of six months at any time, and must be housed at a location that is commercially zoned.

(j)

Kennels are subject to inspection by animal control officers at reasonable times and with little or no advance notice.

(k)

All dog, cat, and kennel/breeder licenses shall be issued for one year. The licensing renewal date shall be one year from the initial license date and on an annual basis thereafter. New residents must license their animal(s) within 30 days of establishing residency in the parish.

(l)

If there is a change in ownership of a dog, cat and/or kennel during the license year, the new owner shall license the dog, cat, and/or kennel within 30 days of the change.

(m)

No person shall use a license for any dog, cat, and/or kennel other than that for which the license was issued.

(n)

It shall be the duty of every owner of a dangerous dog residing in the parish to obtain and retain an annual license for each dangerous dog. The license certificate shall include, in addition to information contained on a general license certificate, a statement that the dog has been declared dangerous. The annual license fee for a dangerous dog shall be $50.00 for each dangerous dog, which shall be in addition to the general license fee stated above.

(o)

Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined $25.00 for each offense. Additionally, when any person violates subsection (h) of this section, an animal control officer may seize, impound, and humanely dispose of any dog exceeding the maximum number of dogs allowed on the premises.

(Ord. No. 15-12-1125-OR, 12-15-2015)

State law reference

Time for paying dog license tax, R.S. 3:2776; Dog, cat, and kennel licenses fee and certificate; records, R.S. 3:2772; Registration of dangerous dogs; fees, R.S. 14:102.17.