Pets

• LOUISIANA /SPCA
  701 Thayer Street
  New Orleans, LA   70114
  504-368-5191
  Hours:  Open seven days a week, 10 am to 5 pm
  Adoption Hours: Tuesday - Sunday (No adoptions on Monday) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  www.la-spca.org/ 
  
• Scruffy Mutt Rescue
  An organization that is determined to provide loving homes for all those homeless wiry, fluffy, scraggly mystery dogs that are so irresistibly cute. Any type of purebred or mixed breed terriers, poodles or chihuahuas are welcomed into our rescue when space allows.

Links:

• American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org/ - The AVMA Network provides comprehensive information on pet care, animal health, and veterinary medicine.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals www.aspca.org/  - Promotes humane principles, prevents cruelty, and alleviates pain, fear and suffering of animals.
• Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) www.paws.org/ - PAWS advocates for animals through the education, legislation, and direct care.
• Pet Finder www.petfinder.org/ - Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes.
• National Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA) www.aspca.org/apcc - Resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Purina www.purina.com/ - Expert advice on caring for your cat or dog.
• American Veterinary Identification Devices (AVID) www.avidid.com/ - AVID provides information about
• RFID microchip permanent identification technology and their products.
• Cat Haven www.catshaven.org/ - A nonprofit organization providing many services for our feline friends. It is a pro-life, no-kill shelter for cats and kittens.
  

City of New Orleans Animal Ordinances

• Leash Law (Sec. 18-14) - Dogs which are properly licensed and vaccinated may be allowed outside of an enclosure if they are kept on a secure leash and accompanied by its owner or keeper.  Any dog that is found "running at large" can be impounded and the owner or keeper ticketed..
  • About Your Cat (Sec. 18-14(d)) - There is no leash law applying to cats.  In order for your cat to be legally allowed outside, the animal must remain on the owner's property, be spayed or neutered, properly licensed, vaccinated and tagged with the owners name, current address and phone number.  Any cat that is found "running at large" can be impounded and the owner or keeper ticketed.
• Clean Up After Your Animal (Sec. 18-13) - As a pet owner you are required to remove your pet's excrement from public or private property. Any person who is in violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 and no less than three seven-hour days of trash cleanup duties.
• Animal Bites (Sec. 18-167) - Animals that have bitten someone go through a 10 day quarantine period as required by state law. Animals that have proof of a current rabies vaccination may be quarantined at the owner's home, with the approval of the LA/SPCA. Unvaccinated animals are confined at the LA/SPCA at the owner's expense. If deemed necessary by the LA/SPCA the quarantined period may be extended.
• Aggressive Animals (Sec. 18-292 - Sec. 18-296) - There are two classifications of aggressiveness in dogs: dangerous and vicious. Whether a dog is classified as dangerous or vicious depends on the circumstances surrounding the incidence(s). If the dog is allowed to be returned to the owner, very specific requirements must be met concerning the enclosure the dog is to be kept in, thus protecting the public as well as other animals from the dog.
• Cruelty and Improper Care (Sec. 18-2) - Cruelty to animals is a crime! All animals are legally protected from the ignorance and apathy of evil and sometimes well-meaning people. It is unlawful to overdrive, overload or unnecessarily or cruelly beat, mutilate, kill, torture or abuse, or cause or procure to be overdriven, overloaded, cruelly beaten, mutilated, killed, tortured, or abused, any animal.  It is illegal to deprive an animal of proper food, drink, medical attention or to keep it under conditions that are unhealthy, unclean or overcrowded.
• Reclaiming Your Pet (Sec.18-268) - Any animal that is impounded, is taken to the LA/SPCA. To reclaim your animal you must provide proof of a current rabies vaccination in order to avoid extra charges. You will be charged an impound fee and for per-day room and board. After five days, the owner forfeits all rights to the animal which is then put up for adoption or humanely euthanized, depending on its health and temperament.
• Wild and Exotic Animals (Sec. 18-7) - It is not permitted to keep within the city any monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal, poisonous or constricting snake or tarantula which can normally be found in the wild state or any member of crocodilian, including, but not limited to, alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gavials.
• Rabies Vaccination and Tags (Sec. 18-168) - By law, all dogs and cats over three months of age must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at least once every 12 months.
• Minimum Standards of Care (Sec. 18-2 - Sec. 18-2.1 Amended) - The basic standards of animal care are as follows:
  • Clean and fresh water must be provided at all times.
  • Medical attention is required if an animal is sick.
  • It is unlawful to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle.
  • Primary shelter must protect from heat and cold, be free of debris, be large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in and be weatherproof.
  • Animal areas shall be cleaned regularly so that fecal matter is disposed of so not to attract rodents/insects.
  • If multiple animals are present, each must have its own water, food and shelter.
  • No animal shall be tethered as a primary means of confinement.
  • Animals shall be considered abandoned if their needs are not met for more than 24 hours.
  • When outdoor temperatures reach freezing levels, all small domestic animals must be moved indoors.
• Barking Dogs -- Noise Ordinance - If you have problems with barking dogs in Orleans Parish, please call NOPD. The LA/SPCA does not handle these complaints.
• Noise Ordinance (Sec. 66-203) pertinent to animals:  It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any animal or fowl to allow frequent or continuing noise which disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivity.
• Dogs and Parades (Sec. 18-14.) - (e)  ...no dogs other than dogs in parades in which dogs are the main attraction or sole participants, dogs confined on the property of their owners, dogs assigned to law enforcement canine units, seeing-eye dogs and/or dogs assisting physically challenged individuals, are allowed within 200 yards of any parade route one hour before, during, or one hour after a scheduled parade.

State of Louisiana Animal Laws:

• Louisiana Pet Evacuation Bill - LA SB 607 Pet Evacuation Bill requires the formulation of emergency operation plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of emergency or disaster. Louisiana residents can now evacuate with their animals during a hurricane emergency. Thus, Louisiana residents can now evacuate with their animals during a hurricane emergency.